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

Tsegaye, 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 Tsegaye surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Tsegaye in America

Tsegaye is the 45026th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Tsegaye surname appeared 476 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 Tsegaye.

We can also compare 2010 data for Tsegaye 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 Tsegaye

The surname TSEGAYE has its origins in Ethiopia, a country located in the Horn of Africa. It is an ancient name that can be traced back to the Semitic language of Ge'ez, which was the lingua franca of the Aksumite Empire from around the 4th century BCE to the 8th century CE.

TSEGAYE is believed to be derived from the Ge'ez word "ጽጌ" (tsegē), which means "patience" or "forbearance." The name likely originated as a descriptive name, given to individuals who exhibited these qualities. It is also possible that the name was initially used as a nickname or a reference to a specific event or circumstance in which patience or forbearance was demonstrated.

The earliest recorded instances of the name TSEGAYE can be found in various historical documents and manuscripts from the medieval period in Ethiopia. One notable example is the Kebra Nagast, a 14th-century literary work that recounts the origins of the Solomonic dynasty in Ethiopia. The name TSEGAYE appears in this text, indicating its use during that era.

Throughout the centuries, the TSEGAYE surname has been associated with several prominent figures in Ethiopian history. One such individual was Tsegaye Gebre-Medhin (1936-2021), an Ethiopian poet, playwright, and scholar who made significant contributions to the country's literary and cultural landscape. Another notable bearer of the name was Tsegaye Gabre-Medhin (1936-2006), an Ethiopian poet, playwright, and theater director who helped revive and promote traditional Ethiopian performing arts.

In the realm of politics, Tsegaye Berhe (born in the late 19th century) was an influential figure in the early 20th century. He served as the Governor of Tigray Province and played a crucial role in the Battle of Adwa, a decisive victory for Ethiopia against Italian colonizers in 1896.

The name TSEGAYE has also been present in the field of sports. Tsegaye Kebede (born 1987) is an Ethiopian long-distance runner who won the bronze medal in the marathon at the 2012 London Olympics. Additionally, Tsegaye Mekonnen (born 1991) is an Ethiopian long-distance runner who specializes in road running and has won several major international marathons.

While the name TSEGAYE has its roots in ancient Ge'ez, it has remained a prominent surname in Ethiopia throughout the centuries, carried by individuals from various walks of life who have left their mark on the country's history, culture, and achievements.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Tsegaye

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

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

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

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