100 Brazilian Last Names or Surnames with Meanings

Last names act as a bridge to our past and family heritage. Brazil is a diverse country with a rich and complex history shaped by colonization and migration. From the 18th to the early 20th century, people arrived from Portugal, Spain, Japan, Italy, Paraguay, and Bolivia, with over 1.5 million Portuguese immigrating between 1881 and 1991. Due to this presence, the most common Brazilian last names are closely tied to Portuguese roots and naming conventions. Brazil, the largest country in South America with over 207 million people, has surnames influenced by Iberian, Italian, German, East European, and Japanese origins. Miscegenation means Brazilians today may have Portuguese ancestry regardless of ethnicity. Portuguese remains the primary language, and Roman Catholicism continues to shape cultural traditions. Thus, Brazilian surnames are primarily based on historical sources, reflecting ancestry, migration, and the deep influence of Portugal.

Traditions Behind Brazilian Family Names

The most common last names in Brazil reflect strong family traditions and cultural values. People typically carry two surnames, one from the mother and one from the father, to honor both family lines. After marriage, many Brazilian women drop their mother’s name and replace it with their husband’s surname, though some keep all and may end up with three surnames. Place names have also played a major role in shaping Brazilian surnames, as families often chose names linked to regions, towns, or landscapes. This practice not only connects individuals to their roots but also reflects Brazil’s deep respect for preserving its history and heritage through names.

Common Brazilian Surnames

Common Brazilian surnames and meanings reflect the country’s rich cultural roots, blending Portuguese, regional, and historical influences that continue to shape family identities today.

1. Acanfora

This Italian, Medieval Italian, Portuguese surname originates from the medieval personal name Canfora, meaning “camphor.”

2. Alves

This patronymic surname is derived from the Portuguese/Spanish first name Alvaro, which comes from the Germanic (Visigoth) words “all,” meaning all, and “wer,” meaning true.

3. Barreto

This occupational surname of Portuguese Origin means “hatmaker.” Other variants include Barretta in Italian, Barreto in Spanish.

4. Braga

This Portuguese surname is named after the capital of the district of Braga in Portugal. The place was named after Bracari, the Celtic tribe who lived in the region. Bracaria in Latin comes from the word “brachae,” meaning trousers, leggings, or breeches.

5. Carvalho

This Portuguese surname means ‘Oak’.

6. Costa

This topographic surname of Portuguese, Galician, Italian, and Jewish (Sephardic) origin refers to ‘someone who lived on a slope or riverbank, or on the seacoast that comes from Latin costa ‘rib,’ ‘side,’ ‘flank’ or Greek origin as in Costas.

7. Denílson/Denilson

This surname of Portuguese origin means “of great courage” or ‘greatness.’

8. Fernandez/Fernandes

This Portuguese surname means “son of Fernando.” The Germanic name that it derives from Gothic: Frið-nanð meaning “brave traveler.”

9. Geraldo

This German surname comes from the name Gerhard, meaning ‘strong.’ It originated from the Tuscany region and later spread to Italy and Portugal.

10. Gracie

This surname of Portuguese, Spanish origin means “gracefulness; honor; mercy.”

11. Isabel

Isabella is Elizabeth’s Spanish and Italian variation, derived from the Hebrew name Elisheba, meaning “God is my oath.”

12. Jorge

Jorge comes from the Greek name Georgios, meaning ‘earth tiller’ or a ‘farmer.’ The occupational name was adopted among the Portuguese and has been documented since the early sixth century.

13. Lara

This surname of Hispanic origin means ‘from Lares,’ wherein Lares refers to the home of Gods.

14. Luz

This surname of Portuguese and Spanish origin means “light.” The given name is shortened from Nossa Senhora Da Luz, a Roman Catholic epithet of the Virgin Mary as “Our Lady of Light.”

15. Marques

This Portuguese patronymic surname means ‘Son of Marcus.”

16. Moreira

This surname of Portuguese and Galician origins means ‘Mulberry tree”.

17. Noronha

This Portuguese and Spanish surname refers to’ someone who came from the place name Noreña, in Spain.’

18. Pareira

Derived from Latin Pirum, meaning ‘pear,’ Pareira comes from Portuguese and Galician and means ‘pear tree.’

19. Preto

This prestigious Spanish and Portuguese surname is derived from the word “apretar,” meaning “dense, or thick,” it may have denoted a place where a man once lived or owned densely wooded land.

20. Ramos

Ramos is a surname of Spanish and Portuguese origin which means “bouquets” or “branches,” referring to someone who lived in a thickly wooded area. It is a habitational name for someone from one of many towns called Ramos in Spain and Portugal.

