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

Neguse, 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 Neguse surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Neguse in America

Neguse is the 133863rd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Neguse surname appeared 126 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 Neguse.

The history of the last name Neguse

The surname NEGUSE has its origins in Ethiopia, dating back to the 15th century. It is derived from the Amharic word "ነጉሴ" (neguse), which means "king" or "ruler." The Amharic language is a Semitic language spoken in Ethiopia and Eritrea.

This surname is closely associated with the historical Solomonic dynasty, which ruled the Ethiopian Empire for several centuries. The Solomonic dynasty traced its lineage back to the biblical union between King Solomon and the Queen of Sheba, claiming descent from their son, Menelik I.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name NEGUSE can be found in the Kebra Nagast, an ancient text that recounts the origins of the Solomonic dynasty. This text, written in Ge'ez, the ancient Semitic language of Ethiopia, mentions several rulers with the title "Neguse Negest," meaning "King of Kings."

During the reign of Emperor Zara Yaqob (1434-1468), the use of the title "Neguse" became more prevalent among members of the royal family and nobility. This period saw the rise of influential figures bearing the surname NEGUSE, such as Ras Neguse Endalkachew (c. 1508-1543), a prominent military leader and administrator.

Another notable individual with the surname NEGUSE was Ras Neguse Yeshaq (c. 1681-1718), a powerful regional ruler and the founder of the Yeshaq dynasty, which ruled parts of northern Ethiopia for several decades.

In the 19th century, the NEGUSE surname gained further prominence with the rise of Emperor Tewodros II (1818-1868), who united much of modern-day Ethiopia under his rule. One of his descendants, Lij Iyasu (1892-1935), bore the title "Neguse" and briefly ruled as the designated heir to the throne before being deposed.

The last emperor of Ethiopia, Haile Selassie I (1892-1975), was also a member of the Solomonic dynasty and held the title "Neguse Negest" before ascending to the throne. His full name, Tafari Makonnen Woldemikael, included the title "Neguse" as a reflection of his royal lineage.

Throughout history, the surname NEGUSE has been closely associated with Ethiopian royalty, nobility, and the Solomonic dynasty. It carries a rich cultural and historical significance, reflecting the ancient traditions and heritage of the Ethiopian people.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Neguse

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

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 Neguse 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.

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

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

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