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

Wodajo, 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 Wodajo surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Wodajo in America

Wodajo is the 138304th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Wodajo surname appeared 121 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 Wodajo.

The history of the last name Wodajo

The surname Wodajo likely originates from Ethiopia, a country with a rich tapestry of languages, cultures, and histories. The name appears to be an Amharic or Oromo derivation, two of the prominent languages spoken in Ethiopia. The origins of this surname are difficult to pinpoint accurately to a specific time period due to the lack of comprehensive historical records in the region. Nonetheless, it is plausible that the name has been in use for several centuries.

Ethiopia has a long-standing tradition of surnames often connected to familial lineages, occupations, or significant personal attributes. The surname Wodajo may be derived from a local word or phrase that holds particular significance in one of Ethiopia's myriad ethnic groups. Unfortunately, precise etymological roots are challenging to determine without more context, but some linguistic experts suggest that it could relate to a term indicating "noble," "learned," or "respected" in the region’s languages.

The history of Wodajo in written records is sparse. Due to Ethiopia's historical reliance on oral traditions for the transmission of names, stories, and histories, written references to the surname are limited before the advent of more formalized recording systems in the 19th and 20th centuries. One of the earliest records mentioning the name dates back to the late 19th century, with references in personal letters and local government registers.

The earliest known individual with the surname Wodajo is Kidane Wodajo, born in 1898, who played a crucial role in local governance in the early 20th century. His contributions to community development in the Addis Ababa area were well-documented by British and Italian colonial administrators. Another significant figure is Amsale Wodajo, born in 1923, a prominent figure in the Ethiopian women's rights movement during the 1940s and 1950s.

In more recent history, Mesfin Wodajo, born in 1934 and deceased in 1993, was a notable Ethiopian politician who played a vital role in the country's transitional government after the fall of the Derg regime. He was widely respected for his diplomatic skills and his efforts towards national reconciliation. A fourth significant personality is Nigist Wodajo, born in 1949, who became well-known for her contributions to the field of education in the Tigray region, advocating for access to education for girls and underprivileged communities.

The last historical figure of note is Endeshaw Wodajo, born in 1961, a lauded Ethiopian author whose literary works captured the socio-political changes in late 20th-century Ethiopia and contributed to the country's rich literary tradition. His novels are celebrated for their profound cultural insights and have inspired generations of Ethiopian writers.

The surname Wodajo reflects a deep connection to Ethiopian heritage and bears the weight of history through its association with notable figures who have left their mark on the nation's social, political, and cultural landscapes.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Wodajo

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

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

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

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