Zerihun last name popularity, history, and meaning

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

Meaning of Zerihun

An Amharic surname derived from the Ge'ez words "zer" meaning "seed" and "hun" meaning "soul".

Zerihun, 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 Zerihun surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Zerihun in America

Zerihun is the 118185th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Zerihun surname appeared 147 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 Zerihun.

The history of the last name Zerihun

The surname Zerihun finds its roots in Ethiopia, a country located in the Horn of Africa. Ethiopian surnames often originate from the Ge'ez language, which is an ancient Semitic language predominantly used in liturgical contexts. The name Zerihun is derived from the Ge'ez word "zer," meaning "seed" or "descendant," and "ihun," which could be translated as "this" or "of this." Essentially, the surname Zerihun can be interpreted to mean "descendant of this," denoting a lineage or a familial connection.

The name Zerihun has historical significance particularly within the Amhara and Tigray regions of Ethiopia, areas known for their rich cultural and historical heritage. Records and old manuscripts mentioning the name Zerihun date back several centuries, reflecting its deep-rooted presence within Ethiopian society. Manuscripts written in Ge'ez, as well as the Chronicles of the Ethiopian emperors, offer glimpses into the families bearing this surname, often connected to important social or political roles.

The earliest recorded instance of the surname Zerihun can be traced back to the 15th century in Ethiopian records. One such individual was Abba Zerihun, a revered monk and a scholar who contributed to the religious and educational life of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church. His works, written in Ge'ez, are preserved in Ethiopian monasteries and serve as significant contributions to the country's historical accounts.

Over time, the surname Zerihun has appeared in various forms in old texts, pointing to the durability and adaptability of Ethiopian names. For instance, in some early Amharic scripts, variations such as Zerihuna or Zerihune were used interchangeably, likely due to dialectal differences or transliteration practices.

Among notable historical figures with the surname Zerihun, Zerihun Shifferaw, born in 1913 and died in 1985, was a prominent figure in Ethiopia's early socio-economic development efforts. As a government minister during Emperor Haile Selassie's reign, he played a crucial role in modernizing the country's agricultural policies. Another significant figure was Zerihun Yetmgeta, born in 1941 and passed away in 2020, who was an acclaimed visual artist whose work celebrated Ethiopian culture and history.

In the realm of sports, Zerihun Tadesse, born in 1962, was a notable Ethiopian long-distance runner. Competing in various international athletics events, he brought recognition to the name Zerihun on a global stage. Zerihun Sinke, another athlete born in 1978, also carried the surname's legacy in the world of athletics, participating in numerous marathons and long-distance track events.

Zerihun Desta, an Ethiopian diplomat born in 1939, is another prominent bearer of the surname. Serving as an ambassador in various countries, he was instrumental in fostering international relations and expanding Ethiopia's diplomatic footprint. His contributions to Ethiopian foreign policy during the late 20th century remain significant.

Through these historical references and notable individuals, the surname Zerihun underscores its historical and cultural significance within Ethiopia. It conveys a sense of heritage and belonging, anchoring the bearers of the name to a lineage that spans centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Zerihun

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

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 Zerihun was:

Race/Ethnicity Percentage Total Occurrences
Non-Hispanic White Only (S)% (S)
Non-Hispanic Black Only 93.88% 138
Non-Hispanic Asian and Pacific Islander Only (S)% (S)
Non-Hispanic American Indian and Alaskan Native 0.00% 0
Non-Hispanic of Two or More Races (S)% (S)
Hispanic Origin (S)% (S)

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

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

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"Zerihun last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on November 22, 2024. http://namecensus.com/last-names/zerihun-surname-popularity/.

"Zerihun last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/last-names/zerihun-surname-popularity/. Accessed 22 November, 2024

Zerihun last name popularity, history, and meaning. NameCensus.com. Retrieved from http://namecensus.com/last-names/zerihun-surname-popularity/.

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