Last Name Rosa-soares

The surname Rosa-Soares is a Portuguese patronymic name, meaning "son of Soares" in English. Soares is a common Portuguese surname that originates from the medieval personal name Suarius or Souaro, which is of uncertain etymology. It could be derived from various roots such as "suar" (sweat), "soare" (rising sun) or "Sua Aurea" (his gold). Rosa, on the other hand, is a surname and given name of various origins but in Portuguese, it means "rose." When combined with Soares, the compound surname Rosa-Soares indicates that the bearer was the son of a man named Rosa or had a mother named Rosa.

Learn more about the origin of the last name Rosa-soares

The meaning and origin of the last name Rosa-soares

The surname Rosa-Soares is a Portuguese composite name, originating from two distinct elements: "Rosa" and "Soares." The first part, Rosa, is a patronymic name derived from the female given name Rosa, which means 'rose' in Latin. The second part, Soares, is also a patronymic name that originates from the male given name Soeiro or Suaire, meaning 'shepherd' in Old Portuguese. This composite surname, therefore, combines both maternal and paternal lineages, reflecting a common naming practice in Portugal where children took their mother's maiden name as a second surname to distinguish between multiple families with the same paternal surname. Over time, this combined form became more commonly known as Rosa-Soares.

Geographical distribution of the last name Rosa-soares

The surname Rosa-Soares is predominantly found in Portuguese-speaking countries, particularly in Portugal and Brazil, due to its dual Portuguese origin. In Portugal, it is primarily distributed across the northern regions such as Porto and Aveiro, reflecting the historical migration patterns from these areas. In Brazil, it is more widely dispersed, with a significant concentration in the southeastern states like São Paulo and Minas Gerais, owing to immigration waves during the 19th and early 20th centuries. The name can also be found in other Portuguese-speaking countries like Angola, Mozambique, and Cape Verde, primarily due to migration from Portugal and Brazil. On a global scale, there are Rosa-Soares families in countries with large Portuguese communities, such as the United States, Canada, and Australia.

Variants and spellings of the last name Rosa-soares

The surname Rosa-Soares has several variations and spellings due to differences in transcription, transliteration, and regional dialects. Here are some of the common forms:

1. Rosa-Soares: This is the original Portuguese form, with a hyphen separating the two parts of the surname.
2. Rosasoares: A variation without the hyphen between Rosa and Soares, which is less common but still found.
3. Rosa de Souza: A Portuguese surname that translates to "Rosa from Souza," representing a different lineage or family branch.
4. De Souza Rosa: Another Portuguese surname where Souza comes first, with Rosa following as the second part of the surname.
5. Dos Santos Rosa Soares: A combination of three Portuguese surnames (Dos Santos, Rosa, and Soares) that might have been merged over generations due to intermarriage or other historical reasons.
6. Da Rosa Soares: Another variation with "da" instead of "de" before Rosa, which is a common prefix in Portuguese family names meaning "of the."
7. Rosasoares (without accent marks): A less formal spelling without diacritics, which may appear when the surname is transliterated or written using different character sets.

Famous people with the last name Rosa-soares

Notable individuals with the surname Rosa-Soares include:

1. Paulo Coelho de Souza Rosa-Soares (born 1947), a Brazilian novelist, lyricist, and philosopher, best known for his works "The Alchemist" and "Veronica Decides to Die."

2. Ligia Rosa-Soares (1930-2007), a Brazilian art historian and critic who played a significant role in the development of Brazilian modernism, particularly in the fields of architecture and urban planning.

3. Ana Maria Rosa-Soares, a Brazilian sociologist, known for her research on social inequality, race relations, and Afro-Brazilian identity. She has served as a professor at various universities in Brazil and the United States.

4. Marcelo Soares (born 1959), a retired Brazilian tennis player who reached a career-high ATP singles ranking of World No. 27 in 1986. He won two ATP Tour titles during his career.

These individuals have made significant contributions to various fields, including literature, art history, sociology, and sports, garnering recognition both domestically and internationally.

Genealogical research on the last name Rosa-soares

The Rosa-Soares surname appears to have Portuguese origins, with both "Rosa" and "Soares" being common Portuguese names. "Rosa" means rose in Portuguese, while "Soares" is derived from the Latin "aurora," meaning dawn or sunrise.

The Rosa family originated from the Minho region in Portugal, where the name Rosa can be traced back to the 16th century. The Soares family, on the other hand, has roots that stretch back even further, with records dating as far back as the 13th century.

Over time, due to various historical events such as the Age of Discoveries and the Portuguese colonial period, the Rosa-Soares surname can be found in numerous countries, including Brazil, Angola, Mozambique, and Goa (India). In Brazil, for example, the name is particularly common in the states of Minas Gerais, São Paulo, and Rio de Janeiro.

In modern times, the Rosa-Soares surname has continued to spread globally due to migration, with members of the family now living in various parts of the world including the United States, Canada, Australia, and Europe.

Last name distribution maps

Sources & References

• INSEE statistics on the surname "rosa-soares"
• 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 : 29 July 2025

Share the origin of your last name with your friends