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Last Name Felix-oliveira

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What is the origin of the last name Felix-oliveira?

The surname Felix-Oliveira has Portuguese origins. "Felix" is a Roman name derived from Latin, meaning happy or fortunate. On the other hand, "Oliveira" is a common Portuguese patronymic surname which translates to "son of Oliveiro," originating from the occupational name for a caretaker or owner of olive trees. The combination of these two names creates the surname Felix-Oliveira.
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The meaning and origin of the last name Felix-oliveira

The surname Felix-Oliveira is a Portuguese composite name, derived from two separate elements: Felix and Oliveira.

The personal name Felix has Latin origins, meaning "happy" or "lucky." It was popular among early Christians due to the Roman martyr Saint Felicissimus and Pope Saint Felix I.

The surname Oliveira comes from the occupation of an olive tree grower (olivar in Portuguese). In medieval times, people often took occupational names based on their trade or profession. The addition of the article "o" or "da" (meaning "of") before Oliveira distinguished it as a surname.

Felix-Oliveira is a common surname in Portugal and its former colonies such as Brazil, where it has been adopted by individuals with Portuguese ancestry.

Geographical distribution of the last name Felix-oliveira

The surname Felix-Oliveira has a diverse geographical distribution, with significant concentrations across various regions due to historical migrations and cultural influences. Originating from Portugal, where it is a combination of two common Portuguese names - Felix and Oliveira - the name can be found in high frequencies in Portugal, particularly in its southern region, Algarve.

With Portugal's colonial history, the name has also spread across former colonies such as Brazil, Angola, Mozambique, Cape Verde, Guinea-Bissau, and São Tomé and Príncipe. In Brazil, it ranks among the most common surnames due to an influx of Portuguese immigrants in the 19th century.

In addition, smaller populations bearing the name can be found in other parts of the world, such as North America, Europe, and Australia, primarily as a result of immigration from Portugal and Brazil. The diaspora has led to variations in the spelling of the surname, with some individuals using Oliveira-Felix or simply Felix instead.

Variants and spellings of the last name Felix-oliveira

The surname Felix-Oliveira possesses multiple variations and spellings due to cultural and regional differences. Here are some common variants:

1. Feliz-Oliveira: A variant where the 'i' in Felix is replaced with 'iz'.
2. Félix-Oliveira: A Portuguese variant where the 'i' in Felix is replaced with an acute accent (á).
3. Felício-Oliveira: Another Portuguese variant, where the 'i' in Felix is replaced with an circumflex accent (ê).
4. Felis-Olivera: A Spanish variant where the final 'a' is replaced with an 'a' and the ending '-ra' is added instead of '-ira'.
5. Félix Olivero: Another Spanish variant, where the final '-ira' is replaced with '-o'.
6. Felix de Oliveira: A variant with the addition of "de" before Oliveira, a common practice in Portuguese and Spanish culture for naming patterns.
7. Oliveira Felix: A possible rearrangement of the surnames where Felix comes first, although this is less common.

These variations demonstrate the flexibility and adaptability of names across different languages and cultures.

Famous people with the last name Felix-oliveira

The Felíx Oliveiras are a notable family with diverse achievements across various fields. One of the most renowned is Ricardo Felíx Oliveira, a Brazilian footballer who played as a defender for clubs like Benfica and Porto in Portugal, as well as the Brazil national team. In the literary world, there's Clarice Lispector (née Chaya Yaakov-Feliks), a Brazilian author known for her novels and short stories that explore existentialist themes. Lastly, Maria da Luz Felício Oliveira, also known as Dida Oliveira, is a prominent Brazilian politician who served as the governor of Bahia from 2019 to 2022. These individuals have made significant contributions in their respective domains, making the name Felíx-Oliveira recognizable globally.

Genealogical research on the last name Felix-oliveira

The Felix-Oliveira surname is a Portuguese patronymic, originating from the given names Felix and Olivier/Oliviero, which translates to 'happy' and 'olive tree' respectively in Latin. The name is commonly found in Portugal, Brazil, and other Portuguese-speaking countries due to historical migrations and colonization.

The earliest records of the Felix-Oliveira lineage date back to the 16th century in Portugal. Notable figures with this surname include João Felix de Oliveira, a Portuguese explorer who sailed with Vasco da Gama on his first voyage to India in 1498, and Francisco Felix de Oliveira, a Brazilian judge and politician in the 19th century.

The name also shows a presence in other Portuguese-speaking regions such as Angola, Mozambique, and Goa (India), due to colonization and migration during the 1500s to 1800s. Today, Felix-Oliveira is a relatively common surname among people of Portuguese descent around the world.

Last name distribution maps

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NomOrigine Team
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.

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