The surname Soares-Lopes is a composite Portuguese patronymic surname, derived from two separate components.
The component "Soares" is a common Portuguese surname that derives from the medieval Iberian personal name Suárez, which in turn comes from the Latin name Sophorus or Sophorius. This name was popular among Christians due to its association with the biblical figure Sopatrus, who was a disciple of Christ.
The component "Lopes" is another common Portuguese surname, originally denoting someone who lived near or worked with wolves (lobos in Portuguese). The name comes from the medieval Iberian personal name Lupus, which meant wolf in Latin.
Therefore, the surname Soares-Lopes would have been formed by combining these two names, likely as a way to distinguish between multiple individuals bearing the same name within a family or community.
Learn more about the origin of the last name Soares-lopes
The meaning and origin of the last name Soares-lopes
The surname Soares-Lopes is a Portuguese composite name, originating from two separate patronymic names: Soares and Lopes.
Soares is a common Portuguese surname derived from the given name Suárez, which means "shepherd" in Spanish. It was often bestowed upon individuals who were born in regions where the Iberian language was spoken or among immigrants from Spain.
Lopes, also a prevalent Portuguese surname, comes from the Latin word lupus meaning "wolf". This name might have been given to someone who lived near wolves, had wolf-like features, or was associated with the zodiac sign Cancer, which is symbolized by a crab (cangrelo in Portuguese), a word similar to lobo, the word for wolf in Portuguese.
When combined as Soares-Lopes, the surname signifies that the bearer had ancestors who carried both names independently at some point in their family history.
Geographical distribution of the last name Soares-lopes
The surname Soares-Lopes is predominantly found in Portuguese-speaking countries due to its dual origin from the Portuguese personal names "Soares" and "Lopes." Soares is a patronymic derived from the name "Suaro," which means "sword" in Old High German, while Lopes refers to a person of wolf-like appearance or a fur trader. The distribution of this surname is particularly high in Portugal, Brazil, Angola, and Mozambique, reflecting the historical migration patterns of Portuguese settlers during the Age of Discoveries and the colonization of these regions. Additionally, there are significant populations with the Soares-Lopes surname in other Portuguese-speaking countries such as Cape Verde, Guinea-Bissau, and São Tomé and Príncipe, further emphasizing its strong connection to the Lusophone world.
Variants and spellings of the last name Soares-lopes
The surname Soares-Lopes has several variations and spellings due to differences in translation, regional dialects, and transcription errors over time. Some common variants include Soares de Lopes, Soares dos Lopes, Soares de Souza Lopes, Soares da Lopes, and Soares dos Souzas Lopes. In Portuguese, "de" can be translated as "of," while "das" or "dos" mean "of the." The combination of "Soares" (a common Portuguese surname meaning "shepherd") with "Lopes" (meaning "wolf"), results in a name referring to a shepherd-like wolf. These variations may be found throughout Portugal and Brazil, countries where the name originates from.
Famous people with the last name Soares-lopes
Notable individuals sharing the surname Soares-Lopes include:
1. José Carlos Soares-Lopes (born 1937), a Brazilian economist, who served as the Minister of Finance from 1986 to 1988 during the transition to democracy in Brazil.
2. António Soares Lopes (born 1945), a Portuguese mathematician and engineer known for his work in the field of control theory. He was a professor at the Technical University of Lisbon and the president of the International Federation of Automatic Control.
3. Carlos Augusto Soares-Lopes (born 1967), a Brazilian politician who served as the governor of Paraná from 2015 to 2018. He was also a member of the Chamber of Deputies and the Federal Senate of Brazil.
4. Diogo Soares Lopes (born 1983), a Portuguese footballer who played as a goalkeeper for various clubs, including Farense and Portimonense.
5. Eduardo Soares Lopes (born 1972), a Brazilian economist and politician who served as the Minister of Planning from 2016 to 2018 in Michel Temer's administration. He was also a member of the Chamber of Deputies representing the state of São Paulo.
Genealogical research on the last name Soares-lopes
The surname Soares-Lopes originates from Portugal and is a combination of two distinct Portuguese surnames: Soares and Lopes.
Soares is a common patronymic name derived from the medieval personal name Suarez, which was derived from the Latin Suarius, meaning "goat herd." It was first used in the Iberian Peninsula during the Moorish invasions when many Christians took on names with agricultural or pastoral associations to distinguish themselves from the Muslim population.
Lopes, on the other hand, is a topographic name for someone who lived near a hill or high ground. The name comes from the Latin word "lupus," meaning "wolf" in English, which may refer to a specific geographical feature shaped like a wolf or simply a place with many wolves.
The combination of Soares and Lopes to form Soares-Lopes is likely due to individuals bearing both names in the same family over generations. The surname has since been carried by numerous families across Portugal and its diaspora, with notable bearers including Portuguese writers such as António José da Silva Soares de Lima and António Caetano de Abreu Freire Egas Moniz, a winner of the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine.
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