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

Tsegay, 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 Tsegay surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Tsegay in America

Tsegay is the 84748th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Tsegay surname appeared 221 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 Tsegay.

The history of the last name Tsegay

The surname TSEGAY is of Ethiopian origin, traced back to the Amharic language spoken in the Horn of Africa region. It is believed to have originated in the 15th or 16th century, during the height of the Solomonic dynasty in the Ethiopian Empire.

The name TSEGAY is derived from the Amharic word "tsega," which means "to be patient" or "to endure." It was likely given as a descriptive name to individuals who exhibited these qualities or as a name of aspiration for newborns.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name TSEGAY can be found in the chronicles of Emperor Zara Yaqob, who ruled Ethiopia from 1434 to 1468. These chronicles mention a nobleman named Tsegay Berhan, who served as a trusted advisor to the emperor.

In the 17th century, the name appears in the records of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church, with a monk named Tsegay Gebre-Menfes Kidus being celebrated for his pious life and teachings.

During the 19th century, the name gained prominence with Tsegay Kebede, a prominent military leader who played a crucial role in the Zemene Mesafint, a period of decentralized rule in Ethiopia. He was born in 1810 and died in 1878.

Another notable figure bearing the surname TSEGAY is Tsegay Gebre-Medhin, an Ethiopian poet and playwright who was active in the 20th century. He was born in 1936 and is renowned for his contributions to the modernization of Amharic literature.

In more recent times, Tsegay Kebede has gained international recognition as an accomplished long-distance runner from Ethiopia. He was born in 1987 and has won multiple marathons, including the London Marathon in 2013 and the Chicago Marathon in 2012.

While the surname TSEGAY is primarily found in Ethiopia, it has also spread to other parts of the world through migration and the Ethiopian diaspora. However, its roots can be traced back to the rich cultural and linguistic heritage of the Amharic-speaking people in the Horn of Africa region.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Tsegay

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

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

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

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