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

Mekonnen, 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 Mekonnen surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Mekonnen in America

Mekonnen is the 20961st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Mekonnen surname appeared 1,256 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 Mekonnen.

We can also compare 2010 data for Mekonnen 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 Mekonnen

The surname MEKONNEN has its origins in Ethiopia, tracing back to the 13th century. It is derived from the Amharic word "mekonnen," meaning "the esteemed one" or "the respected one." This name was initially given to individuals who held positions of honor or authority within their communities.

The earliest recorded instance of the name MEKONNEN can be found in the Kebra Nagast, a 14th-century literary work that chronicles the Solomonic dynasty of Ethiopia. The text mentions a nobleman named Mekonnen who served as a trusted advisor to one of the emperors.

During the late 15th century, the name MEKONNEN gained further prominence when it was adopted by a prominent family from the province of Shewa. This family played a significant role in the political and military affairs of the Ethiopian Empire, with several members holding high-ranking positions within the imperial court.

One notable figure bearing the surname MEKONNEN was Dejazmach Mekonnen Wolde-Michael, a 19th-century military leader who served as the governor of Shewa province under Emperor Menelik II. His skillful leadership and military prowess were instrumental in expanding the borders of the Ethiopian Empire during that era.

Another prominent individual with the surname MEKONNEN was Lij Iyasu Mekonnen, who was briefly the heir apparent to the Ethiopian throne in the early 20th century. Although his reign was short-lived, his life and controversies surrounding his reign have been the subject of numerous historical accounts and debates.

In the 20th century, the surname MEKONNEN gained international recognition through the exploits of Ras Bitwaddad Makonnen Endalkachew, a distinguished diplomat and statesman who served as the Foreign Minister of Ethiopia during the reign of Emperor Haile Selassie I. He played a crucial role in negotiating Ethiopia's entry into the League of Nations and was a vocal advocate for the country's interests on the global stage.

Throughout its history, the surname MEKONNEN has been associated with individuals of notable influence and stature within Ethiopian society. While it originated as a title denoting respect and honor, it has evolved into a distinguished family name that carries a rich legacy and tradition.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Mekonnen

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

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

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

Reference this page

We spend a lot of resources downloading, cleaning, merging, and formatting the data that is shown on the site.

If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!