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

Woldeyohannes, 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 Woldeyohannes surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Woldeyohannes in America

Woldeyohannes is the 147253rd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Woldeyohannes surname appeared 112 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 Woldeyohannes.

The history of the last name Woldeyohannes

The surname Woldeyohannes finds its origins in Ethiopia, primarily among the Amhara and Tigray ethnic groups. It dates back to the medieval period when the Ethiopian Orthodox Church was a central institution in Ethiopian society.

The name derives from the Ge'ez language, an ancient script that was once the liturgical language of Ethiopia. Woldeyohannes is formed from two elements: "Wolde-" meaning "son of," and "Yohannes," the Ethiopian form of John, which itself has biblical origins. The name essentially means "Son of John."

Woldeyohannes has been documented in several old manuscripts and church records, which are among the primary sources for early Ethiopian history. For instance, it appears in 15th-century church documents that recorded the lineages of prominent religious and social figures.

The earliest instances of the surname are found in the royal and noble families of the period. One of the first recorded people with the name was Ras Woldeyohannes, born around 1620, who served as a military leader under Emperor Susenyos I. Another notable figure was Woldeyohannes IV’s Chancellor, named Senay Woldeyohannes, who played a significant role in the administrative reforms of the 19th century.

During the Zemene Mesafint, or "Era of the Princes," lasting from the mid-18th to mid-19th century, the name Woldeyohannes became increasingly common among the aristocracy. Yohannes IV of Ethiopia, born in 1837 and reigning from 1872 to 1889, appointed a general named Tedla Woldeyohannes to command his army during a crucial period of consolidation and defense against foreign invasions.

The name retained its prestige through the early 20th century, notably with Gebregziabher Woldeyohannes, born in 1903, who was a prominent figure in the burgeoning Ethiopian literary scene. He played a crucial part in revitalizing traditional Ethiopian literature.

By examining historical references, one can see that Woldeyohannes was most prevalent in the highlands of Tigray and Amhara regions. The legacy of the surname has persisted throughout the centuries, marking it as a name closely linked to the church, military, and noble governance.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Woldeyohannes

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

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

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

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