2000
#29,932
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 740
First available Census row
Per 100,000 0.27
Rare Last name
Tadesse
An Ethiopian surname meaning "one who renders a service" or "messenger".
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 2,783 Americans carry the last name Tadesse. That puts it at #12,239 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.81 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 123,160 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Tadesse surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, a multi-census history view, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
For British records, Name Census UK has a British surname profile for Tadesse with 1881 census detail, origin facts and modern UK distribution where available.
Bearers in the US
2.8K
1 in 123,160
Census rank
#12,239
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.8
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
2.4K
rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 2,427 bearers of the surname Tadesse in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.81 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 12239th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Tadesse, the largest self-reported group is Black at 96.2%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (1.6%) and White (1.2%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Tadesse
The surname Tadesse originates from Ethiopia and is believed to have its roots in the Amharic language, which is one of the Semitic languages spoken in the country. The name is thought to be derived from the Amharic word "taddese," which means "to be new" or "to be renewed."
In ancient times, the name Tadesse was associated with the nobility and ruling class of Ethiopia. It is believed to have been used as a surname by members of the Solomonic dynasty, which ruled the country from the 13th to the 20th century. Some historians suggest that the name may have been adopted by individuals who were born or given titles during significant events or periods of renewal in the kingdom.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Tadesse can be found in the Kebra Nagast, an important literary work that chronicles the history of the Solomonic dynasty. The text, which dates back to the 14th century, mentions several individuals with the surname Tadesse, indicating that it was already in use during that time.
Throughout the centuries, the name Tadesse has been associated with several notable figures in Ethiopian history. One of the most prominent individuals was Ras Tadesse Janhoy (1770-1850), a powerful nobleman and military leader who played a crucial role in the political affairs of the country during the early 19th century.
Another notable bearer of the name was Tadesse Birru (1895-1967), a pioneering educator and writer who contributed significantly to the development of modern education in Ethiopia. He was a prominent figure in the country's intellectual circles and authored several books on various subjects, including history and language.
In the realm of literature, Tadesse Liban (1924-2003) was a renowned poet and playwright who is widely regarded as one of the most influential figures in contemporary Amharic literature. His works, which explored themes of identity, culture, and social issues, have had a profound impact on Ethiopian literature and continue to be studied and celebrated.
Tadesse Woldemariam (1936-2017) was a renowned Ethiopian artist and sculptor whose works have been exhibited internationally. He was known for his innovative use of traditional Ethiopian materials and techniques, and his sculptures often depicted themes related to Ethiopian culture and history.
Lastly, Tadesse Tafessa (born 1950) is a renowned long-distance runner from Ethiopia who won numerous international competitions, including the Boston Marathon in 1974 and the New York City Marathon in 1977. He is considered one of the greatest marathon runners of his era and has been inducted into the Ethiopian Sports Hall of Fame.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Tadesse
Among Census respondents with the surname Tadesse, the largest self-reported group is Black at 96.2%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (1.6%) and White (1.2%).
The bar chart below shows how Tadesse bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2020 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Percentages are shown for every Census year so the breakdown stays comparable over time. When the source file also includes raw headcounts, Name Census shows those alongside the percentages in the legend.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Tadesse surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- Black or African American96.2% · 2,334
- Two or more races1.6% · 40
- White1.2% · 29
- Hispanic or Latino0.5% · 11
- Asian and Pacific Islander0.4% · 10
- American Indian and Alaska Native0.1% · 3
Timeline
Historical Census data for Tadesse
Tadesse appears in 3 published Census surname files: 2000, 2010, 2020. The cards below show how the name's rank and bearer count changed across each release.
2010
#18,734
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 1,465
+725 bearers (+98.0%)
Per 100,000 0.50
Rank movement Up 11,198 places
2020
#12,239
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 2,427
+962 bearers (+65.7%)
Per 100,000 0.81
Rank movement Up 6,495 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | #29,932 | 740 | 0.27 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2010 | #18,734 | 1,465 | 0.50 | +725 bearers (+98.0%) | Up 11,198 places |
| 2020 | #12,239 | 2,427 | 0.81 | +962 bearers (+65.7%) | Up 6,495 places |
For 2020, the Census Bureau published race and Hispanic-origin columns as counts rather than percentages. Name Census converts those counts back into shares so the ancestry section stays comparable with the older surname files.
Year on year
2010 vs 2020 Census
How has the Tadesse surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
20102020
| Metric | 2010 | 2020 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #18,734 | #12,239 | 34.7% |
| Count | 1,465 | 2,427 | 65.7% |
| Per 100K | 0.50 | 0.81 | 62.4% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Tadesse bearers went from 1,465 to 2,427 (+65.7% change). The surname moved up 6,495 positions in the national ranking, going from #18,734 to #12,239.
FAQ
Tadesse surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Tadesse?
Name Census estimates that about 2,783 living Americans carry the surname Tadesse. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 123,160 residents.
How common is Tadesse?
Tadesse ranks #12,239 in the 2020 Census surname tables and is classified on this site as "Rare." The Census recorded the name at a frequency of 0.81 per 100,000 residents, which is about 1 people out of every 100,000.
How many people with this surname were counted in the Census?
The raw 2020 Census file counted 2,427 people with the surname Tadesse. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (2,783), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
What does 0.81 per 100,000 actually mean?
It is the Census Bureau's normalized frequency measure. A rate of 0.81 per 100,000 means that if you picked a random group of 100,000 U.S. residents, you would expect about 1 of them to have the surname Tadesse.
Has Tadesse become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Tadesse went from 1,465 recorded bearers to 2,427. That is an increase of 962 (+65.7%). In the national ranking it rose from #18,734 to #12,239.
What does the Census say about the background of Tadesse?
Among Census respondents with the surname Tadesse, the largest self-reported group is Black at 96.2%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (1.6%) and White (1.2%). These figures come from the 2020 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Which group reports this surname most often?
Black is the largest self-reported group for the surname Tadesse in the 2020 Census, accounting for 96.2% (2,334 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Tadesse appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are Black (96.2%), Two or More Races (1.6%), White (1.2%). For 2020, the source file also published raw headcounts for each group, which is why this page can show both percentages and counts in the ancestry section.
Is this page using the latest Census data?
Yes. This page is using the latest surname file currently loaded on Name Census, which is 2020. The historical section above also keeps any older Census surname entries we have for Tadesse (2000, 2010, 2020).
Does the Census include every surname?
No. The Census Bureau only publishes surnames that appeared at least 100 times in a given decennial Census. That means very rare surnames are excluded entirely, and a surname can appear in one Census release but disappear from a later one if it falls below the reporting threshold.
Why don't the ancestry percentages always add up to exactly 100%?
There are two main reasons: rounding and suppression. The Census Bureau rounds published values, and it may suppress very small cells to protect privacy. For 2020, the Bureau also published raw group counts rather than direct percentages, so Name Census converts those counts back into shares for comparability across census years.
What does Tadesse mean?
An Ethiopian surname meaning "one who renders a service" or "messenger". The fuller origin note on this page goes into more detail.
Where does the surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These files list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2020 Census, along with a count, a per-100,000 rate, and a self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.
How does Name Census estimate living bearers?
For surnames, Name Census does not age cohorts the way it does for first names. Instead, it takes the Census Bureau's published frequency for Tadesse (0.81 per 100,000) and applies that rate to the current U.S. resident population to estimate how many living Americans have the surname today.
How many people are called Tadesse?
For a quick modern take, check how many people are called Tadesse on our sister site HowManyOfMe.org.