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

Tesfay, 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 Tesfay surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Tesfay in America

Tesfay is the 36695th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Tesfay surname appeared 609 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 Tesfay.

We can also compare 2010 data for Tesfay 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 Tesfay

The surname Tesfay has its origins in Eritrea and Ethiopia. It is a name of Tigrinya and Tigre origin, which are Semitic languages spoken primarily in Eritrea and the Tigray Region of Ethiopia. The name is derived from the root words "tes" meaning "to give praise" and "fay" meaning "light" or "illumination."

Historically, the name Tesfay was likely adopted by individuals or families as a reference to their devotion to religious or spiritual practices, as well as their association with enlightenment or knowledge. In ancient times, names with similar meanings were common among the Christian communities of the region.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Tesfay can be found in the Ge'ez manuscripts of the 14th century, which were religious texts written in the ancient Semitic language. These manuscripts often included lists of names and their meanings, providing valuable insights into the origins and significance of various surnames.

In the 16th century, there are records of a prominent figure named Tesfay Gebremichael, who was a notable scholar and religious leader in the region. He is believed to have played a significant role in the preservation and dissemination of ancient texts and traditions.

Another notable individual with the surname Tesfay was Tesfay Gebremariam, a 19th-century Eritrean warrior and leader who fought against colonial forces during the struggle for independence. His bravery and leadership earned him a place in the history of the region.

In the early 20th century, Tesfay Yohannes was a renowned poet and writer from Eritrea, whose works celebrated the rich cultural heritage and traditions of his homeland. His poems and stories often featured characters with the surname Tesfay, reflecting its prevalence within the community.

During the latter half of the 20th century, Tesfay Gebrehiwet gained recognition as a prominent Eritrean diplomat and politician. He played a significant role in the country's independence movement and later served as a minister in the Eritrean government.

While the surname Tesfay is relatively uncommon outside of Eritrea and Ethiopia, it remains a proud testament to the rich cultural and linguistic heritage of the region, with its roots deeply embedded in ancient traditions and beliefs.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Tesfay

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

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

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

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