Explore the Family Name Desta
The meaning of Desta
Ethiopian and Eritrean: from the male personal name Desta, meaning ‘joy’ in the Amharic language. — 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 Almaz, Abebe, Abenet, Getachew, Girma, Hirut, Saba, Tadele, Tedla, Abeba, Abiy, Alem, Alemayehu.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Desta in the United States?
Based on the Decennial U.S. Census data, the surname Desta has seen a significant increase in popularity from 2000 to 2010. In 2000, Desta ranked as the 34,856th most popular name in the United States, but by 2010 it had risen to the 20,541st position, showing an impressive growth rate of 41.07%. The count of individuals with this surname also grew from 613 to 1,291, an increase of 110.6%, while its proportion per 100,000 people doubled from 0.23 to 0.44.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #34,856 | #20,541 | 41.07% |
| Count | 613 | 1,291 | 110.6% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.23 | 0.44 | 91.3% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Desta
The ethnic identity associated with the surname Desta has also shifted between 2000 and 2010, according to the Decennial U.S. Census. Most notably, the number of individuals identifying as Black with the surname Desta increased by 13.21% to make up 94.19% of the total, up from 83.20% in 2000. However, the percentage of those identifying as Asian/Pacific Islander and of two or more races decreased significantly, falling by 52.63% and 86.94% respectively. Although the proportion of individuals identifying as White saw a modest decrease of 7.29%, the Hispanic representation rose slightly from 0 to 0.62%. There were no recorded individuals of American Indian and Alaskan Native ethnicity bearing the surname Desta during either census year.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Black | 83.2% | 94.19% | 13.21% |
| White | 3.43% | 3.18% | -7.29% |
| Two or More Races | 11.26% | 1.47% | -86.94% |
| Hispanic | 0% | 0.62% | 0% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 1.14% | 0.54% | -52.63% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0% | 0% | 0% |