Find out how popular the last name Legesse is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Legesse.

Legesse, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Legesse surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Legesse in America

Legesse is the 51396th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Legesse surname appeared 405 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Legesse.

We can also compare 2010 data for Legesse to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name Legesse

The surname Legesse is believed to have originated in Ethiopia, where it is a fairly common family name. The name is derived from the Amharic word "lege," which means "envoy" or "ambassador." This suggests that the name may have been given to someone who worked as an envoy or messenger in the past.

The earliest recorded instances of the name Legesse can be traced back to the 16th century in various historical documents and manuscripts from the Ethiopian Empire. For example, there are records of a man named Legesse Berhan, who served as a diplomat and advisor to Emperor Sarsa Dengel in the late 1500s.

During the 17th and 18th centuries, several prominent individuals bore the surname Legesse. One notable figure was Legesse Amba, a military leader and governor who played a key role in the campaigns of Emperor Fasilidas against the Oromo people in the early 1600s.

Another historical figure with the surname Legesse was Legesse Gebre Michael, a scholar and writer who lived in the late 17th century. He is known for his works on Ethiopian history and theology, including a chronicle of the reign of Emperor Iyasu I.

In the 19th century, a man named Legesse Gebregziabher served as a governor and military commander under Emperor Tewodros II. He was involved in several battles against rebel forces and played a significant role in the expansion of the Ethiopian Empire during that time.

One of the most famous individuals with the surname Legesse was Legesse Zere, a renowned painter and artist who lived in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. He is considered one of the pioneers of modern Ethiopian art and is known for his intricate religious paintings and murals.

While the surname Legesse has its roots in Ethiopia, it has also been found in other parts of the world, likely due to migration and diaspora communities. However, its origins and historical significance are deeply tied to the rich cultural heritage of Ethiopia.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Legesse

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Legesse.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Legesse was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Legesse has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

The history and meaning of the name Legesse was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Legesse, please contact us.

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