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

Tesema, 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 Tesema surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Tesema in America

Tesema is the 65964th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Tesema surname appeared 300 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 Tesema.

The history of the last name Tesema

The surname Tesema has its origins in Ethiopia. It is an Amharic surname that can be traced back to the 14th century. The name is believed to have originated from the Amharic word "tesema," which means "to hear" or "to listen." This could suggest that the name may have been given to individuals who were known for their attentive listening skills or their ability to hear and understand others.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Tesema can be found in the Ge'ez manuscripts of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church, dating back to the 15th century. These manuscripts mention individuals with the surname Tesema, indicating that the name was already in use during that time period.

In the 16th century, the name Tesema appeared in the chronicles of the Ethiopian Emperor Lebna Dengel, where it was mentioned in connection with certain individuals who held influential positions in the imperial court.

During the 17th century, a notable figure named Abba Tesema was a prominent scholar and theologian in the Ethiopian Orthodox Church. He was known for his contributions to the study of religious texts and his teachings on various aspects of the Christian faith.

In the 19th century, a prominent Ethiopian military commander named Tesema Werq led several successful campaigns against invading forces, earning him a reputation as a skilled strategist and leader.

Another individual of note was Tesema Wolde Maryam, a renowned artist and painter who lived in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. His works were highly regarded for their intricate detail and depiction of religious themes.

Throughout history, the surname Tesema has also been associated with various place names and locations in Ethiopia, such as the town of Tesema in the Amhara region, which may have been named after individuals with this surname.

It is important to note that while this surname has a rich history and cultural significance in Ethiopia, its use and prevalence may have evolved over time, with variations in spelling and pronunciation occurring in different regions and contexts.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Tesema

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

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

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

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