21. Requião

Requiao is a topynymic surname referring to someone who lived in a village in Vila Nova de Famalicão, Portugal.

22. Sanna

This Portuguese surname comes from Italian Sardinian, a nickname for someone with prominent front teeth. Its Greek form Sannas is an occupational name for a hay seller, from Sano or Slavic Seno, meaning ‘hay.’

23. Silva

Silva is a Portuguese surname that means “forest,” “jungle,” or ‘woodland’ in Latin.

24. Teodoro

A variant of Portuguese Theodore is a respected family name from Greek Theodore, meaning ‘god’s gift.’

25. Vale

Derived from Latin Vallis, Vale refers to ‘valley’ in Portuguese.

Popular Brazilian Last Name

Popular last names in Brazil reveal the nation’s diverse cultural roots, blending Portuguese heritage with influences from immigrants across Europe, Africa, and Asia. These surnames not only honor family lineages but also reflect Brazil’s rich history and traditions.

1. Afonso

Derived from the Portuguese name Afonso of Visigothic origins, this Portuguese Iberian surname was first started by the first dynasty and King of Portugal and became a common name for Iberian royalty. Afonso means “noble and ready” or “ready for battle,” from Germanic “hiltja” (battle) and “funs” (ready).

2. Ballio

The surname Ballio originally comes from one of the numerous place names in France, such as Bailleul-en-Vimeu in Picardy or Bailleul in Northern France. Generally derived from the Old French word “baille,” it means “fortification.”

3. Batista

Batista is a Spanish or Portuguese surname, commonly spelled as Baptista, which literally means “Baptist.”

4. Campos

This surname of Portuguese/Spanish origin means ‘someone who lives near the countryside.’

5. Cavaco

Borrowed from cavaquinho from the diminutive of Cavaco (fragment of wood), this Portuguese surname means ‘Log.’

6. Cuoto

This Portuguese topographic surname means “enclosed pasture.”Derived from Late Latin cautum or cavere, it means ‘to make safe.’ It might be an altered spelling of French Couteau.

7. Espindola

This Spanish surname comes from the place-name Espinosa which comes from the word “Espino,” meaning “hawthorn.” It refers to someone who lived near a place where this tree grew in abundance.

8. Ferreira

This Galician and Portuguese topographic name refers to ‘someone who lived by a forge or a blacksmith”. It comes from Latin Ferrari, meaning a ‘forge’ or ‘ironworking.’

9. Gimenes

With more than 42,000 people bearing this as a personal name, it is a variant of the Iberian-origin Jiménez. It contains the Spanish suffix -ez, meaning “son [of].”

10. Henriques

This patronymic surname of Iberian origin means ‘Son of Henrique.’ Its English and Spanish equivalents include ‘Henry’ and ‘Enrique,’ and more than 29,000 people in Brazil have this surname.

11. Isidoro

This Spanish surname comes from Greek Isidoros, meaning ‘gift of Isis.’ Isis was an Egyptian goddess, mother of Horus.

12. Jose

This name of Hebrew origin means “he shall add.” It is also the Spanish and Portuguese version of Joseph which translates to “Jehovah increases.”

13. Lemos

Derived from Latin origin, Lemos is a Portuguese habitational name that comes from Lugo province, Galicia.

14. Macedo

This habitational name comes from Macedo, a village in Lugo province, Galicia. It is a topographic name from Macedo ‘apple grove’, a derivative of maça ‘apple.’

15. Martins

Commonly used in English, Scottish, Irish, French, Dutch, German, Czech, Slovak, Spanish, this surname comes from Latin Martinus, a derivative of Mars, the Roman god of fertility and war. Martins means ‘Of Mars’ or ‘warlike.’

16. Mota

This Portuguese and Spanish surname means ‘Someone who lives near a fort.”

17. Nunes

This Portuguese surname means ‘son of Nune.’

18. Pinheiro

Pinheiro means ‘pine tree’ in Portuguese.

19. Primavera

This surname of Italian, Portuguese, Spanish origin means “the season of spring.”

20. Raposo

This surname of Portuguese-Galician origin is derived from the word Raposo meaning “male fox,” which comes from the Portuguese “raboso,” meaning “tail,” referring to its beautiful furry tail.

21. Ribeiro

Commonly found in Galicia, Portugal, and Brazil, Ribeiro refers to a wine-making region of Southeast central Galicia. In Portuguese, it literally means “small creek” or “by the river.”

