200+ Most Common Brazilian Last Names

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Naming expert Natalie Mulholland shares popular Brazilian surnames & what makes them unique

Co-authored by Natalie Mulholland and Bertha Isabel Crombet, PhD

Last Updated: December 15, 2025 Fact Checked

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Most Common

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Inspired by Nature

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Spiritual and Religious

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Descriptive

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European-Brazilian

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Asian-Brazilian

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What Makes Them Unique

Brazil is the largest country in South America, and its history is a unique blend of Indigenous, African, and European influences. Many Brazilian last names are Portuguese in origin, due to Portugal’s colonization of Brazil for about 300 years. If you’re Brazilian yourself or you’re simply curious to learn more about the colorful tapestry of Brazilian family names, keep reading! We’ve put together a comprehensive list of Brazilian last names, including their meanings, with help from naming expert Natalie Mulholland.

Common Brazilian Surnames

A list of the most common Brazilian last names.

Naming expert Natalie Mulholland says that Pereira, Lima, Sousa/Souza, Costa, Jaci, Guarani, Juruá, and Tikuna are popular examples. Other common Brazilian surnames include:

Alves: Son of Álvaro; elf warrior.
Carvalho: Oak tree.
Marques: Marquis or nobleman.
Ribeiro: Stream or brook.
Santos: Saints.
Silva: Forest or woods.
Teixeira: Yew tree.

Section 1 of 7:

Most Common Brazilian Last Names

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The most common last names in Brazil are of Portuguese origin. Portuguese settlers arrived in Brazil in 1500, intending to expand Portugal’s empire. They fell in love with the lush landscapes, sweet-smelling flowers, and fertile soil. Explorers like Pedro Álvares Cabral, Vasco de Gama, and Gonçalo Coelho introduced their Portuguese family names into the mix, leaving a lasting influence on the culture. Here are some other common Portuguese surnames in Brazil:^{[1]
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- Afonso: Noble and ready.
- Almeida: From Almeida in Portugal.
- Alves: Son of Álvaro; elf warrior.
- Barbosa: Bearded.
- Cardosa: A place with thistles.
- Carvalho: Oak tree.
- Castro: Castle or fortress.
- Correia: Someone who makes or sells leather straps.
- Costa:^{[2]
  X
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  Natalie Mulholland
  Naming Expert
  
  Expert Interview} Coast or hillside.
- Fernandes: Son of Fernando.
- Ferreira: Iron workings or a forge.
- Garcia: Young.
- Gomes: Son of Gome.
- Gonçalves: Son of Gonçalo, battle genius.
- Guarani:^{[3]
  X
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  Expert Interview} Warrior.
- Henriques: Son of Henrique.
- Jaci:^{[4]
  X
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  Natalie Mulholland
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  Expert Interview} Moon or mother of all waters.
- Jose: He shall add.
- Lima:^{[5]
  X
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  Natalie Mulholland
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- Lopes: Son of Lopo, wolf.
- Macedo: Near an apple grove; or, from a village in Lugo, Galicia.
- Marques: Marquis or nobleman.
- Martins: Son of Martin, warlike.
- Melo: Apple tree, blackbird; or, from the town of Melro.
- Mendes: Son of Mendo, offering.
- Moreira: Mulberry tree.
- Nunes: Son of Nuno.
- Oliveira: Olive tree.
- Pedro: Rock.
- Pereira:^{[6]
  X
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  Natalie Mulholland
  Naming Expert
  
  Expert Interview} Pear tree.
- Ramos: Near a wooded area.
- Ribeiro: Stream or brook.
- Rocha: Rock or cliff.
- Rodrigues: Son of Rodrigo, a famous ruler.
- Santos:^{[7]
  X
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  Natalie Mulholland
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  Expert Interview} Literally translates to “saints.”
- Silva:^{[8]
  X
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  Natalie Mulholland
  Naming Expert
  
  Expert Interview} Forest or woods.
- Sousa:^{[9]
  X
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  Natalie Mulholland
  Naming Expert
  
  Expert Interview} Salt marsh.
- Teixeira: Yew tree.
- Tikuna:^{[10]
  X
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  Natalie Mulholland
  Naming Expert
  
  Expert Interview} Men painted black.
- Urbano: “Urban”; from the city.
- Vieira: Scallop shell.
Meet the wikiHow Expert

Natalie Mulholland is a naming expert and content creator based in Athens, Georgia. She brings a linguistically focused approach to her content, sharing a name’s origin, meaning, category, notable people, and more.

