Figueira History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Portugal
Spain

The name Figueira is derived from the Latin word 'ficus,' meaning 'fig,' and in many cases, is thought to be an occupational name, which would have been given to a person who grew or sold figs. It could also have served a person who lived near fig trees. For these reasons, this name, or variants of it can be found throughout the Iberian peninsula, over other southern regions of Europe that used a Romantic language.

Early Origins of the Figueira family

The surname Figueira was first found in Portugal and throughout the Iberian Peninsula, particularly in the Spanish provinces of Galicia and Asturias.

It is generally believed that during Don Fernando de Castro's time (c. 1380-1440), Gonçalo Figueira went to Portugal, who some authors say was called Gonçalo Figueiroa in Spain.

He ventured to Portugal in the company of the Count of Castro Xerez and Don Fernando de Castro, who when he left for England, left a son to him to care for. The son was a citizen of Lisbon and from his marriage he had two children, through whom his surname spread. 1

Later, early evidence of the name Figueira can also be found in a settlement near Coimbro where the earliest individual on record is Gonzalo Garcia de Figueredo, who held the title of Lord of Micleira and was tutor to the infant Don Juan de Portugal in the 16th century.

Early History of the Figueira family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Figueira research. Another 245 words (18 lines of text) covering the years 1485, 1486, 1509, 1557, 1619, 1647, 1649, 1678, 1720, 1740, 1741, 1782, 1792, 1833 and 1835 are included under the topic Early Figueira History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Figueira Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Figuero, Figuera, Higueros, Higuera, Figueiredo, Higueiredo, Figueros, Figueiredos, Figueras, Higuero and many more.

Early Notables of the Figueira family

Prominent members of the family include Luis de Guzmán y Figueroa, a Spanish soldier who served as 14th Governor of New Mexico from 1647 to 1649.Pedro de Castro y Figueroa y Salazar, 1st Duke of la Conquista, 1st Marquess of Gracia Real, KOS, OSJ (1678-1741) was a Spanish military officer and Viceroy of New Spain (1740-1741.)Archbishop Francisco Ramón Herboso y Figueroa (c. 1720-1782), born in Lima, Peru. He was the archbishop of La...
Another 73 words (5 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Figueira Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Figueira migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Figueira Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Paulo Joaquin Figueira, who landed in New York, NY in 1830 2

Contemporary Notables of the name Figueira (post 1700) +

Daniel "Dani" Alexis Leite Figueira (b. 1998), Portuguese professional footballer who plays for G.D. Estoril Praia as a goalkeeper
José Manuel Figueira (b. 1982), English football coach and current manager of Northern League club Auckland United
Jonathan Cristian Figueira (b. 1992), Argentine professional footballer who plays as a midfielder
José Antonio Pestana Figueira (b. 1981), known as Tony Figueira, a Venezuela-born Portuguese retired football player
Walter Capango Figueira (b. 1995), English professional footballer who plays as a forward for Carshalton Athletic
Manuel Figueira (1938-2023), Cape Verdean artist
Tchalé Figueira (b. 1953), Cape Verdean artist, born in Mindelo on the island of São Vicente
Miguel Figueira Damasceno (b. 2000), Brazilian professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Bangladesh Premier League club Bashundhara Kings
Tony Figueira (1959-2017), Namibian photographer, journalist and businessman

Citations +

De Faria, Antonio Machado. Armorial lusitano: genealogia e heráldica. Lisboa, 1961. Print
Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)