22. Santos

This Christian surname is common in Portuguese, Spanish, Italian and French languages. The English translation of Santos is Saints. This Portuguese surname means “holy.” Other Iberian grammatical forms of Santos are De Santo, De Santos, Del Santo, Santi, Santis, Santiz, Senti, and Sentis.

23. Sousa

Derived from Latin Salsus for ‘salty’ or saxa ‘rocks,’ Sousa indicates someone who lived near the River Sousa in Portugal.

24. Tolentino

This Portuguese surname refers to the place name in the province of Macerata, Italy

25. Valente

This Portuguese surname means “brave, valiant.”

Unique Brazilian Last Names

Unique Brazilian surnames stand out for their rare origins, often inspired by places, family nicknames, or ancestral occupations that continue to preserve family identity.

1 Agosto

The surname Agosto comes from Agostino, derived from the Latin word “Augustus,” meaning “favored with good omens.”

2. Barbaroza

This Portuguese surname of southwestern Galician origin refers to an individual living by land with overgrown leafy vegetation. It is composed of Barba, a type of plant, -oso ‘place rich in this plant.’

3. Beça

This Portuguese surname derived from ancient medieval times derives from Rebecca of Hebrew origin, meaning to tie, constrict, or captivate.

4. Cardoso/Cardozo

This Portuguese surname common among the Jews means ‘A Sephardi.’The surname ‘of Cardoso’ refers to a place where thistles grew, in Spain and Portugal.

5. Cavalcante

This surname of Italian origin comes from the Latin word for ‘to ride,’ referring to horse riders or horse trainers.

6. Da Cruz

This Portuguese surname means “from the Cruz family.” A variant of Cruz, with the addition of the preposition da ‘of (the),’ ‘from (the),’ is originally an epithet with religious connotations.

7. Esteves

Esteves comes from Esteva, a flower in Portuguese. This Portuguese patronymic surname means ‘Son of Stephen”.

8. Gama

Gama is a variant of Gamma, Da Gamma, and means ‘fallow deer doe’. It is a feminine form of gamo, a topographic or habitational name.

9. Gomes

This Portuguese surname means ‘Man.” It is derived from the Visigothic word guma, meaning “man.” Its Spanish equivalent is Gómez or Gomez.

10. Hernandes

Equivalent to the Spanish Hernandez, Hernandes has Hebrew ancestry. It means ‘Son of Hernan.’

11. Jacinto

This Portuguese name referring to the Hyacinth flower is a rare surname. One adopted the surname to honor the respected St. Hyacinth, who was a Roman martyr.

12. Kayano

This surname of Portuguese Origin means “yew tree field; yew tree meadow; yew tree wilderness.”

13. Lima

Lima is a variety of metal in Latin and refers to a place of lime trees in Spanish. It is a topographical surname for the people who lived on the banks of the Lima River in Portuguese.

14. Madruga

This Portuguese surname comes from madrugar, a nickname for an early riser and means ‘To get up early.”

15. Melo

This toponymic surname means ‘A person who came from Melo, Portugal.” The original name of the town was Merlo, which is an archaic form of “melro,” meaning “blackbird” in Portuguese.

16. Neves

Neves is the Portuguese plural form of “snow.” The surname is supposedly connected to the veneration of “Our Lady of the Snows” (Portuguese: Nossa Senhora das Neves), given to a village in the northwest of Portugal.

17. Oliveira

Derived from Latin oliva, this Portuguese surname indicates ‘a person who lived near or worked with olive trees.’

18. Pinho

This Portuguese habitational surname means ‘pine’ or ‘pinewood.’

19. Raij

This name of Spanish, Portuguese, Judeo-Spanish, Romani Calo origin means ‘rice.’

20. Rego

This surname of Iberian-Portuguese origin means “an individual who lives near a water channel.”

21. Rodrigues

This surname of Portuguese/Spanish origin means ‘Son of Rodrigo.”

22. Savaira

This surname of Portuguese origin means “hail.”

23. Tecelão

This Portuguese surname means “weaver.”

24. Tupinambás

This surname of Indigenous Brazilian origin refers to ‘the American Indian tribe who lived along the Brazilian coast from the Guanabara Bay to the mouth of the Amazon River.”

25. Vanderlei

This surname of Portuguese, Dutch origin means “holly.” It comes from the Dutch surname Van der Leij/Ley.

Rare Brazilian Last Names

Rare Brazilian surnames are less common today but carry deep historical meaning, often reflecting ancestral roots, regional ties, or cultural traditions that shaped family identities.

1. Agra

This Galician and Portuguese surname is widespread in the Rías Baixas (Muros-Noia) area of Spain.

2. Barreira

This Portuguese surname means “clay hollow/loam hollow,” referring to place names in Galicia and Portugal.

