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

Makonnen, 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 Makonnen surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Makonnen in America

Makonnen is the 62531st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Makonnen surname appeared 320 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 Makonnen.

We can also compare 2010 data for Makonnen 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 Makonnen

The surname Makonnen is of Ethiopian origin, with its roots dating back to the medieval Solomonic dynasty of the Aksumite Empire. It is derived from the Amharic word "mäkwännän," which means "to protect" or "to defend."

The earliest known record of the name Makonnen can be traced back to the 13th century, during the reign of Emperor Yekuno Amlak. Historical accounts mention a nobleman named Makonnen Endalkachew, who was a trusted advisor to the emperor.

In the 16th century, a prominent figure named Makonnen Gedaw played a crucial role in the defense of the Ethiopian highlands against the invading forces of Ahmad ibn Ibrahim al-Ghazi, also known as Ahmad Gragn. Makonnen Gedaw's bravery and military prowess were celebrated in several manuscripts and oral traditions.

During the 19th century, the name Makonnen gained further prominence with the rise of Emperor Tewodros II. One of his trusted generals was Dejazmach Makonnen Wolde Mikael, who led several successful military campaigns and played a pivotal role in the unification of Ethiopia.

Another notable figure was Ras Makonnen Endalkachew, who served as the Governor of Harar and played a crucial role in the Battle of Adwa in 1896, where Ethiopian forces defeated the Italian invaders. His bravery and leadership were instrumental in preserving Ethiopia's independence.

In the early 20th century, Lij Iyasu, the heir to the Ethiopian throne, was born to Ras Makonnen Wolde Mikael and Empress Zauditu. Although his reign was short-lived, Lij Iyasu's name remains significant in Ethiopian history.

Throughout the centuries, the surname Makonnen has been closely associated with Ethiopian nobility, military leadership, and patriotism. It has become a symbol of strength, courage, and the unwavering defense of the nation's sovereignty and cultural heritage.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Makonnen

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

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 Makonnen 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 Makonnen 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 Makonnen was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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