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

Woldu, 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 Woldu surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Woldu in America

Woldu is the 51830th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Woldu surname appeared 401 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 Woldu.

We can also compare 2010 data for Woldu 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 Woldu

The surname Woldu has its origins in the East African country of Eritrea. It is traditionally associated with the Tigrinya-speaking population. The name can be traced back to ancient agricultural societies in the highlands of Eritrea, making it primarily of Eritrean origin with a long history in the region. The Tigrinya language, part of the Semitic family, has deeply influenced the etymology of the name. In Tigrinya, "Woldu" is derived from words that translate to "son of God" or "servant of God," which is indicative of the religious and spiritual influences on the community.

Historical references to the name Woldu can be found in various old records and manuscripts related to the history of Eritrea and Ethiopia. One can find early examples of the name in religious texts and administrative records from the Axumite Empire, which thrived between the 1st and 7th centuries AD. These records often listed significant landowners, clergy, and community leaders who bore the name.

The earliest recorded examples of the surname date back to the 15th century. One significant figure is Abba Woldu, a prominent clergyman in the Ethiopian Orthodox Church, born around 1400. He played a crucial role in the religious life of his community during the medieval period. Another notable figure is Woldu Tekle, a renowned warrior and nobility member from the 17th century, contributing to the military campaigns against regional adversaries around 1640.

Place names and older spellings connected to the surname Woldu can be observed in historical geographic documents and church registries. The town of Dekemhare in present-day Eritrea has a strong historical connection to the Woldu family, with several land deeds and community records from the 18th century mentioning the name prominently.

In the 19th century, one of the most notable bearers of the name was Ras Woldu Mikael, born in 1820. He was a nobleman and military leader, playing a significant role in the regional politics of Eritrea and Ethiopia, particularly during the era of Emperor Tewodros II. Ras Woldu Mikael's leadership and strategic acumen are recorded in several historical texts, underscoring his influence and the prominence of the name during that period.

Another significant bearer of the surname was Woldu Kassa, born in 1885. He served as a high-ranking government official in Eritrea during the colonial period under Italian rule, from 1890 to 1941. His role in the local administration and his efforts to support his community economically and socially were well-documented in both Italian and local Eritrean archives.

The surname Woldu, throughout centuries, has been borne by influential clergy, warriors, leaders, and officials who have played pivotal roles in their communities. These historical figures and records underscore the name's rich heritage and longstanding significance in Eritrean history.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Woldu

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

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

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

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