Dearruda History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Portugal

Etymology of Dearruda

What does the name Dearruda mean?

Research shows that the Portuguese surname Dearruda is of two possible origins.

Firstly, it is of local origin, deriving from a natural or man-made geographic feature near which the original bearer resided. In this instance, the surname derives from the Portuguese word "arruda", meaning "rue", derived from the Latin name of the plant ruta, or rutae and ultimately the Greek "rhute". Rue, also called "herb of grace", is the common name applied to a family and genus of aromatic Eurasian plants and trees. Their evergreen leaves yield an acrid, volatile oil formerly used in medicine.

Secondly, the surname may be of occupational origin, deriving from the occupation or trade of the progenitor. In this case, the surname may have identified the bearer as a grower or seller of rue plants. The surname Dearruda therefore also means "son or descendant of the one who cultivated or sold rue plants".

Early Origins of the Dearruda family

The surname Dearruda was first found in the valley of Arruda or the city of Arruda dos Vinhos, near Lisbon, whose oldest document is the donation of the village to the Order of Santiago by Dom Afonso Henriques (1111-85), in 1172.

This was home to the de Arruda family of architects. Diogo de Arruda (c. 1490-1531) was the architect of the Paço da Ribeira bastion erected by Manuel I of Portugal in Lisbon, in an area on the right bank of the Tagus River. He was associated with the Manueline remodelling of the Convent of Christ, serving as a master there from 1510 to 1513. His younger brother Francisco de Arruda, (d. 1547), is best known for his design of the Belém Tower in Lisbon, Portugal. Francisco was father of Miguel de Arruda (fl. 1532-1563) the Portuguese mestre de obras, architect and military engineer.

Brazil became a stronghold of the family from the 17th century. In São Paulo, among others, the brothers Sebastião de Arruda Botelho, Francisco de Arruda and Sá and André de Sampaio and Arruda, all from the island of São Miguel arrived in 1654.

Early History of the Dearruda family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Dearruda research. Another 118 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1752 and 1810 are included under the topic Early Dearruda History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Dearruda Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Arruda, de Arruda and others.

Early Notables of the Dearruda family

Another 36 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Dearruda Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Contemporary Notables of the name Dearruda (post 1700) +

Axel Rodrigues de Arruda (b. 1970), Brazilian football coach and former player, commonly known as Axel