Almeida History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
The surname Almeida is of local origin, that is, it is a surname derived from the place of origin of the initial bearer. In this case, the surname is derived from one of several places so named in Portugal (northeast area). The name is derived from the Arabic words "al ma'ida," meaning a plateau. One of the earliest records of the surname is that of one Jose Fernandez de Almeida who founded a town of the same name in 1258.
Early Origins of the Almeida family
The surname Almeida was first found in the town of Viseu, which is today known as Mangualde, a municipality in the subregion of Dão-Lafões in the central region of Portugal. Jose Fernandez de Almeida founded Azurara of Beira from 1223-1245. He was the 5th Lord of Pinheiro and Canela. The village of Almeida in the seventeenth century came to be called Almeidinha. One of the most notable of the name at this time was D. Francisco de Almeida, Viceroy.
Early History of the Almeida family
This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Almeida research. Another 41 words (3 lines of text) covering the years 1223, 1245, 1450, 1480, 1508, 1510, 1572, 1580, 1646, 1653, 1722 and 1752 are included under the topic Early Almeida History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Almeida Spelling Variations
Spelling variations of this family name include: Almeida, De Almeida, Almaida and others.
Early Notables of the Almeida family
Prominent members of the family include
- Lourenço de Almeida (c.1480-1508), a Portuguese explorer and military commander; Dom Francisco de Almeida (c.1450-1510), better known as "the Great Dom Francisco", he was a Portuguese nobleman, soldie...
Almeida Ranking
In the United States, the name Almeida is the 3,153rd most popular surname with an estimated 9,948 people with that name. 1 However, in France, the name Almeida is ranked the 3,053rd most popular surname with an estimated 2,000 - 2,500 people with that name. 2
Almeida migration to the United States +
Some of the first settlers of this family name were:
Almeida Settlers in United States in the 16th Century
- Felipa Almeida, who settled in New Granada in 1557
- Domingo De Almeida, who settled in Peru in 1580
Almeida Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
- Jose Cruz Almeida, who settled in Philadelphia in 1810
- Francisco Almeida, who landed in Puerto Rico in 1816 3
- Jos Almeida, who settled in Norfolk, VA in 1823
- Juan De Almeida, who arrived in New Orleans in 1832
- Juan De Almeida, aged 50, who landed in New Orleans, La in 1832 3
- ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Almeida Settlers in United States in the 20th Century
- Alice Valentim Almeida, aged 22, who immigrated to the United States, in 1919
- Ade Almeida, aged 32, who settled in America, in 1921
- Adelene Almeida, aged 31, who landed in America, in 1923
Contemporary Notables of the name Almeida (post 1700) +
- Antonio Jose de Almeida (1866-1929), Portuguese politician, President of Portugal (1919-1915)
- Joaquim António Portugal Baptista de Almeida (b. 1957), Portuguese actor
- Vasco Fernando Leotte de Almeida e Costa (b. 1932), Portuguese naval officer and politician
- Miguel Vale de Almeida (b. 1960), Portuguese anthropologist
- Gilberto Almeida Egas (1928-2015), Ecuadorian painter
- Guilherme de Andrade e Almeida (1890-1969), Brazilian lawyer, journalist, film critic, poet, essayist and Brazilian translator
- Laurindo Almeida (1917-1995), Brazilian classical guitarist
- Cristina Almeida (b. 1944), Spanish lawyer and politician
- Alfonso Almeida (b. 1966), Mexican chess master
- Manuel Almeida Duarte (1945-2022), Portuguese footballer from Celorico de Basto, Portugal who played as a striker (1962-1984)
Citations +
- "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
- http://www.journaldesfemmes.com/nom-de-famille/nom/
- 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)