NameCensus.

UK surname

Tesfaye

A surname of Ethiopian origin meaning "my hope" or "my hope has arrived".

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

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Tesfaye is 132 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

132

2016, ranked #25,882

Peak year

2016

132 bearers

Map years

1

2016 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 132 in 2016, ranked #25,882.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Young Families.

Tesfaye surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Tesfaye surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Tesfaye 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 14 #36,528
1998 modern 15 #36,457
1999 modern 17 #36,261
2000 modern 16 #36,316
2001 modern 19 #35,866
2002 modern 26 #35,338
2003 modern 29 #35,129
2004 modern 35 #34,783
2005 modern 47 #34,011
2006 modern 53 #33,854
2007 modern 60 #33,539
2008 modern 62 #33,565
2009 modern 70 #33,182
2010 modern 82 #32,492
2011 modern 86 #32,006
2012 modern 94 #31,258
2013 modern 106 #29,740
2014 modern 112 #28,934
2015 modern 122 #27,245
2016 modern 132 #25,882

Geography

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Where Tesfayes 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, Lambeth, Tower Hamlets, Lewisham and Camden. 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 004 Kensington and Chelsea
2 Lambeth 003 Lambeth
3 Tower Hamlets 025 Tower Hamlets
4 Lewisham 039 Lewisham
5 Camden 023 Camden

Forenames

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First names often paired with Tesfaye

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

Historical female names

No Forenames Found

Historical male names

No Forenames Found

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Tesfaye

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Tesfaye, 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 Tesfaye surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ethnically Diverse Young Families, within Multicultural and Educated Urbanites. This does not mean every Tesfaye 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, Tesfaye 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

Tesfaye 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.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Tesfaye falls in decile 2 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.

2
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Tesfaye 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.

8
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 Tesfaye, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Tesfaye

The surname TESFAYE originates from Ethiopia, where it has been used for centuries. It is derived from the Amharic language, which is one of the Semitic languages spoken in the Horn of Africa. The name is believed to have roots in the word "tefsa," which means "he/she who is revered" or "the respected one."

TESFAYE is a name that has been found in various historical records and manuscripts in Ethiopia. One of the earliest recorded instances is in the Kibre Negest, an ancient manuscript that traces the genealogy of the Ethiopian monarchy back to King Solomon and the Queen of Sheba. The name appears in connection with several prominent figures from the 14th and 15th centuries.

Among the notable individuals who bore the surname TESFAYE in the past are Dejazmach Tesfaye Gebre-Egziabher (c. 1830-1898), a prominent military leader and governor during the reign of Emperor Yohannes IV. Another notable figure was Ras Tesfaye Haile Selassie (1875-1914), a member of the Shewan royal family and a close relative of Emperor Menelik II.

In the 20th century, one of the most famous bearers of the name was Lij Tesfaye Yayeh Gebre-Mariam (1909-1992), a renowned Ethiopian diplomat and statesman who served as the country's ambassador to various nations, including the United States and the United Kingdom.

Another notable TESFAYE was Belai Tesfaye (1920-2005), an Ethiopian playwright and author who made significant contributions to the country's literary landscape. His works explored themes of social justice, culture, and identity.

It is worth mentioning that the name TESFAYE has also been found in various place names across Ethiopia, reflecting the widespread use of the surname in different regions of the country. For instance, there are towns and villages named Tesfaye in the Oromia, Amhara, and Tigray regions, among others.

While the name TESFAYE has its roots in Ethiopia, it has also been adopted by individuals of Ethiopian descent living in other parts of the world, particularly in the diaspora communities. However, the historical and cultural significance of the name remains deeply rooted in the rich heritage of Ethiopia and its ancient traditions.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Tesfaye surname: questions and answers

How common is the Tesfaye surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 132 in 2016. That gives Tesfaye a modern rank of #25,882.

What does the Tesfaye surname mean?

A surname of Ethiopian origin meaning "my hope" or "my hope has arrived".

What does the Tesfaye map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Tesfaye bearers relative to the surrounding population.

What records is this surname page based on?

The historical counts come from census surname records. The modern counts and neighbourhood summaries come from later surname distribution records. Counts are recorded bearers in those records, not a live estimate of everyone with the name today.