3. Bocaiúva

This Portuguese surname of indigenous Brazilian origin refers to the American Indian tribe who lived in Minas Gerais.

4. Carreira

This Portuguese surname means ‘Carter” and comes from Carreira, which is derived from where the original bearer lived or held land. It comes from the Galician/Portuguese word “Carreiro,” meaning “a driver of cars or carts.”

5. Correia

This metonymic occupation surname of Portuguese origin comes from the Portuguese word Correia, meaning “a leather strap or belt.” (Latin corrigia, “fastening,” from corrigere, “to straighten or to correct”), applied to a ‘Leather beltmaker’ or seller of leather belts and straps

6. De Zurara

This Portuguese surname refers to the place name Aveiro, a city in north-eastern Portugal.

7. Faria

This surname is a Portuguese version and has its origin in the districts of Braga and Aveiro. The Southern Italian version is derived from the Greek ‘pharos’ meaning lighthouse,

8. Garcia

The Latin form of Garcia is ‘Garsea’ as found in many medieval records. More than 400,000 people in Brazil have this surname.

9. Gordo

Gordo means “fat” in Spanish and Portuguese.

10. Inacio

Inacio is a variant of Ignacio and used as a first name meaning ‘fire’ in Spanish. It is also spelled “Ignácio.”

11. Jesus

This common Biblical name had been adopted as a family name among the devotees, which the Portuguese adopted as a family name.

12. Lacerda

Lacerda is the equivalent of the Spanish name ‘La Cerda,’ which means ‘the lock of hair’ and was primarily used as a nickname for anyone with a hairy back or chest.

13. Lopes/Lopez

This surname of Portuguese and Spanish origin means “Son of Lope.” It comes from Latin lupus, meaning “wolf.”

14. Maia

This Spanish/Basque surname means “High Meseta.” It is a Greek name, used as the feminized form of Thomas the Apostle or as a reference to the mythic mother of Hermes.

15. Morais

A variant of Moraes, this Portuguese topographic surname means ‘Blackberry.”

16. Nogueira

Nogueira comes from the Latin nucarius or nux meaning ‘nut’. It means ‘walnut tree’ in Portuguese and Galician.

17. Paredes

Derived from Latin paries, this surname comes from Portuguese parede, and Spanish pared meaning ‘wall.’ It refers to a person ‘who lived near a wall.’

18. Pinto

This common Italian, Spanish, and Portuguese surname means ‘mottled’ and comes from Late Latin Pinctus, meaning ‘painted.’

19. Ramires

This Portuguese patronymic surname of Germanic origin means ‘son of Ramiro.’ It also means “wise protector,” coming from the Germanic elements ragin, meaning “counsel,” and Mari or meri, meaning “fame.”

20. Reis

This surname of Portuguese origin means “Kings.” It means ‘rice’ in German.

21. Salvador

This surname of Filipino, Spanish, Catalan, Tagalog, Portuguese origin means “savior; to save.”

22. Schmidt

This occupational surname comes from German Smit or Schmied and means ‘Blacksmith.’

23. Teixeira

This Portuguese surname means ‘Yew tree.’

24. Vagula

This surname of Estonian-Brazilian origin refers to a village and a lake in Võru County in southern Estonia.

25. Vilar

Derived from Late Latin Villare or Villa, this surname means ‘hamlet’ in Galician, Catalan, and Portuguese.

FAQs

1. Are Brazilian Last Names Influenced by Other Cultures?

Yes, besides Portuguese origins, many Brazilian surnames have roots in Spanish, Italian, German, African, and Japanese cultures due to immigration and Brazil’s diverse history.

2. What Role do Places Play in Brazilian Surnames?

Place names are a major source of Brazilian surnames. Families often adopted names of towns, rivers, or landscapes, which helped preserve regional identity and history.

3. Can Brazilians Change their Family Names Legally?

Yes, the Brazilian civil code allows citizens to change their surnames. Courts may reject blasphemous or offensive names, but otherwise, families can update names for cultural, personal, or legal reasons.

Giving children uncommon Brazilian family names has become a way for families to make them stand out. Many Brazilians draw inspiration from saints, martyrs, or historical figures, combining given names and surnames for deeper meaning. The Brazilian civil code even allows citizens to change their names, with registrars only advised to avoid approving blasphemous or absurd choices. If refused, families can often register elsewhere or seek a judicial order.

Infographic – Brazilian Last Names or Surnames

Also Read:

Badass Last Names Or Surnames
English Last Names or Surnames
Southern Last Names or Surnames
Medieval Last Names Or Surnames with Meanings

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