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

Tsegai, 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 Tsegai surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Tsegai in America

Tsegai is the 106096th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Tsegai surname appeared 168 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 Tsegai.

We can also compare 2010 data for Tsegai 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 Tsegai

The surname TSEGAI has its origins in the Horn of Africa, specifically in Eritrea and Ethiopia. It is derived from the Tigrinya language, one of the Semitic languages spoken in Eritrea and the Tigray region of Ethiopia.

The name TSEGAI is believed to have evolved from the Tigrinya word "tsega," which means "patience" or "endurance." It was likely adopted as a surname to reflect the virtues of patience and perseverance, traits that were highly valued in the harsh and unforgiving environment of the region.

Historical records suggest that the name TSEGAI can be traced back to the 15th century, during the reign of the Solomonic dynasty in Ethiopia. It appears in several ancient manuscripts and chronicles from that era, often associated with prominent families and individuals who played significant roles in the political and cultural affairs of the region.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name TSEGAI can be found in the "Kebre Negest," an ancient Ethiopian text that dates back to the 14th century. The manuscript mentions a nobleman named Tsegai, who was a close advisor to the Emperor Zara Yaqob (1434-1468).

Another notable figure who bore the surname TSEGAI was Abuna Tsegai, a respected Ethiopian cleric who lived in the 16th century. He was renowned for his scholarly work and played a crucial role in preserving and promoting the Ge'ez language, which was the literary language of ancient Ethiopia.

In the 19th century, the name TSEGAI gained prominence with the birth of Tsegai Andu Mesfin (1851-1912), a renowned Ethiopian military leader and diplomat. He served as the governor of Shewa province and played a pivotal role in the unification of Ethiopia under Emperor Menelik II.

Another prominent individual with the surname TSEGAI was Azmari Tsegai (1890-1962), a celebrated Ethiopian poet and musician. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest masters of the azmari tradition, a unique form of poetic and musical expression that has been an integral part of Ethiopian culture for centuries.

The name TSEGAI has also been associated with several notable places in Eritrea and Ethiopia. For instance, the town of Tsegai in Eritrea is believed to have derived its name from the surname, reflecting the historical presence of families bearing this name in the region.

Overall, the surname TSEGAI has a rich historical legacy, rooted in the cultural and linguistic traditions of the Horn of Africa. Its enduring presence over centuries reflects the resilience and perseverance of the people who bore this name, embodying the very virtues that gave rise to its adoption as a surname.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Tsegai

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

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

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

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