Last Name Vilas-boas-da-silva

The surname Vilas-Boas-da-Silva is a combination of multiple Portuguese patronymic and locative surnames. 1. "Vilas" is a toponymic surname, which originally referred to someone who lived in or came from a place named with the word "vilarejo," meaning small town or village in Portuguese. 2. "Boas" is also a patronymic surname, derived from the personal name "Bom" (meaning good), which was used as a given name in the Middle Ages and later turned into a surname through patronymic formation. 3. "Da Silva" is a common Portuguese surname that originated as a locative surname for someone who lived near or worked on a mill (moinho de água) owned by someone named SIlva (from the word "silvestre," meaning wild or forest). So, the surname Vilas-Boas-da-Silva can be interpreted as someone who either lived in a small town (Vilarejo) and was named after a good person (Bom), or who came from a place owned by someone with the surname Silva.

Learn more about the origin of the last name Vilas-boas-da-silva

The meaning and origin of the last name Vilas-boas-da-silva

The surname Vilas-Boas da Silva is a Portuguese name that consists of three elements: Vilas, Boas, and da Silva.

The element "Vilas" likely originates from a village or place where the family resided at some point in history. In Portugal, it's common for surnames to be derived from places of origin.

"Boas" is a Patronymic name, derived from the personal name Boaventura (which means 'good fortune' in Portuguese). This was often given as a nickname to a child born under auspicious circumstances or during a time of good luck.

"Da Silva" is one of the most common surnames in Portugal and Brazil, denoting that the original bearer was a servant who worked for a family named Silva. The 'de' or 'da' before the surname means 'of' or 'from', indicating the family's association with the Silva family.

Overall, the surname Vilas-Boas da Silva combines elements of place, patronymic, and occupational names, reflecting the diverse origins of Portuguese surnames.

Geographical distribution of the last name Vilas-boas-da-silva

The surname Vilas-Boas-da-Silva is primarily distributed in Portuguese-speaking countries, particularly in Brazil and Portugal, due to its Portuguese origin. In Brazil, it's most prevalent in the southern states such as Rio Grande do Sul and Santa Catarina, where there was a significant immigration of Portuguese settlers during the 19th century. The name can also be found in Portugal, its country of origin, with concentrations primarily in the northern region. In other countries, it may appear due to Brazilian or Portuguese immigrants, such as in the United States and Canada. However, it's less common compared to its prevalence in Brazil and Portugal.

Variants and spellings of the last name Vilas-boas-da-silva

The surname Vilas-Boas-da-Silva has several variations and spelling formats due to differences in transcription and regional conventions. Some common variations include:

1. Villas Boas da Silva: This variant uses an 'i' instead of an 'e' in the first name Villas, and replaces the accent on the second name Boas with an apostrophe, as is more common in English-speaking countries.
2. Vila Boas da Silva: In this version, the hyphen between Vilas and Boas is removed, and the initial capitalization of names follows a different convention, making Villa the first name and Boas the second.
3. Vilas-Boas da Silva: Another common variant is keeping the original Portuguese spelling with an 'e' in the first name, no hyphen between Vilas and Boas, and an accent on the second name Boas, while maintaining the capitalization of names as in Portuguese custom.
4. Villa-Boa da Silva: This variation simplifies the first name by replacing the double 'l' with a single 'l', keeping the hyphen, and removing the accent on the second name Boa, similar to some regional adaptations.
5. Vilaboas da Silva: Another simplification of the name is using Villa as the first name instead of Vilas, while maintaining the rest of the spelling.

Famous people with the last name Vilas-boas-da-silva

One notable individual with the surname Vilas-Boas-da-Silva is Josué de Vilas Boas da Silva, more commonly known as Zé do Caixão (Joe Coffin), a Brazilian drug trafficker who became infamous for his brutal tactics in the 1980s. Another individual with this surname is Marcos Antonio Vilas-Boas da Silva, a Brazilian politician and former governor of the state of Rondônia from 2007 to 2010. Lastly, Cristiane Vilas Boas da Silva, popularly known as Cris, is a Brazilian journalist who has worked for several major media outlets in her country. She has also been recognized for her humanitarian work and advocacy against violence against women.

Genealogical research on the last name Vilas-boas-da-silva

The Vilas-Boas-da-Silva surname originates from Portugal, specifically from the regions of Alentejo and Minho, where numerous members of this family have resided since the Middle Ages. The name is composed of three distinct elements: "Vilas" which refers to a small settlement or village, "Boas" meaning good, and "da Silva" originating from the Latin "silva" meaning forest or wood.

Notable figures bearing the Vilas-Boas-da-Silva surname include Pedro Vilas Boas (1927–2006), a Portuguese explorer who, along with his brother, discovered the Munduruku tribe in Brazil in 1953. Another significant figure is António de Sousa Vilas Boas (born 1948), a former Portuguese politician who served as the Prime Minister of Portugal from 2002 to 2004.

Throughout history, the Vilas-Boas-da-Silva family has also played important roles in various branches of Portuguese society, including politics, exploration, and the military. The surname continues to be common among Portuguese individuals today.

Last name distribution maps

Sources & References

• INSEE statistics on the surname "vilas-boas-da-silva"
• Global distribution of the surname on Forebears.io
• Wikipedia Article

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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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