Explore the Family Name Asfaw

The meaning of Asfaw

Ethiopian: from the personal name Asfaw, which is interpreted as e.g. ‘widen him’ in the Amharic language. — Note: Since Ethiopians do not have hereditary surnames, this name was registered as such only after immigration of its bearers to the US. Some characteristic forenames: Ethiopian Alemayehu, Amha, Girma, Mengistu, Negussie, Teferi, Yared, Abate, Abeba, Abebe, Araya, Ayele.

Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.

How common is the last name Asfaw in the United States?

Based on data from the Decennial U.S. Census, the popularity of the surname Asfaw has significantly increased between 2000 and 2010. In 2000, Asfaw ranked as the 49,057th most popular surname in the United States, with 403 recorded instances. By 2010, it had jumped to the 27,354th position, with the count rising to 883. This signifies a remarkable growth rate of 119.11% over a decade. The proportion per 100,000 also doubled, increasing from 0.15 to 0.3.

20002010Change
Rank#49,057#27,35444.24%
Count403883119.11%
Proportion per 100k0.150.3100%

Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Asfaw

In terms of ethnic identity, the data from the Decennial U.S. Census reveals that the majority of individuals with the surname Asfaw identify as Black, with the proportion rising from 86.6% in 2000 to 95.36% in 2010. There was also a minor increase in those identifying as Hispanic, despite no recorded instances in 2000. On the other hand, the number of Asfaws identifying as two or more races decreased drastically by 80.88%, from 10.67% in 2000 to just 2.04% in 2010. The proportion of Asfaws identifying as White also declined slightly, while the categories of Asian/Pacific Islander and American Indian and Alaskan Native saw no change.

20002010Change
Black86.6%95.36%10.12%
Two or More Races10.67%2.04%-80.88%
White1.24%1.13%-8.87%
Hispanic0%0.79%0%
Asian/Pacific Islander0%0%0%
American Indian and Alaskan Native0%0%0%