Surname Castanheira - Meaning and Origin
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Castanheira: What does the surname Castanheira mean?
The last name Castanheira is a Portuguese and Galician surname derived from a place name. It is derived from the Portuguese word “Castanheiro” which means “chestnut tree”. It likely originated as a topographic surname, which was given to a person who lived near a notable chestnut tree. The suffix “-eira” was added to the end and denotes the purpose of the location being derived from, such as a farm or a mill.
Castanheira is widely used surname throughout Portugal, appearing frequently in small towns and villages in the north and central parts of the country. It is also found in Galicia, Spain, and in certain areas of Venezuela and Brazil that were colonized by Portuguese settlers.
It is believed that Castanheira is an ancient surname dating back to before the 12th century, when it first appears in records. In modern times, the surname has retained a certain amount of cultural importance, appearing in books, films, and other works of art. It can also be seen in the form of some Castanheira-associated coats of arms and clan crests.
Order DNA origin analysisCastanheira: Where does the name Castanheira come from?
The surname Castanheira is derived from the Portuguese language and stems from the word meaning 'chestnut tree.' People with this surname are found mostly in Portugal but also in other countries in Western Europe and Brazil.
In Portugal, Castanheira is an incredibly common surname. Research done in 2017 found that Castanheira was the 64th most common surname in the country and that over 1.3 million people in the country carried this surname.
Today, people with the Castanheira surname can be found across Portugal, in urban and rural areas. Areas with the highest concentrations of this surname include the districts of Castelo Branco, Porto, and Coimbra as well as the autonomous region of the Azores.
Due to the Portuguese diaspora, Castanheira can also be found in many countries across Europe. In France, Castanheira is listed as one of the 1,000 most common surnames in the country and is especially concentrated in the Alsace and Lorraine regions. It is also very common in the United Kingdom, especially in London and the South Coast of England.
In the Americas, Castanheira is especially common in Brazil where it is the 74th most frequent surname and can be found in regions like Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo, and Minas Gerais. Castanheira is also occasionally found in the United States and Canada in locations where people of Portuguese descent have settled.
Variations of the surname Castanheira
The surname Castanheira comes from the Portuguese word for "chestnut tree," Castanheiro, which was commonly used as a reference to people with dark hair color. The variants and spellings of this surname include: Castanheiro, Castanhari, Castanha, Castanh, Castanhaes, Castanhel, and Castanhier.
Surnames that trace their origin back to Castanheira are hugely widespread throughout Portugal, Spain, and Brazil, and each region has its own distinct spelling variations. In Portugal, Castanheiro is a very common spelling of this surname, while Castanhari is also seen. In Spain, the spelling Castanha is very common, while Castanh and Castanhaes are also seen. In Brazil, Castanhel is the most popular spelling variation of this surname, followed by Castanhier.
Today, the surname Castanheira is found all around the world, and has even been adopted by people outside of the family's original Portuguese, Spanish, and Brazilian locations into other countries where Portuguese or Spanish are spoken. In the US, the surname is usually found spelled Castanheiro, while in the UK and other countries with strong Portuguese and Spanish influence, the Castanha, Castanhel, Castanh, and Castanhier spelling variations are more readily seen.
Famous people with the name Castanheira
- Vanessa de Castanheira: She is a well-known Brazilian actress and television host.
- Rodrigo Castanheira: He is a Portuguese professional football player who currently plays for Boavista F.C.
- Paulo Castanheira: He is a Portuguese actor, playwright and director who was born in Lisbon and graduated from the National Theatre in 1996.
- Layla Castanheira: She is a recording artist and singer-songwriter who grew up in Canada and is known for her soulful mix of R&B, pop and jazz.
- Heriberto Castanheira: He is a Portuguese film and television director whose works have featured on the big screen, as well as on television.
- André Castanheira: He is a Portuguese football manager and he is currently the head coach of Vitória de Setúbal.
- Taniers Castanheira: He is a professional footballer from Portugal who currently plays for defending champion Benfica.
- Glória Castanheira: She is a Brazilian actress of theatre, cinema and television, famous for her stage name.
- Regina Castanheira: She is a Brazilian artist, poet and cultural activist who is active in video production and filmmaking.
- João Castanheira: He is a Portuguese Navy pilot and a helicopter instructor who recently flew his first solo flight.