Brazil Last Names: A Comprehensive Guide to Common Surnames

Discovering the origins and meanings behind Brazilian last names can be an enriching journey. This guide delves into the diverse world of Brazilian surnames, offering an extensive list of common names with detailed explanations of their origins and significance. From Portuguese roots to indigenous influences, explore the rich tapestry of Brazilian family names.
1. **Almeida:** From the Portuguese place name "Almeida," meaning "high place" or "fortress."
2. **Alves:** Meaning "son of Álvaro" or "son of Alfred," derived from the Germanic name "Alv" meaning "elf" or "wise."
3. **Andrade:** Originating from the Portuguese place name "Andrade," meaning "place of willows."
4. **Antunes:** Meaning "son of Antão," a variation of the name Anthony.
5. **Araujo:** Derived from the Portuguese place name "Araújo," meaning "place of the plow."
6. **Barbosa:** Meaning "son of Barba," a surname indicating a person with a prominent beard.
7. **Barros:** Meaning "son of Barro," referring to a person who worked with clay or pottery.
8. **Bezerra:** From the Portuguese place name "Bezerra," meaning "place of calves."
9. **Brito:** Meaning "son of Brito," derived from a Celtic origin, meaning "bright" or "shining."
10. **Campos:** From the Portuguese word "campos," meaning "fields" or "plains."
11. **Cardoso:** Meaning "son of Cardoso," referring to a person who lived near a thistle plant.
12. **Carvalho:** From the Portuguese word "carvalho," meaning "oak tree."
13. **Castro:** Derived from the Portuguese place name "Castro," meaning "castle" or "fortified place."
14. **Cavalcanti:** Meaning "knight of the white horse," derived from the Portuguese words "cavalo" (horse) and "branco" (white).
15. **Coelho:** Meaning "rabbit" in Portuguese, likely a nickname given to someone with rabbit-like characteristics.
16. **Costa:** Meaning "coast" or "shore" in Portuguese, a surname indicating a person who lived near the coast.
17. **Couto:** From the Portuguese word "couto," meaning "enclosure" or "fenced area."
18. **Cruz:** Meaning "cross" in Portuguese, possibly a surname indicating a person who lived near a crossroads or who was associated with Christianity.
19. **Dantas:** Meaning "son of Dante," derived from the Italian name "Dante," meaning "enduring."
20. **Dias:** Meaning "days" in Portuguese, a surname possibly indicating a person who was born on a specific day or who was known for their longevity.
21. **Figueiredo:** From the Portuguese place name "Figueiredo," meaning "place of fig trees."
22. **Ferreira:** Meaning "son of Ferreira," referring to a person who worked with iron or was a blacksmith.
23. **Fonseca:** From the Portuguese place name "Fonseca," meaning "source of the river."
24. **Freitas:** Meaning "cold" or "chill" in Portuguese, a surname possibly referring to a person who lived in a cold region.
25. **Gomes:** Meaning "son of Gomes," derived from the Germanic name "Gomo," meaning "man" or "warrior."
26. **Gonçalves:** Meaning "son of Gonçalo," derived from the Germanic name "Gundulph," meaning "war-wolf."
27. **Guimarães:** From the Portuguese place name "Guimarães," meaning "place of the Guimar family."
28. **Lima:** From the Portuguese word "lima," meaning "lime" or "lemon," a surname possibly indicating a person who grew citrus fruit.
29. **Lopes:** Meaning "son of Lourenço" or "son of Lawrence," derived from the Latin name "Laurentius."
30. **Machado:** Meaning "axe" or "hatchet" in Portuguese, a surname possibly indicating a person who worked with wood or was a lumberjack.
31. **Magalhães:** From the Portuguese place name "Magalhães," meaning "place of the Magalha family."
32. **Marques:** Meaning "son of Marcos" or "son of Mark," derived from the Latin name "Marcus," meaning "warlike."
33. **Martins:** Meaning "son of Martin," derived from the Latin name "Martinus," meaning "warlike" or "belonging to Mars."
34. **Melo:** From the Portuguese word "melo," meaning "melon," a surname possibly indicating a person who grew melons.
35. **Mendes:** Meaning "son of Mendes," derived from the Hebrew name "Mendel," meaning "lover of God."
36. **Miranda:** From the Portuguese place name "Miranda," meaning "to look at" or "to observe."
37. **Monteiro:** Meaning "hunter" or "mountain dweller" in Portuguese, a surname indicating a person who lived in the mountains or was skilled at hunting.
38. **Moraes:** From the Portuguese place name "Moraes," meaning "place of the Moors."
39. **Moreira:** From the Portuguese place name "Moreira," meaning "place of mulberry trees."
40. **Nascimento:** Meaning "birth" in Portuguese, a surname possibly indicating a person who was born in a specific place or who was known for their birth.
41. **Nogueira:** From the Portuguese place name "Nogueira," meaning "place of walnut trees."
42. **Oliveira:** From the Portuguese place name "Oliveira," meaning "place of olive trees."
43. **Pacheco:** From the Portuguese place name "Pacheco," meaning "place of the pack animals."
44. **Paiva:** From the Portuguese place name "Paiva," meaning "place of the paiva bird."
45. **Pereira:** Meaning "son of Pedro" or "son of Peter," derived from the Greek name "Petros," meaning "stone" or "rock."
46. **Pinto:** Meaning "painted" or "spotted" in Portuguese, a surname possibly indicating a person with a distinctive appearance.
47. **Queiroz:** From the Portuguese place name "Queiroz," meaning "place of the queiroz bird."
48. **Reis:** Meaning "kings" in Portuguese, a surname possibly indicating a person who was associated with royalty.
49. **Ribeiro:** From the Portuguese word "ribeiro," meaning "stream" or "brook," a surname indicating a person who lived near a river.
50. **Rodrigues:** Meaning "son of Rodrigo," derived from the Germanic name "Hrodric," meaning "famous ruler."
51. **Santos:** Meaning "saints" in Portuguese, a surname possibly indicating a person who was devoted to a particular saint or who lived near a church.
52. **Silva:** From the Portuguese word "silva," meaning "forest" or "woodland," a surname indicating a person who lived in a forested area.
53. **Souza:** From the Portuguese place name "Souza," meaning "place of the sow."
54. **Teixeira:** Meaning "son of Teixeira," referring to a person who worked with fabrics or was a weaver.
55. **Torres:** Meaning "towers" in Portuguese, a surname possibly indicating a person who lived in a tower or who was associated with a fortress.
56. **Valente:** Meaning "brave" or "valiant" in Portuguese, a surname indicating a person who was known for their courage.
57. **Vasconcelos:** From the Portuguese place name "Vasconcelos," meaning "place of the vases."
58. **Viana:** From the Portuguese place name "Viana," meaning "place of the vineyards."
59. **Vieira:** From the Portuguese place name "Vieira," meaning "place of the vieira shellfish."
60. **Vilela:** From the Portuguese place name "Vilela," meaning "place of the willows."