Gonsalves History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Portugal
Spain

The name Gonsalves has two distinct possible origins. First of all, the name could have been derived from the Spanish word "gonzale," meaning "battle" or "elf." The suffix of 'ez' initially indicated descent as it means 'son of.'

In some instances, the surname may derive from the extremely widespread first name Gonzalo, and denoting "son of Gonzalo". Gonzalo is thought to have been derived form the Germanic "Gunz-hard". The two most common variants of this patronym are Gonzalez and Gonzales, which are found throughout the Iberian peninsula.

Alternatively, it is possible that Gonsalves is one of those surnames which underwent a certain degree of change upon arrival in the New World, and since it is of Portuguese rather than Spanish extraction, it may be derived from the exclusively Portuguese surname Goncalves or more accurately Conçalves. This is a patronymic, denoting "son of Goncalo." 1

Early Origins of the Gonsalves family

The surname Gonsalves was first found in Portugal where the noble Portuguese house can be traced back as far as the early 16th century. Antão Gonçalves is listed in a registry of the 'Livro do Armeiro-mor' dating from 1509. 1

Early History of the Gonsalves family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Gonsalves research. Another 142 words (10 lines of text) covering the years 1130, 1150, 1159, 1160, 1165, 1182, 1390, 1394, 1425, 1450, 1460, 1471, 1491, 1500, 1554, 1578, 1676, 1685, 1742 and 1754 are included under the topic Early Gonsalves History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Gonsalves Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Gonzoles, Gonzolez, Gonzales, Gonzalo, Gonzalvo, Gozalo, Gonzalves, Gosalves, Goncalo, Gonçalves and many more.

Early Notables of the Gonsalves family

Prominent members of the family include João Gonçalves Zarco (c. 1390-1471) was a Portuguese explorer who founded settlements and recognition of the Madeira Islands. He was appointed first captain of Funchal by Henry the Navigator (1394-1460.) Antão Gonçalves, a 15th-century Portuguese explorer who was the first European to capture Africans in the Rio do Ouro region. André Gonçalves, was a Portuguese explorer that accompanied Pedro Álvares Cabral in the discovery of Brazil. Gonçalves was one of Cabral's captains of the fleet c. 1500. Nuno Gonçalves (c. 1425-c. 1491) was a Portuguese artist whose work initiated the Portuguese Renaissance in painting. He was court...
Another 195 words (14 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Gonsalves Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Gonsalves Ranking

In the United States, the name Gonsalves is the 4,421^st most popular surname with an estimated 7,461 people with that name. 2

Gonsalves migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Julia Gonsalves, aged 70, settler from British Guiana who arrived in New York aboard the ship "Manchuria" 3
Joseph M. Gonsalves, aged 21, settler from British Guiana who arrived in New York aboard the ship "Manchuria" 3
Leonilla Gonsalves, aged 46, settler from British Guiana who arrived in New York aboard the ship "Manchuria" 3
Celcillia Gonsalves, aged 42, settler from British Guiana who arrived in New York aboard the ship "Manchuria" 3
Anthony Gonsalves, aged 36, settler from British Guiana who arrived in New York aboard the ship "Quirigua" 3

Gonsalves Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

M. Gonsalves, aged 21, settler from Brazil who arrived in New York aboard the ship "Margaret" in 1837 3
Joao Gonsalves, aged 24, settler from Portugal who arrived in New York aboard the ship "Nancy" in 1849 3
Manuel Gonsalves, aged 30, settler who arrived in New York aboard the ship "Thomas Trowbridge" in 1849 3
Mary Gonsalves, aged 30, settler who arrived in New York aboard the ship "Thomas Trowbridge" in 1849 3
George Gonsalves, aged 26, settler from Madaria who arrived in New York aboard the ship "Walholding" in 1850 3
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Gonsalves migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Gonsalves Settlers in Australia in the 20th Century

John Gonsalves, from Bremen who arrived in Sydney, Australia aboard the ship "Darmstadt" in 1904 4
Domingo Gonsalves, from London who arrived in Fremantle, Australia aboard the ship "Naldera" in 1920 4
Joas Gonsalves, from London who arrived in Fremantle, Australia aboard the ship "Naldera" in 1920 4
Joas Marian Gonsalves, from London who arrived in Fremantle, Australia aboard the ship "Naldera" in 1920 4
Pedro Francis Gonsalves, from London who arrived in Fremantle, Australia aboard the ship "Naldera" in 1920 4
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Gonsalves (post 1700) +

Harold Gonsalves (1926-1945), United States Marine Corps private first class who was killed in action during the Battle of Okinawa in World War II, recipient of the Medal of Honor, posthumously, for his heroic action on April 15, 1945
Stephen William Gonsalves (b. 1994), American professional baseball pitcher in the Chicago Cubs organization
Adelino William "Biilly" Gonsalves (1908-1977), American soccer player for over 25 years, known as the "Babe Ruth of American Soccer," member of the U.S. squad at the FIFA World Cup in 1930 and 1934, inducted into the National Soccer Hall of Fame
Virgil Gonsalves (1931-2008), American saxophonist and clarinetist from Monterey, California
Paul Gonsalves (1920-1974), American jazz tenor saxophonist best known for his association with Duke Ellington
Kartiki Gonsalves (b. 1986), Indian documentary filmmaker and photographer who directed the documentary film The Elephant Whisperers that won the Academy Award for Best Documentary Short Film at the 95th Academy Awards
Ralph Everard Gonsalves (b. 1946), Vincentian politician, 4th Prime Minister of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, and leader of the Unity Labour Party (2001-)
Victor Albert "Vic" Gonsalves (1887-1922), Dutch amateur association football player
Courtney Alexander Gonsalves (1950-2013), Guyanese cricketer who played a single first-class match for Essequibo in the final of the 1980–81 inter-county Jones Cup
Andrew Gonsalves (b. 1978), former Guyanese cricketer who represented Guyana and West Indies B in West Indian domestic cricket (1997-2001)
... (Another 5 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Citations +

De Faria, Antonio Machado. Armorial lusitano: genealogia e heráldica. Lisboa, 1961. Print
"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
Ellis Island Search retrieved 21st October 2021. Retrieved from https://heritage.statueofliberty.org/passenger-result
National Archives of Australia retrieved 15th November 2022. Retrieved from https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/ListingReports/PassengerListing.aspx