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

Teferra, 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 Teferra surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Teferra in America

Teferra is the 95955th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Teferra surname appeared 190 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 Teferra.

We can also compare 2010 data for Teferra 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 Teferra

The surname "TEFERRA" has its origins in Ethiopia, with roots dating back to the 16th century. It is derived from the Amharic language, one of the major languages spoken in Ethiopia. The name is believed to have stemmed from the combination of two Amharic words, "tef" and "erra," which together translate to "one who prepares teff," a type of grain widely used in Ethiopian cuisine.

During the reign of the Solomonic dynasty in the 16th century, the name TEFERRA gained prominence as a surname among families involved in agriculture and the production of teff. This period saw a rise in the establishment of surnames in Ethiopian society, as families sought to distinguish themselves and identify their occupations or lineages.

Historical records from the 17th and 18th centuries, including religious manuscripts and local chronicles, have revealed several individuals bearing the surname TEFERRA. One notable example is Abuna Petros TEFERRA, a prominent cleric and scholar who lived in the late 17th century and authored several theological works that are still studied today.

In the 19th century, the TEFERRA surname gained further recognition with the birth of Dejazmatch Gera TEFERRA (1825-1892), a prominent military leader and noble who played a pivotal role in the reunification of Ethiopia under Emperor Tewodros II. His descendants continue to carry the TEFERRA name with pride.

Another influential figure was Lij Iyasu TEFERRA (1897-1935), a prince and later designated heir to the Ethiopian throne during the reign of Empress Zewditu. Although his reign was short-lived due to political turmoil, his name remains etched in Ethiopian history.

The 20th century saw the emergence of several notable individuals with the TEFERRA surname, including Berhanu TEFERRA (1919-2008), a renowned scholar and linguist who made significant contributions to the study of Semitic languages, and Gebru TEFERRA (1926-2012), a prominent economist and educator who served as the Minister of Education in Ethiopia.

Throughout its history, the surname TEFERRA has been associated with individuals from various walks of life, including scholars, military leaders, clergy, and statesmen, all contributing to the rich tapestry of Ethiopian culture and society.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Teferra

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

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

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

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