Section 2 of 7:

Brazilian Last Names Inspired by Nature

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Brazil’s biodiversity has resulted in many nature-inspired last names. Brazil is one of the most biodiverse countries in the world, boasting 15-20% of the Earth’s total biological diversity. The Amazon rainforest alone covers about 60% of the country, housing millions of species and thousands of plant species. From savannahs to wetlands to forests, Brazil has a little bit of everything, which is reflected in the following family names:^{[11]
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- Areia: Sand.
- Campo/s: Field.
- Carvalho: Oak.
- Cedro: Cedar.
- Ceu: Sky.
- Estrela: Star.
- Figueira: Fig tree.
- Floresta: Forest.
- Flor: Flower.
- Fonseca: Dry fountain.
- Jardim: Garden.
- Juruá:^{[12]
  X
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  Natalie Mulholland
  Naming Expert
  
  Expert Interview} Great river.
- Lago: Lake.
- Lua: Moon.
- Montanha: Mountain.
- Monteiro: Hunter.
- Palmeira: Palm tree.
- Pedra: Stone.
- Pinheiro: Pine tree.
- Praia: Beach.
- Rio: River.
- Rosa: Rose.
- Sol: Sun.
- Terra: Earth.
- Vale: Valley.

Section 3 of 7:

Spiritual and Religious Brazilian Last Names

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Lots of last names reflect Brazil’s Catholic population. Although Portuguese colonists arrived in 1500, it would be about another 50 years until Catholicism was introduced. Jesuit missionaries began converting indigenous people in 1549, firmly cementing Catholicism as a prominent religion for centuries. Today, it still is, and here are the last names that prove it:^{[13]
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- Anjos: Angels.
- Apostolo: Apostle.
- Batista: Baptist.
- Bento: Blessed.
- Capela: Chapel.
- Caridade: Charity.
- Convento: Convent.
- Cruz: Cross.
- Esperança: Hope.
- Espírito: Spirit.
- Evangelista: Evangelist.
- Fé: Faith.
- Glória: Glory.
- Graça: Grace.
- Igreja: Church.
- Jesus: Jesus Christ.
- Mosteiro: Monastery.
- Padre: Father, as in “priest.”
- Paraíso: Paradise.
- Paz: Peace.
- Reis: Referring to the Three Wise Men in the Bible.
- Salvação: Salvation.
- Santana: Saint Anne.
- Santos: Saints.
- São: Saint.

Section 4 of 7:

Descriptive Brazilian Last Names

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These last names describe qualities and occupations of the first Brazilians who bore them. While many Brazilian last names reflect the country’s multicultural hodgepodge, some of them work as descriptors instead. Last names that described a person’s occupation, personality traits, or physical characteristics were not uncommon in Brazil’s earlier history, and they’ve since been passed down to younger generations. Here are some examples:^{[14]
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- Alegre: Happy.
- Alfaiate: Tailor.
- Alto: Tall.
- Amargo: Bitter.
- Baixo: Short.
- Barbeiro: Barber.
- Branco: White.
- Bravo: Brave.
- Caçador: Hunter.
- Calmo: Calm.
- Carpinteiro: Carpenter.
- Castanho: Brown.
- Claro: Clear.
- Doce: Sweet.
- Ferreiro: Blacksmith.
- Forte: Strong.
- Fraco: Weak.
- Gordo: Fat.
- Grande: Big.
- Jovem: Young.
- Lavrador: Farmer.
- Loiro: Blonde.
- Magro: Thin.
- Manso: Gentle.
- Moleiro: Miller.
- Moreno: Dark-haired.
- Novo: New.
- Padeiro: Baker.
- Pastor: Shepherd.
- Pedreiro: Stone mason.
- Pequeno: Small.
- Pescador: Fisherman.
- Preto: Black.
- Ruivo: Red-haired.
- Sapateiro: Shoemaker.
- Triste: Sad.
- Velho: Old.

Section 5 of 7:

European-Brazilian Last Names

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Some Brazilian family names have roots in German and Italian. Although Portugal was the most instrumental European country in shaping Brazil’s culture, it wasn’t the only one! Approximately 32 million Italian descendants live in Brazil, making up a huge diaspora. Although the German population is much smaller, both cultures have left lasting impressions on the language, food, and culture overall. Here are some popular European surnames:^{[15]
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- Bauer: Farmer; from German.
- Becker: Baker; from German.
- Benedetti: Blessed; from Italian.
- Bianchi: White-haired; from Italian.
- Braun: Brown; from German.
- Bruno: Brown-haired; from Italian.
- Cattaneo: Captain; from Italian.
- Colombo: Dove; from Italian.
- Conti: Count; from Italian.
- De Luca: From the city of Luca; from Italian.
- Esposito: Exposed as in, a foundling; from Italian.
- Ferrara: From the city of Ferrara; from Italian.
- Ferrari: Blacksmith; from Italian.
- Fischer: Fisher; from German.
- Gallo: Rooster; from Italian.
- Gentile: Gentle; from Italian.
- Greco: Greek; from Italian.
- Hartmann: Hardy man; from German.
- Hoffmann: Steward; from German.
- Klein: Small; from German.
- Koch: Cook; from German.
- Krüger: Innkeeper; from German.
- Lange: Tall; from German.
- Lombardi: From the city of Lombardy; from Italian.
- Mancini: Left-handed; from Italian.
- Marchetti: Little Marcus; from Italian.
- Marino: Of the sea; from Italian.
- Meyer: Steward; from German.
- Moretti: Dark-haired; from Italian.
- Müller: Miller; from German.
- Neumann: New man; from German.
- Pellegrino: Pilgrim; from Italian.
- Ricci: Curly-haired; from Italian.
- Richter: Judge; from German.
- Romano: Roman; from Italian.
- Rossi: Red-haired; from Italian.
- Russo: Red-haired; from Italian.
- Santoro: All saints; from Italian.
- Schäfer: Shepherd; from German.
- Schmidt: Smith; from German.
- Schmitt: Smith; from German.
- Schneider: Tailor; from German.
- Schulz: Mayor; from German.
- Schwarz: Black; from German.
- Vitale: Vital; from Italian.
- Wagner: Wagon maker; from German.
- Weber: Weaver; from German.
- Werner: Defending warrior; from German.
- Wolf: Wolf; from German.
- Zimmermann: Carpenter; from German.

