Last Name Lopes-oliveira

The surname Lopes-Oliveira is a Portuguese composite surname, derived from two separate patronymic surnames. The first part, "Lopes," is a common surname in Portugal that originally denoted a connection to the place named Lopo or a descendant of a person with the given name Lopo. The name Lopo is thought to be derived from the Germanic personal name Hlodowig (Ludwig), which was brought to Portugal by the Visigoths in the 5th century. The second part, "Oliveira," also a common Portuguese surname, comes from the word for olive tree ("oliveira" in Portuguese). It likely originated as an occupational name for someone who worked with or near olive trees. Together, Lopes-Oliveira would indicate that the bearer is either a descendant of a person named Lopo who was associated with olive trees or worked with them, or potentially two separate individuals who were both descendants of people named Lopo and Oliveira, respectively, and their names became combined due to family merging over time.

Learn more about the origin of the last name Lopes-oliveira

The meaning and origin of the last name Lopes-oliveira

The surname Lopes Oliveira is a composite Portuguese patronymic name, derived from two distinct elements: Lopes and Oliveira.

Lopes is a common surname in Portugal that originates from the Occitan word "lope," meaning wolf. During the Middle Ages, it was often given as a nickname to someone who was thought to resemble a wolf or lived near one. Over time, this name became hereditary.

Oliveira, on the other hand, is a topographic surname that originally referred to someone who lived near an olive tree or grove. The word "oliveira" comes from the Latin "olivarius," meaning one who cultivates olive trees.

When combined, Lopes Oliveira indicates an individual who was initially known by one of these names and then adopted the other as their surname for various reasons such as geographical migration or lineage expansion. The combination of the two surnames is relatively common in Portugal due to the frequent intermarriage between families with similar origins.

Geographical distribution of the last name Lopes-oliveira

Lopes-Oliveira is a Portuguese surname and its geographical distribution primarily reflects the historical presence of Portugal and its colonies. It is most commonly found in Portugal, particularly in regions such as Minho, Braga, Porto, and Lisbon. The name also has significant presence in Brazil, due to the large number of Portuguese immigrants during colonial times. In Brazil, Lopes-Oliveira can be found across various states, with a high concentration in the southeastern region, including São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro. There are also notable numbers of Lopes-Oliveiras in countries like Angola, Mozambique, and Cape Verde, as a result of Portuguese colonization. In North America, the name can be found in countries with significant Brazilian or Portuguese immigrant populations, such as the United States and Canada.

Variants and spellings of the last name Lopes-oliveira

Lopes-Oliveira is a Portuguese surname that consists of two distinct components: Lopes, which is a patronymic derived from the given name Loup (meaning wolf in French), and Oliveira, which is a toponymic originating from the word olive tree grove or olive oil press.

Common variations of the surname Lopes-Oliveira include:

1. Lopes Oliveira
2. Loupes-Oliveira
3. Lopez-Olivera (Spanish variation)
4. Lopes Oliviera
5. Lopes Oliva(o)ra (mis-spelled but still recognizable variant)
6. Lopez Oliverio (Portuguese-Brazilian variant)
7. de Lopes Oliveira
8. Ferreira Lopes (common Portuguese surname combination, with Lopes being second and not part of the compound name)
9. Sousa Lopes Oliveira (common Portuguese naming pattern including a geographical or occupational first name)
10. da Lopes Oliveira (includes the "da" honorific particle common in Portugal, indicating nobility or high social status)

Famous people with the last name Lopes-oliveira

Notable individuals with the surname Lopes Oliveira include:

1. André Lopes Oliveira, a Brazilian footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for Sao Paulo Futebol Clube.
2. Carlos Lopes Oliveira, a Portuguese professional footballer who plays as a midfielder.
3. Eduardo Lopes Oliveira, a Brazilian economist, former Minister of Finance and current Governor of the Central Bank of Brazil.
4. José Eduardo Dutra de Oliveira Lopes, better known as Zé Luiz, a Brazilian football coach and former player who played as a defender.
5. João Lopes Oliveira, a Portuguese professional footballer who plays for Vitória Setúbal in the Portuguese LigaPro.
6. Maria de Lourdes Pintasilgo Lopes Oliveira, a Portuguese lawyer and politician who served as the Minister of Education and Minister of Foreign Affairs.
7. Rui Pedro Lopes Oliveira, a Portuguese professional footballer who plays for C.D. Feirense in the Primeira Liga.
8. Samuel Lopes Oliveira, a Brazilian footballer who plays as a forward for Atlético Goianiense.
9. Simone da Silva Lopes Oliveira, better known as Simone, a Brazilian volleyball player who is part of the Brazil women's national volleyball team.

Genealogical research on the last name Lopes-oliveira

The Lopes-Oliveira surname is a Portuguese composite name, originating from two distinct family lines. The "Lopes" part is derived from the common medieval personal name "Luís," which was often shortened to "Lope" in other parts of Europe, and later added as a suffix to the original family name when it was passed down through generations. The "Oliveira" component refers to the occupational name for an individual who worked with olive trees or lived near one. This surname has been predominantly found in Portugal, particularly in the northern regions. Notable figures bearing this name include João Lopes de Oliveira, a 16th-century Portuguese explorer, and Francisco Lopes de Oliveira, a prominent Brazilian musician. The Lopes-Oliveira family tree can be traced back to various regions of Portugal, reflecting the surname's widespread use in the country.

Last name distribution maps

Sources & References

• INSEE statistics on the surname "lopes-oliveira"
• 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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