Explore the Family Name Berhane

The meaning of Berhane

Ethiopian and Eritrean: from the personal name Berhane, which is interpreted as ‘my light’ in the Amharic and Tigrinya languages. — Note: Since Ethiopians and Eritreans do not have hereditary surnames, this name was registered as such only after immigration of its bearers to the US. Some characteristic forenames: Ethiopian/Eritrean Amanuel, Asmeret, Freweini, Hagos, Saba, Yared, Abebe, Ayele, Azeb, Beyene, Dawit, Ermias.

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

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

Based on the Decennial U.S. Census data, the surname Berhane has seen significant growth in popularity between the years 2000 to 2010. In 2000, the surname ranked at 30,552 but jumped to 22,530 by 2010, indicating a 26.26% increase in its frequency of use. The count of individuals bearing this last name also rose from 721 in 2000 to 1141 in 2010, translating to a remarkable 58.25% leap. Accordingly, the proportion of the surname per 100,000 people grew by 44.44%, moving from 0.27 to 0.39.

20002010Change
Rank#30,552#22,53026.26%
Count7211,14158.25%
Proportion per 100k0.270.3944.44%

Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Berhane

In terms of ethnicity, the Decennial U.S. Census data reveals some shifts within the Berhane surname demographic. While the majority identifying with this name falls under the Black category, moving from 83.50% in 2000 to 95.09% in 2010, it's worth noting that other ethnic identities have emerged and shifted. The Asian/Pacific Islander category saw an introduction (from zero to 0.88%) while the Two or more races category experienced a decrease from 12.21% to 1.05%. The White and Hispanic categories observed minor fluctuations, with White increasing slightly from 1.66% to 1.84% and Hispanic decreasing from 1.80% to 1.14%. The American Indian and Alaskan Native remained constant with no individuals identified under this category.

20002010Change
Black83.5%95.09%13.88%
White1.66%1.84%10.84%
Hispanic1.8%1.14%-36.67%
Two or More Races12.21%1.05%-91.4%
Asian/Pacific Islander0%0.88%0%
American Indian and Alaskan Native0%0%0%