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

Yilma, 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 Yilma surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Yilma in America

Yilma is the 60636th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Yilma surname appeared 332 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 Yilma.

We can also compare 2010 data for Yilma 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 Yilma

The surname Yilma has its origins primarily in Ethiopia. It is a name deeply rooted in the Amharic language, one of the Semitic languages spoken within the country. The name Yilma is derived from the Amharic word "yilm," which can be translated to mean "superior" or "surpassing." This suggests that bearers of this name might have been thought of as holding notable or distinguished positions within their communities.

The earliest records of the surname Yilma can be traced back to the late 19th century, coinciding with Ethiopia's efforts to fend off colonial powers. Historical documents from this period occasionally reference individuals bearing the surname, illustrating its utility within the socio-political landscape of the time. During the reign of Emperor Menelik II (1844-1913), various records and manuscripts mention leaders and soldiers named Yilma who played significant roles in the battles to maintain Ethiopian sovereignty.

In the early 20th century, particularly around the 1920s and 1930s, Yilma became a surname associated with prominent intellectuals and political figures. One notable figure is Yilma Deressa, born in 1907 and passed away in 1979, who served as Ethiopia's finance minister and played a crucial role in shaping Ethiopia's economic policies during the reign of Emperor Haile Selassie. Another important bearer of the surname is Yilma Tafere, an academician known for his contributions to Ethiopian literature and education during the mid-20th century.

The name Yilma also has a presence in modern Ethiopian history. Yilma Makonnen, a diplomat who served in various capacities, including as ambassador to the United Nations, was born in 1930 and was instrumental in advancing Ethiopia’s foreign policy interests during the 1960s and 1970s. Yilma Kebede, born in 1945 and a prominent figure in the Ethiopian music industry, was known for his role in the cultural revival movements of the 1970s.

Records from ecclesiastical writings and church histories from the 19th century occasionally mention the surname Yilma, often in the context of priests or deacons who served in the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church. These references not only underscore the religious influence of the name but also its long-standing presence in Ethiopian clerical records.

By weaving through different socio-political and cultural landscapes, the surname Yilma reveals a rich tapestry of Ethiopian heritage. Whether found in ancient manuscripts, historical records, or church documents, the enduring legacy of this surname serves as a testament to its significant role across various facets of Ethiopian history.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Yilma

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

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

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

Reference this page

We spend a lot of resources downloading, cleaning, merging, and formatting the data that is shown on the site.

If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!