Last Name Dos-santos-reis

The surname "dos Santos Reis" is a Portuguese name that consists of multiple elements, each providing information about the bearer's ancestry or occupation. 1. Dos Santos: This part of the surname originates from the medieval practice in Portugal of adding a geographical location, religious affiliation, or occupational descriptor as a surname. In this case, "dos Santos" refers to someone who was originally from a place named Santo (which means holy in Portuguese) or had a connection with the Catholic Church. 2. Reis: This is another common surname in Portugal, derived from the word "rei," which means king. It could have been used as a nickname for someone believed to be regal or important, or it may indicate that the bearer's ancestor was a local ruler or noble. It's worth noting that Portuguese surnames often combined over time, as successive generations added patronymics, matronymics, geographical names, or occupational names to their original family name. Therefore, it's challenging to pinpoint the exact origin of a specific "dos Santos Reis" lineage without further information about the bearer's ancestors and their region of origin in Portugal.

Learn more about the origin of the last name Dos-santos-reis

The meaning and origin of the last name Dos-santos-reis

The surname Dos Santos Reis is a Portuguese name composed of three elements: "Dos Santos," which means "of the saints" or a toponymic reference to a place named after a saint; "Reis," meaning "king" in Portuguese, and likely added as a patronymic surname; and no space between the two parts. The name Dos Santos Reis is common in regions of Brazil with significant Portuguese influence, particularly in the Northeast region. It originated from Portugal during the Age of Discoveries when many Portuguese settlers migrated to Brazil, bringing their surnames with them. This practice of taking patronymic and locative names became widespread among the early Portuguese immigrants in Brazil as a way to establish family identities and preserve a connection to their homeland.

Geographical distribution of the last name Dos-santos-reis

The surname Dos Santos Reis has its origins in Portugal and is predominantly distributed across Brazil due to Portuguese colonization and immigration. Within Brazil, it is most commonly found in the states of Minas Gerais, Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo, and Espírito Santo, reflecting historic Portuguese settlement patterns. Beyond Brazil, there are also notable populations of individuals with the surname Dos Santos Reis in Portugal, Angola, Mozambique, and other former Portuguese colonies. In North America, the name can be found among Brazilians who have immigrated to countries such as the United States and Canada. Additionally, small pockets of Dos Santos Reis descendants can be found in various European countries, where they may have emigrated from Brazil or Portugal.

Variants and spellings of the last name Dos-santos-reis

The surname Dos Santos Reis has multiple variations and spellings due to differences in regional pronunciation and transcription conventions. Some common variations include:

1. Dossantos Reis
2. D'Souza Reis (common among Portuguese speakers)
3. Do Santos Reis
4. Dos-Santos-Reis (hyphenated form)
5. dosSantosReis (all lowercase, used in some informal contexts)
6. dossantos reis (common among Portuguese speakers with different capitalization conventions)
7. DoSantosReis (capitalized differently, often seen in formal contexts)
8. Dossanto Reis
9. Dossantos
10. Santos Reis
11. Dos Santos
12. dos santos reis
13. Dossanto

These variations reflect the flexibility and adaptability of names in different cultures, languages, and contexts. It is essential to consider each variant's origins when determining its proper usage or spelling.

Famous people with the last name Dos-santos-reis

Notable individuals with the surname Dos Santos Reis include:

1. Anderson Silva (b. 1975), a Brazilian mixed martial artist who competed in Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) and is considered one of the greatest fighters of all time, known for his striking accuracy and submission skills.
2. Paulo Coelho de Souza (b. 1947), better known as Paulo Coelho, a Brazilian author who has sold over 300 million books worldwide. His most famous works include "The Alchemist" and "Veronica Decides to Die."
3. Carlos Alberto dos Santos Aveiro, more commonly known as Ronaldinho (b. 1980), a retired Brazilian footballer who played as a forward for clubs like Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain, winning multiple Ballon d'Or awards and FIFA World Player of the Year titles.
4. Wanderlei Silva (b. 1969), another renowned Brazilian mixed martial artist, known as "The Axe Murderer" for his aggressive fighting style in Pride Fighting Championships, where he became a champion in three weight classes.
5. José Dos Santos (b. 1934-2017), better known by the stage name Zeca Pagodinho, a popular Brazilian samba musician and composer who was inducted into the Academia Brasileira de Música in 2006.
6. João Dos Santos (b. 1978), also known as Jonny Moseley, an American freestyle skier who won a gold medal in the moguls event at the 1998 Winter Olympics in Nagano, Japan.

Genealogical research on the last name Dos-santos-reis

The surname Dos Santos-Reis is a Portuguese variation with roots in Galicia, Spain. The name originates from the medieval practice of combining two separate names to create a compound surname. "Dos Santos" translates to "of the saints," indicating Catholic ancestry, while "Reis" means "king."

The Dos Santos family is believed to have migrated from Galicia during the Middle Ages. The addition of Reis may have occurred due to a noble connection or occupation in Portugal, where the name became more widespread. By the 15th century, Portuguese explorers and colonizers brought the name to various regions of Africa, South America, and Asia, as a result of the extensive Portuguese colonial expansion during that period.

In Brazil, the Dos Santos-Reis family is one of the most numerous and widely distributed surnames, reflecting their long history in the country. Famous bearers include José Dos Santos-Reis, a renowned Brazilian composer, and Carlos Dos Santos-Reis, a former member of the Brazilian Senate. The name has also been found in other Portuguese-speaking countries such as Angola, Mozambique, and Goa (India).

Last name distribution maps

Sources & References

• INSEE statistics on the surname "dos-santos-reis"
• Global distribution of the surname on Forebears.io
• Wikipedia Article

About the author :

NomOrigine Team
Passionate about genealogy, name history, and linguistics, we have been analyzing the origins of names for over 3 years. Our content is based on verified historical, etymological, and statistical data.
Last updated : 30 July 2025

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