Show ContentsCardoso History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Etymology of Cardoso

What does the name Cardoso mean?

From the historical and enchanting region of Spain emerged a multitude of noble families, including the distinguished Cardoso family. The original bearer of the name Cardoso, which is a local surname, once lived, held land, or was born in the beautiful place named Cardenas in the region of Castilla la Vieja or in the place named Cardenas in the Rioja region. The place-name Cardenas is derived from the Aragonese word "cardelina," which means goldfinch. In Spanish, local surnames are often preceded by de, which is a prefix that means of or from and is indicative of a toponymic origin.

Early Origins of the Cardoso family

The surname Cardoso was first found in La Rioja, in northern Spain.

Early History of the Cardoso family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Cardoso research. Another 126 words (9 lines of text) covering the years 1223, 1529, 1569, 1588 and 1765 are included under the topic Early Cardoso History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Cardoso Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Cárdenas, de Cárdenas, Cardenas, de Cardenas, Cárdena, de Cárdena, Cardena, de Cardena, Cardenes, de Cardenes, Cardo, de Cardo and many more.

Early Notables of the Cardoso family

Notable bearers of the family name Cardoso

  • Manuel Cardoso, the Spanish priest was born at Fronteira 1569; entered the Carmelite order at Lisbon 1588, and became its sub-prior and chapel-master, and a great favourite of King John IV. His works...

Cardoso Ranking

In the United States, the name Cardoso is the 9,049th most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 1 However, in France, the name Cardoso is ranked the 1,333rd most popular surname with an estimated 4,254 people with that name. 2


Cardoso migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Cardoso Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Julian Cardoso, who arrived in America in 1835 3
  • Rodrigo Cardoso, who arrived in Veragua in 1835 3
  • Manuel Cardoso, who landed in New Granada in 1855 3
  • Marquesina Cardoso, who arrived in New Granada in 1855 3
  • Marquina Cardoso, who landed in New Granada in 1855 3
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Cardoso (post 1700) +

  • Patricia Cardoso, Colombian and American filmmaker
  • Guilherme "Bill" Cardoso (b. 1976), Brazilian-American entrepreneur, engineer, and scientist
  • William Joseph "Bill" Cardoso (1937-2006), American journalist
  • Newton Cardoso (1938-2025), Brazilian politician, served as a Member of the Chamber of Deputies and as Governor of Minas Gerais (1987-1991)
  • Waldemar Levy Cardoso (1900-2009), Brazilian military officer
  • Zélia Cardoso de Mello (b. 1953), Brazilian economist, former Minister of Economy
  • Kamilla Soares Cardoso (b. 2001), Brazilian professional basketball player
  • Laura Cardoso OMC (b. 1927), artistic name of Laurinda de Jesus Cardoso Balleroni, Brazilian actress
  • Manuel Cardoso (1566-1650), Portuguese composer and organist
  • Marcel Silva Cardoso (b. 1983), or simply Marcel, Brazilian left back
  • ... (Another 27 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)


  1. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  2. http://www.journaldesfemmes.com/nom-de-famille/nom/
  3. 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)


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