UK surname

Berhe

An Ethiopian surname indicating the bearer's belonging to the Berhe clan or ethnic group.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Kensington and Chelsea, Hounslow and Ealing.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Berhe is 153 in 2015. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

Modern count

149

2016, ranked #23,844

Peak year

2015

153 bearers

Map years

2016 to 2016

Key insights

• The latest modern count shown here is 149 in 2016, ranked #23,844.
• The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Young Families.

Map

Berhe surname distribution map

The map shows where the Berhe surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.

Distribution map

Berhe surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Year

Loading map

Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Berhe over time

The table below tracks recorded surname counts and rank from the 19th-century census years through the modern adult-register period.

Year	Period	Count	Rank
1997	modern	24	#35,376
1998	modern	23	#35,603
1999	modern	27	#35,224
2000	modern	29	#34,976
2001	modern	30	#34,753
2002	modern	35	#34,554
2003	modern	44	#33,875
2004	modern	52	#33,418
2005	modern	66	#32,303
2006	modern	72	#32,059
2007	modern	80	#31,527
2008	modern	89	#30,713
2009	modern	97	#30,076
2010	modern	103	#29,780
2011	modern	113	#27,967
2012	modern	135	#24,952
2013	modern	144	#24,323
2014	modern	146	#24,274
2015	modern	153	#23,413
2016	modern	149	#23,844

Geography

Where Berhes are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around No data. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Kensington and Chelsea, Hounslow, Ealing and Islington. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Some modern areas include a three-digit suffix, such as Leeds 110. The suffix is a small-area code, so it stays in the table while the prose uses the plain place name.

Top historical parishes

Rank	Parish	Area
1	No data	No data

Top modern areas

Rank	Area	District
1	Kensington and Chelsea 003	Kensington and Chelsea
2	Hounslow 003	Hounslow
3	Ealing 033	Ealing
4	Islington 023	Islington
5	Kensington and Chelsea 001	Kensington and Chelsea

Forenames

First names often paired with Berhe

These lists show first names that appear often with the Berhe surname in historical and recent records.

Historical female names

No Forenames Found

Historical male names

No Forenames Found

Recent female names

Aster Eden Sara Elsa Saba Semhar Genet Jerusalem Rahel Amina

Recent male names

Yohannes Amanuel Daniel Yonas Alem Mikhael Michael Henok Aman Noah

Modern profile

Neighbourhood profile for Berhe

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Berhe, this points to the kinds of places where the surname is most concentrated today.

These neighbourhood labels describe areas, not individual people. They are useful because surnames often cluster through family history, migration, housing patterns and local work. A surname can be strongest in one type of neighbourhood even when people with that name live across the country.

The UK classification gives the national picture. The London classification is more specific to the capital, where housing, age profile, tenure and population mix can look quite different from the rest of the UK.

UK neighbourhood type

UK Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Multicultural and Educated Urbanites

Group

Ethnically Diverse Young Families

Nationally, the Berhe surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ethnically Diverse Young Families, within Multicultural and Educated Urbanites. This does not mean every Berhe household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group includes many younger parents born overseas (particularly in Africa or EU countries) with children aged 0-4. Individuals identifying as of Mixed or Multiple ethnicities are also common. English may not be the primary language spoken. Accommodation consists principally of flats, and many properties are socially rented and/or overcrowded. Students are also present, unemployment is common, and other adults tend to work in low skilled jobs.

Wider pattern

Established populations comprising ethnic minorities together with persons born outside the UK predominate in this Supergroup. Residents present diverse personal characteristics and circumstances: while generally well-educated and practising skilled occupations, some residents live in overcrowded rental sector housing. English may not be the main language used by people in this Group. Although the typical adult resident is middle aged, single person households are common and marriage rates are low by national standards. This Supergroup predominates in Inner London, with smaller enclaves in many other densely populated metropolitan areas.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Berhe is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Pockets, part of Social Rented Sector Families with Children. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Found in pockets across London, residents are less likely to live in private sector rentals and fewer adults are students. Fewer individuals work in transport and communications occupations relative to the Supergroup average. More individuals identify as Black and were born in Africa.

Wider London pattern

Residents of these neighbourhoods include sizable numbers identifying with ethnicities originating outside Europe, particularly in Africa or Bangladesh. The proportion of residents identifying as White, Indian or Pakistani is well below the London average. Neighbourhood age profiles are skewed towards younger adults, and above average numbers of families have children. Rates of use of English at home are below average. Marriage rates are low, and levels of separation or divorce are above average. Housing is predominantly in flats, and renting in the social rented sector the norm - few residents are owner occupiers. Housing is often overcrowded, and neighbourhoods are amongst the most densely populated in London. Disability rates are above average, although levels of unpaid care provision are about average. Employment is in caring, leisure, other service occupations, sales and customer service, or process, plant, and machine operation. Part time working and full-time student study are common. Levels of unemployment are slightly above average. Most residents have only Level 1 or 2 educational qualifications or have completed apprenticeships.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Berhe is most concentrated in decile 10 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier end of the index.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Berhe falls in decile 3 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Berhe is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate: Other Ethnic Group

This describes the area pattern most associated with Berhe, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Origin

Meaning and origin of Berhe

The surname "BERHE" is believed to have originated in Eritrea, a country located in the Horn of Africa. This name is rooted in the Tigrinya language, which is spoken by the Tigrinya people who make up the majority of the population in Eritrea and parts of Ethiopia.

The name "BERHE" is thought to be derived from the Tigrinya word "ber'hi," which means "wide" or "broad." It is likely that this surname was initially given to individuals or families who lived in a particularly wide or expansive area, or perhaps to those who had a broad or sturdy physical stature.

One of the earliest documented references to the name "BERHE" can be found in the chronicles of the Eritrean Orthodox Church, which date back to the 15th century. These chronicles mention several individuals with this surname, suggesting that the name was already established in the region during that time period.

In the 18th century, a notable figure named Wolde Berhe played a significant role in the resistance against the Ottoman Turks' attempts to invade the Eritrean highlands. Wolde Berhe, born in 1732, was a military leader and strategist who helped organize the local militia and successfully defended the region from Ottoman forces.

Another prominent individual with the surname "BERHE" was Tedla Berhe, a renowned Eritrean artist and painter who lived from 1892 to 1975. Tedla Berhe's works, which often depicted scenes from daily life in Eritrea, are celebrated for their vivid colors and intricate details, and are considered an important part of the country's cultural heritage.

In the late 19th century, a man named Gebremichael Berhe (1865-1942) gained recognition for his contributions to the development of modern Tigrinya literature. He authored several books and translated works from other languages into Tigrinya, helping to promote and preserve the language and its literary traditions.

During the Italian occupation of Eritrea in the early 20th century, a woman named Lemlem Berhe (1905-1987) became a prominent figure in the resistance movement against the Italian colonial rule. She played a crucial role in organizing and supporting the guerrilla fighters, and her efforts were instrumental in Eritrea's eventual independence from Italian control.

Throughout its history, the surname "BERHE" has been associated with various places and regions within Eritrea, such as the cities of Asmara, Keren, and Massawa, as well as the highlands and rural areas where many Tigrinya speakers have traditionally resided.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Berhe surname: questions and answers

How common is the Berhe surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 149 in 2016. That gives Berhe a modern rank of #23,844.

What does the Berhe surname mean?