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

Tilahun, 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 Tilahun surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Tilahun in America

Tilahun is the 44730th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Tilahun surname appeared 480 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 Tilahun.

We can also compare 2010 data for Tilahun 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 Tilahun

The surname Tilahun has its origins in Ethiopia, a country located in the Horn of Africa region. It is believed to have emerged during the medieval period, around the 13th to 16th centuries.

Tilahun is derived from the Amharic language, which is one of the major languages spoken in Ethiopia. The name is a combination of two words: "Tilah," meaning "to be healthy or well," and "Hun," which is a suffix often added to names to indicate endearment or affection.

One of the earliest known references to the name Tilahun can be found in the chronicles of the Solomonic Dynasty, a long-ruling imperial dynasty in Ethiopia. In these chronicles, there are mentions of individuals bearing the name Tilahun who held various positions within the imperial court or served as advisors to the emperors.

One notable figure with the surname Tilahun was Ras Tilahun Yeshat, a prominent military leader and governor who lived during the reign of Emperor Tewodros II in the mid-19th century. He played a crucial role in several military campaigns and was instrumental in defending the empire against external threats.

Another notable person with the surname Tilahun was Tilahun Gessesse, an Ethiopian singer and musician who was born in 1940 and passed away in 2009. He is widely regarded as one of the most influential and beloved figures in modern Ethiopian music, known for his unique vocal style and contributions to the development of the Ethio-jazz genre.

In the early 20th century, Tilahun Walda Maryam was a prominent Ethiopian scholar and linguist who made significant contributions to the study of Ge'ez, an ancient Semitic language that was widely used in Ethiopia for religious and literary purposes.

Another notable individual with the surname Tilahun was Tilahun Kibret, an Ethiopian painter and artist who was born in 1925 and passed away in 1976. He is celebrated for his vibrant and expressive works, which often depicted scenes from Ethiopian culture and daily life.

Tilahun Woldemichael, born in 1929 and passed away in 2014, was a renowned Ethiopian athlete and sports administrator. He represented Ethiopia in various international athletic competitions and later served as the president of the Ethiopian Olympic Committee, playing a pivotal role in promoting sports in the country.

While the surname Tilahun is primarily associated with Ethiopia, it has also gained recognition in other parts of the world due to migration and cultural exchange. However, its roots can be traced back to the rich cultural heritage of Ethiopia, where it has held a significant place throughout history.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Tilahun

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

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

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

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