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

Tafesse, 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 Tafesse surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Tafesse in America

Tafesse is the 93125th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Tafesse surname appeared 197 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 Tafesse.

We can also compare 2010 data for Tafesse 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 Tafesse

The surname TAFESSE has its origins in Ethiopia, where it first emerged in the 14th century. It is believed to be derived from the Amharic word "tafessa," which means "to wander" or "to roam." This suggests that the name may have been given to individuals who traveled extensively or led a nomadic lifestyle.

In the early days, the TAFESSE name was primarily concentrated in the northern regions of Ethiopia, particularly in the provinces of Tigray and Amhara. Some of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in ancient Ethiopian manuscripts and chronicles that date back to the reign of Emperor Zara Yaqob (1434-1468).

One of the most notable historical figures with the surname TAFESSE was Abba Tafesse, a renowned Ethiopian monk who lived in the 16th century. He was known for his spiritual teachings and his contributions to the establishment of several monasteries in the country.

Another prominent individual bearing the TAFESSE name was Tafesse Gebre Selassie, a famous Ethiopian painter and poet who lived in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. His works played a significant role in preserving and promoting the country's cultural heritage.

In the 18th century, the TAFESSE surname was also associated with a powerful family of nobles in the Gondar region of Ethiopia. This family held significant influence and played a crucial role in the political and social dynamics of the time.

During the Italian occupation of Ethiopia in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, several individuals with the TAFESSE surname were involved in the resistance movement against the colonial forces. One such figure was Tafesse Gebremikael, a fierce warrior who led numerous battles against the Italian troops.

Over the centuries, the TAFESSE name has spread to various parts of Ethiopia, as well as to neighboring countries like Eritrea and Djibouti, where individuals of Ethiopian descent have settled. While the name has undergone some variations in spelling, such as TAFESSE, TAFFESSE, or TAFASE, its roots can be traced back to the ancient Amharic word and the nomadic heritage of its bearers.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Tafesse

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

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

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

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