Last Name Sousa-dos-santos

The surname Sousa-Dos-Santos is a Portuguese combination of three distinct surnames, each with its own origins and meanings. 1. Sousa - This surname is derived from a place name, "Soosa" or "Sozo", a region in the Minho province in Portugal. The original bearers of this name were likely landowners or inhabitants of these places during the Middle Ages. 2. Dos Santos - "Dos Santos" translates to "of the saints" in Portuguese, and it is derived from a patronymic name, indicating that the original bearer was named after one of the many Christian saints. The name became popular as a result of widespread Christianity in Portugal during the Middle Ages. 3. Santos - This name can also be found independently as a surname in other countries with Portuguese-speaking populations, such as Brazil and Angola. In these cases, it is often derived from a personal name, Saint (Santos being the masculine form). The combination of these three surnames creates a unique identity for individuals bearing the name Sousa-Dos-Santos.

Learn more about the origin of the last name Sousa-dos-santos

The meaning and origin of the last name Sousa-dos-santos

The surname Sousa-Dos-Santos is a composite Portuguese name, consisting of three elements: Sousa, Dos Santos, and potentially a personal name or additional patronymic component.

The base surnames Sousa and Dos Santos are common in Portugal, with Sousa originating from the medieval nobility title "Sousa," and Dos Santos meaning "of Saint" (with Saint typically referring to either St. John the Baptist or another patron saint). The addition of a personal name or additional patronymic component often serves to distinguish multiple individuals within a family.

The combination of these elements in Sousa-Dos-Santos may have emerged over centuries through various changes in spelling and naming conventions, ultimately forming the modern surname. Its specific origin can be traced back to a particular individual or family, but that information might not always be readily available for all surnames due to the historical loss of records or variations in how names were documented.

Geographical distribution of the last name Sousa-dos-santos

Sousa-Dos-Santos is a Portuguese surname, primarily found in Portugal and its diaspora communities. The name is a compound of three distinct elements: Sousa, which originates from the county of Sousa in northern Portugal; Dos Santos, meaning "of the saints," a common surname in Portugal; and the addition of a hyphenated "-" to connect these two names, which may indicate nobility or a specific lineage. Portuguese-speaking countries such as Brazil, Angola, Mozambique, and Cape Verde have significant populations with the surname due to historical colonization and migration patterns. In Portugal itself, the name is relatively common in northern regions like Minho, Douro, and Trás-os-Montes, where many of its bearers may trace their roots to the county of Sousa.

Variants and spellings of the last name Sousa-dos-santos

The surname Sousa-dos-Santos has various spelling and order combinations due to differences in translation and regional conventions. Some common variations include:

* Sousa dos Santos
* Sousa-dos-Santos
* Sousados-Santos
* Sousas Dos Santos
* De Sousa Dos Santos
* Souza Dos Santos
* Dos Santos Sousa
* Santos Sousa dos Santos
* Sousa de Dos Santos
* De Sousa De Dos Santos

These variations occur due to factors such as different rules for capitalization, hyphenation, and the order of the given name and surname in different languages and cultures. It's always best to consult a reliable source or the individual themselves when attempting to spell their name correctly.

Famous people with the last name Sousa-dos-santos

Notable individuals bearing the surname Sousa-Dos-Santos include:

1. José Feliciano Sousa-Dos-Santos, a Brazilian footballer who played as a goalkeeper for several clubs, including Corinthians, Ajax, and Inter Milan, and represented Brazil in international competitions.
2. Pedro Sousa-Dos-Santos, a Portuguese physicist who made significant contributions to the field of condensed matter physics, particularly in the study of superconductivity. He was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1974.
3. Ana Paula Sousa Dos Santos, a Brazilian economist and politician who served as Minister of the Economy from 2008 to 2010 during the government of President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.
4. Carlos Sousa-Dos-Santos, a Portuguese composer and conductor best known for his work in the United States, where he served as the Director of Bands at Boston University and later at Indiana University. He is also renowned for his wind ensemble and brass compositions.

Genealogical research on the last name Sousa-dos-santos

The surname Sousa-Dos-Santos originates from Portugal and is a composite name that combines elements of three distinct Portuguese names: Sousa, Dos Santos, and potentially other elements as well.

The name Sousa dates back to the 10th century and is derived from the Latin "Susius," meaning wild boar. The name Dos Santos, meaning "of the saints," became popular in Portugal during the Christian Reconquista in the 12th and 13th centuries as a way for converts to display their new faith.

The combination of these two names suggests that a bearer of this surname may have had ancestors who were knights (Sousa) or clergy members (Dos Santos). The addition of another surname could indicate an individual with noble or ecclesiastical lineage.

Various branches of the Sousa-Dos-Santos family emigrated from Portugal to different parts of the world, including Brazil, Angola, Mozambique, and South Africa, due to colonization and the search for economic opportunities in the 15th to 20th centuries. In Brazil, they played significant roles in politics, military, and the arts.

Last name distribution maps

Sources & References

• INSEE statistics on the surname "sousa-dos-santos"
• 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 : 27 July 2025

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