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

Negash, 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 Negash surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Negash in America

Negash is the 27452nd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Negash surname appeared 878 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 Negash.

We can also compare 2010 data for Negash 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 Negash

The surname Negash has its origins in the Horn of Africa, specifically in present-day Ethiopia and Eritrea. It is believed to have emerged in the 14th or 15th century, derived from the Semitic root word "n-g-sh," meaning "king" or "ruler." This etymology suggests that the name may have been associated with individuals of royal or noble lineage in the region's ancient kingdoms.

One of the earliest recorded mentions of the name Negash can be found in the Kebra Nagast, a 14th-century literary work that recounts the legend of the Queen of Sheba and her son, Menelik I, who is said to have been the first king of the Solomonic dynasty in Ethiopia. The text refers to a character named Negash, who played a significant role in the events depicted.

In the 16th century, a prominent figure bearing the surname Negash was Abune Endreyas Negash, an Ethiopian ecclesiastic who served as the Archbishop of the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church from 1554 to 1576. He was instrumental in preserving and promoting the church's traditions and practices during a period of religious conflict.

The 18th century saw the rise of Ras Negash Gwangul, a powerful nobleman and military leader in the Tigray region of present-day Ethiopia. He played a pivotal role in the political struggles of the era and is remembered for his strategic alliances and military campaigns.

Another notable bearer of the name was Lij Negash Haile Selassie, a 19th-century nobleman and military commander who served as the governor of the Enderta province in Ethiopia. He was a respected figure in the court of Emperor Tewodros II and contributed to the consolidation of power during that period.

In more recent times, the Negash surname has been carried by individuals such as Negash Bezabih, an Ethiopian author and scholar known for his works on Ethiopian history and culture, and Negash Alemu, a prominent Ethiopian artist whose paintings and sculptures have been exhibited internationally.

While the Negash surname is primarily concentrated in Ethiopia and Eritrea, it has also spread to other parts of the world through migration and diaspora communities. However, the historical roots and significance of this name remain deeply rooted in the rich cultural heritage of the Horn of Africa.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Negash

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

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

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

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