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

Tefera, 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 Tefera surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Tefera in America

Tefera is the 33990th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Tefera surname appeared 669 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 Tefera.

We can also compare 2010 data for Tefera 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 Tefera

The surname Tefera is of Ethiopian origin, tracing its roots back to the Amharic language spoken in the country. It is believed to have emerged in the medieval period, around the 13th or 14th century, during the reign of the Solomonic dynasty.

The name Tefera is derived from the Amharic word "teferi," which means "one who is respected" or "one who is esteemed." This suggests that the surname may have initially been given to individuals who held positions of respect or authority within their communities.

In the early centuries of its usage, the surname Tefera can be found in various historical records and manuscripts from the region. One notable example is the Kebra Nagast, a 14th-century literary work that chronicles the lineage of the Solomonic dynasty and the origins of the Ethiopian monarchy.

The earliest recorded instances of the surname Tefera can be traced back to the 15th century, with records indicating individuals bearing the name in the regions of Gondar and Shewa, which were centers of power during that time. One of the earliest known individuals with the surname was Abuna Tefera, a prominent religious figure who lived in the late 15th century.

Throughout the centuries, the surname Tefera has been associated with several notable figures in Ethiopian history. One such individual was Ras Tefera Yohannes, a 19th-century military leader and governor of the province of Begemder, who played a significant role in the country's resistance against Italian occupation.

Another prominent figure was Lij Tefera Mekonnin, a 19th-century nobleman and diplomat who served as the ambassador to several European countries, including France and Italy. He was instrumental in establishing diplomatic relations between Ethiopia and various European powers.

In the 20th century, Haile Selassie Tefera, a prominent politician and diplomat, served as the Foreign Minister of Ethiopia from 1935 to 1936 during the Italian invasion. He played a crucial role in advocating for Ethiopia's cause on the international stage.

Additionally, Bitwoded Tefera Worku was a prominent military leader and nobleman who served as the governor of several provinces during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. He played a significant role in the Battle of Adwa, a decisive victory for Ethiopia against Italian forces in 1896.

The surname Tefera continues to be a prominent name in Ethiopia, with many individuals bearing it across various regions of the country. It remains a testament to the rich cultural heritage and history of the Amharic-speaking people.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Tefera

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

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

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

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