Do You Have a Portuguese Surname? Find Out if You’re Eligible for Citizenship

Do you have any of these surnames? They are some of the most common surnames in Portugal. But there are others, of course.

The Origin of Portuguese Surnames

It’s a challenge to accurately determine the origin of Portuguese surnames and their direct connection to a specific region or group. For example, some say that surnames related to trees, like Pereira or Oliveira, have their origin in Judaism, although this isn’t true in all cases of Portuguese people with these surnames.

The Spread of Surnames Around the World

Portugal has over 800 years of history, which makes it impossible to determine with certainty the belonging to a particular family or place just by the name due to the dissemination and mixing of names. Furthermore, the Portuguese diaspora has a history of seven centuries and has spread across the globe. Today, there are millions of descendants of Portuguese spread across the world, especially in the former Portuguese colonies in Africa (Angola, Mozambique, Cape Verde, Guinea, and São Tomé and Príncipe), as well as in Goa, Macau, Timor-Leste, but particularly in Brazil, the United States, and Canada.

Am I Eligible for Citizenship?

Having a Portuguese surname doesn’t necessarily mean that the individual is entitled to Portuguese nationality, but it can be an indicator! Nowadays, only close descendants, such as children and grandchildren, and those married or in a de facto union with a Portuguese citizen, have the right to nationality. However, after obtaining it, it can also pass on to their descendants, so the number of generations still entitled to Portuguese nationality today is high.

Therefore, if you have a Portuguese surname, try to find out who your nearest Portuguese ancestor is! You don’t have to do it all alone; we can help. Once you’ve discovered who the Portuguese ancestor is, we can move on to locating their birth or baptismal record in Portugal, as this is an essential document for the nationality process of descendants.

How to Find Birth Records in Portugal?

It’s worth noting that in order to locate records in Portugal, it’s often necessary to have the complete details of the Portuguese individual – including their name, the names of their parents, the approximate date of birth, and the exact place of birth – which aren’t always easy to find. Therefore, in addition to knowing how to search and obtain the document of the Portuguese individual, it’s also necessary to know how to search for information and documents abroad and how to interpret them.

Why Does Portuguese Citizenship Spark Interest?

For many, the discovery of Portuguese ancestry goes beyond historical interest; it represents a tangible opportunity to connect with the culture and privileges that Portuguese citizenship offers. Surnames like Oliveira, Pereira, and Santos are more than just words; they are gateways to a world of opportunities, including facilitated access to the European Union and free movement within the Schengen area.

If you’re interested in applying for Portuguese citizenship based on your family name or Portuguese origin, don’t hesitate to contact our team. We have experienced lawyers dealing with requests of this nature and will be happy to assist with your process.

*In 2013, the Portuguese Society for Economic Information conducted a study on the most common surnames in Portugal and released the list we’ve copied here.