Brazilian family names have a long and rich history. Many of the most common Brazilian surnames are of Portuguese origin, as Portugal was the colonial power in Brazil for many years. Other common Brazilian surnames have origins in Spanish, German, Italian, and French names, as there has been significant immigration from all of these countries to Brazil.
There are many stories and legends surrounding the origins of Brazilian family names. One popular legend is that of Antônio Rodrigues Aragão, who was supposedly the first person to use the surname Aragão. According to legend, Rodrigues was a young man from Portugal who came to Brazil in the 16th century. He fell in love with a Brazilian woman named Maria da Silva, but her father disapproved of their relationship. In order to be able to marry her, Rodrigues took on the surname Aragão, which was the name of Maria's family.
Another legend tells the story of João Fernandes Vieira, who was a Portuguese explorer who sailed to Brazil in 1500. Fernandes is said to have liked the country so much that he decided to stay and change his name to Vieira, which means "green" in Portuguese.
There are also many Brazilian surnames that have indigenous origins. These names often reflect the regions where indigenous people live or the animals that are important to them. Some examples of indigenous Brazilian surnames include Gomes (meaning "monkey") or Silva (meaning "forest").
Have a look at these Brzilian surnames to know more: