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

Tesfaye, 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 Tesfaye surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Tesfaye in America

Tesfaye is the 19075th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Tesfaye surname appeared 1,427 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 Tesfaye.

We can also compare 2010 data for Tesfaye 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 Tesfaye

The surname TESFAYE originates from Ethiopia, where it has been used for centuries. It is derived from the Amharic language, which is one of the Semitic languages spoken in the Horn of Africa. The name is believed to have roots in the word "tefsa," which means "he/she who is revered" or "the respected one."

TESFAYE is a name that has been found in various historical records and manuscripts in Ethiopia. One of the earliest recorded instances is in the Kibre Negest, an ancient manuscript that traces the genealogy of the Ethiopian monarchy back to King Solomon and the Queen of Sheba. The name appears in connection with several prominent figures from the 14th and 15th centuries.

Among the notable individuals who bore the surname TESFAYE in the past are Dejazmach Tesfaye Gebre-Egziabher (c. 1830-1898), a prominent military leader and governor during the reign of Emperor Yohannes IV. Another notable figure was Ras Tesfaye Haile Selassie (1875-1914), a member of the Shewan royal family and a close relative of Emperor Menelik II.

In the 20th century, one of the most famous bearers of the name was Lij Tesfaye Yayeh Gebre-Mariam (1909-1992), a renowned Ethiopian diplomat and statesman who served as the country's ambassador to various nations, including the United States and the United Kingdom.

Another notable TESFAYE was Belai Tesfaye (1920-2005), an Ethiopian playwright and author who made significant contributions to the country's literary landscape. His works explored themes of social justice, culture, and identity.

It is worth mentioning that the name TESFAYE has also been found in various place names across Ethiopia, reflecting the widespread use of the surname in different regions of the country. For instance, there are towns and villages named Tesfaye in the Oromia, Amhara, and Tigray regions, among others.

While the name TESFAYE has its roots in Ethiopia, it has also been adopted by individuals of Ethiopian descent living in other parts of the world, particularly in the diaspora communities. However, the historical and cultural significance of the name remains deeply rooted in the rich heritage of Ethiopia and its ancient traditions.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Tesfaye

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

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

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

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