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

Terefe, 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 Terefe surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Terefe in America

Terefe is the 99378th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Terefe surname appeared 182 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 Terefe.

The history of the last name Terefe

The surname TEREFE is of Ethiopian origin, tracing its roots back to the Amharic language spoken in the Horn of Africa region. The name is believed to have emerged during the medieval period, when Ethiopia was a thriving kingdom with a rich cultural heritage.

TEREFE is derived from the Amharic word "teref," which translates to "seed" or "offspring." This suggests that the name may have initially been used to denote someone's lineage or familial ties. It's a name that carries a sense of continuity and connection to one's ancestral roots.

Historical records from the 14th and 15th centuries mention individuals bearing the name TEREFE in various regions of Ethiopia, including the northern provinces of Tigray and Amhara. These early mentions provide evidence of the name's longevity and its association with the Ethiopian highlands.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name TEREFE can be found in the "Kebra Nagast," a literary work that details the lineage of the Solomonic dynasty in Ethiopia. The text, which dates back to the 14th century, mentions a figure named TEREFE who played a significant role in the royal court.

Throughout the centuries, several notable individuals have borne the surname TEREFE. In the late 15th century, TEREFE Azmatch was a prominent military leader who played a crucial role in defending the kingdom against external threats. Another historical figure, TEREFE Gedamu, was a renowned scholar and poet who lived in the 17th century and contributed to the preservation of Ethiopian literature.

In more recent times, TEREFE Haile Selassie (1892-1975) was an influential Ethiopian diplomat and politician who served as the Minister of Foreign Affairs during the reign of Emperor Haile Selassie I. TEREFE Gedamu (1924-2011) was a renowned artist and sculptor whose works celebrated Ethiopian culture and heritage.

The surname TEREFE has also been associated with various place names across Ethiopia, reflecting the geographical roots of different family lines. For instance, the village of Terefe Kebele in the Oromia region bears a striking resemblance to the name, suggesting a possible connection to the local inhabitants.

While the surname TEREFE has undergone minor spelling variations over time, its core meaning and Amharic origins have remained intact, serving as a testament to the rich cultural legacy of Ethiopia and its people.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Terefe

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

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

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

Reference this page

We spend a lot of resources downloading, cleaning, merging, and formatting the data that is shown on the site.

If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!