Show ContentsMascarenhas History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The Mascarenhas name is a habitational name taken on from any of several towns called Mascarenhas in Portugal. This name branched to Spain, and interestingly, is also found in India, where it was taken by Portuguese colonists.

Early Origins of the Mascarenhas family

The surname Mascarenhas was first found in the district of Mirandela in the northwest of Portugal. The progenitor of the Mascarenhas family is said to have been Estevao Rodrigues, who was Lord of Mascarenhas, who served King Sancho I of Portugal (1185-1211).

Early History of the Mascarenhas family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Mascarenhas research. Another 59 words (4 lines of text) covering the years 1385, 1433, 1470, 1512, 1525, 1526, 1554, 1555, 1581, 1584, 1596 and 1656 are included under the topic Early Mascarenhas History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Mascarenhas Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Mascarenaz, Mascarenhas, Mascarenas and others.

Early Notables of the Mascarenhas family

Prominent members of the family include

  • D. Pedro Mascarenhas (1470-1555), a Portuguese explorer and colonial administrator, the first European to discover the island of Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean in 1512, Captain-Major of the Portugue...
  • Francisco de Mascarenhas was the 1st count of Vila da Horta, the 1st count of Santa Cruz and the 13th vice-regent of Portuguese controlled India (1581-1584)

Migration of the Mascarenhas family

Some of the first settlers of this family name or some of its variants were: Bartolome Mascarenas, who settled in Puerto Rico in 1812.


Contemporary Notables of the name Mascarenhas (post 1700) +

  • Rodrigo Mascarenhas (b. 1980), Dutch-born, Cape Verdean bronze medalist basketball player a the 2007 African Championships
  • Adrian Dimitri Mascarenhas (b. 1977), English cricketer


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