Surname Magalhães - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'M'
Magalhães: What does the surname Magalhães mean?
The last name "Magalhães" is of Portuguese origin and it is often associated with geography and exploration. This is largely due to its connection to Ferdinand Magellan (Fernão de Magalhães in Portuguese), the renowned Portuguese explorer who led the first expedition to successfully circumnavigate the globe. The literal meaning of the name is "from Malhaes" or "Son of Malhaes," with Malhaes being a parish in the Braga district in Portugal. Like many surnames, especially in the Iberian Peninsula, "Magalhães" reflects an ancestral connection to a particular location. It is similar to being called Johnson, which means "son of John," or being named after a profession such as Smith or Baker. Overall, "Magalhães" conveys a sense of adventure, exploration, connection to the roots, and a sense of local identity.
Order DNA origin analysisMagalhães: Where does the name Magalhães come from?
The last name Magalhães originates from Portugal and is named after a place in the region of Entre-os-Rios in Northern Portugal, called Magalhães. Literally translated, it means "lands of apple yards". It carries historical significance as it is associated with one of the world's greatest explorers, Ferdinand Magellan (Fernão de Magalhães in Portuguese) who was born there and led the first expedition to successfully circumnavigate the Earth.
Today, it continues to be a common family name in Portugal and Brazil due to historical Portuguese colonisation in the latter. The remarkably large Brazilian population, both within the country and the global Diaspora, has further propagated the existence of the Magalhães surname around the world. Additionally, descendants of immigrants in Portuguese-speaking communities, such as those in the United States, Canada, and other parts of Europe, also commonly bear this surname. It's worth noting that the surname has many phonetic variations specific to regional local language influences.
Variations of the surname Magalhães
The surname 'Magalhães' is of Portuguese origin. In different regions of the world, the spelling may be slightly altered due to local language rules and pronunciations.
The most common variation of the surname 'Magalhães' is 'Magellan', which is an anglicized version of 'Magalhães'. It was used widely in English-speaking regions after Ferdinand Magellan, the Portuguese explorer who is known for leading the first circumnavigation of the Earth.
In Spanish-speaking nations, it may be spelled as 'Magallanes'. Countries like France and Italy, might use the spellings 'Magellano' and 'Magellane' respectively.
Also, sometimes the accent mark on the 'a' is not used, resulting in 'Magalhaes'. The use of the accent mark depends on local language rules.
Other variations might include 'Magallanez', 'Magalanes', 'De Magalhaes' or 'Magalhens'. The inclusion of a 'de', which means 'of', signifies a name derived from a place.
The surname 'Magalhães' could be related to other surnames derived from geographical features or locations, but specific variants can greatly depend on regional customs, migrations, and language changes over time.
Famous people with the name Magalhães
- Pedro Magalhães: Portuguese Historian
- Fábio Magalhães: Brazilian footballer
- Bárbara Magalhães: Brazilian model
- Maria Helena Magalhães: Portuguese politician
- Rodrigo Magalhães: Brazilian Physicist
- Alberto Magalhães: Brazilian Painter
- João Magalhães: Brazilian footballer
- Ricardo Magalhães: Portuguese Composer
- Luís Magalhães: Portuguese actor
- Cláudia Magalhães: Brazilian singer