Section 6 of 7:

Asian-Brazilian Last Names

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Japanese and Lebanese influences left their mark on Brazilian family names. Brazil has the largest Japanese population outside of Japan, which is why Japanese influence is so widespread. In fact, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu was heavily inspired by Japanese martial arts, like judo and Aikido. Interestingly enough, there are more Lebanese-Brazilians in Brazil than there are Lebanese people in Lebanon. Brazil’s got it all and then some! Here are some Asian surnames that are common in Brazil:
- Abdalla: Servant of Allah; from Lebanese.
- Abe: Peace; from Japanese.
- Aziz: Beloved; from Lebanese.
- Cury: Priest; from Lebanese.
- Dagher: Striker; from Lebanese.
- Elias: Jehovah is God; from Lebanese.
- Farah: Joy; from Lebanese.
- Fares: Knight; from Lebanese.
- Gazal: Gazelle; from Lebanese.
- Habib: Beloved; from Lebanese.
- Haddad: Blacksmith; from Lebanese.
- Hashimoto: Bridge base; from Japanese.
- Hayashi: Forest; from Japanese.
- Hayek: Weaver; from Lebanese.
- Ikeda: Pond rice field; from Japanese.
- Inoue: Above the well; from Japanese.
- Ishikawa: Stone river; from Japanese.
- Ito: Wisteria; from Japanese.
- Jamil: Beautiful; from Lebanese.
- Kassab: Butcher; from Lebanese.
- Kato: Increase wisteria; from Japanese.
- Khalil: Friend; from Lebanese.
- Kimura: Tree village; from Japanese.
- Kobayashi: Small forest; from Japanese.
- Maluf: Familiar; from Lebanese.
- Mansour: Victorious; from Lebanese.
- Matsumoto: Base of the pine; from Japanese.
- Mattar: Rain; from Lebanese.
- Mori: Forest; from Japanese.
- Nader: Rare; from Lebanese.
- Nakamura: Middle village; from Japanese.
- Nassar: Helper; from Lebanese.
- Safra: Journey; from Lebanese.
- Salim: Safe; from Lebanese.
- Sasaki: Help tree; from Japanese.
- Sato: Helping wisteria; from Japanese.
- Shimizu: Clear water; from Japanese.
- Suzuki: Bell tree; from Japanese.
- Takahashi: High bridge; from Japanese.
- Tanaka: Middle of the rice field; from Japanese.
- Tannous: Friendly; from Lebanese.
- Temer: Dates (fruit); from Lebanese.
- Watanabe: Crossing point; from Japanese.
- Yamada: Mountain rice field; from Japanese.
- Yamaguchi: Mountain entrance; from Japanese.
- Yamamoto: Base of the mountain; from Japanese.
- Yamazaki: Mountain promontory; from Japanese.
- Yoshida: Lucky rice field; from Japanese.
- Zahra: Flower; from Lebanese.
- Zogbi: Mercury; from Lebanese.

Section 7 of 7:

What makes Brazilian last names unique?

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Brazilian surnames are unique due to traditional naming practices and blended cultures. Mulholland says, “Brazilian surnames are a blend of Portuguese, African, Indigenous backgrounds. Brazilian names today usually combine both parents’ last names, and the order is flexible.”^{[16]
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Natalie Mulholland
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Expert Interview} In Brazil, it’s very common for citizens to have two last names, borrowing from both the mother's and father’s family lines. A woman may replace her mother’s name once she gets married, or she may keep all three names. Many of these surnames represent generations of blended cultures, including European, Asian, and African. Here are some famous multicultural Brazilians:^{[17]
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- Gisele Bündchen: Brazilian supermodel of Brazilian-German descent.
- Jair Bolsonaro: 38th president of Brazil with Italian and German ancestry.
- Tizuka Yamasaki: Brazilian-Japanese film director.
- Pelé (Edson Arantes do Nascimento): Afro-Brazilian soccer player, globally recognized as the greatest of all time.