Dsouza History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Portugal

Etymology of Dsouza

What does the name Dsouza mean?

This place-name is derived from the Latin word 'salsa,' which means 'salty,' and indicates that the location so named was once known for a salt deposit.

Alternatively, the name could have been derived from the Latin word Saxa, later Sausa, meaning 'rocks'.

Early Origins of the Dsouza family

The surname Dsouza was first found in northern Portugal, where many take their name from the Sousa River, a tributary of the Douro.

Don Egal Gomes de Sousa (1035-?) was an 11th century Lord and the first known bearer of the name. He was Lord of Sousa, Novelas and Felgueiras, and took his name from his estates in the first Lordship. Don Egal was the grandson of King Fernando of Castille and married dona Falmula Gomes, great, great grand-daughter of King Ramiro I. He was governor of the entire region of Entre Douro e MinhoIt and is thought that the line of the Dsouza family descends from their noble roots.

Early History of the Dsouza family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Dsouza research. The years 1386, 1500, 1503, 1512, 1555, 1557, 1564, 1579, 1583, 1590, 1594, 1624, 1631, 1632, 1649, 1663, 1666, 1714 and 1722 are included under the topic Early Dsouza History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Dsouza Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: De Sousa, De Souza, De Sosa, De Soza, Sousa, Souza, Sosa and many more.

Early Notables of the Dsouza family

Tomé de Souza (1503-1579), the first governor of Brazil and founded Salvador, Bahia; and João de Sousa, 3rd Marquis of Minas (1666-1722), the 6th Count of Prado, Portuguese nobleman and member of the Royal Council of War on October 26, 1714. Cristóvão Falcão (c. 1512 - c. 1557), sometimes Cristóvão Falcão de Sousa or Cristóvão de Sousa Falcão, was a Portuguese poet, that came of a noble family settled at Portalegre in the Alentejo, which had originated with John Falconet, one of the Englishmen who went to Portugal in 1386 in the suite of Philippa of Lancaster. Frei Luís de Sousa (born...
Another 149 words (11 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Dsouza Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Contemporary Notables of the name Dsouza (post 1700) +

Steven E. D'Souza (b. 1947), American producer, director and scriptwriter
Dinesh D'Souza (b. 1961), American conservative author, born in Bombay
Aurélia D'Souza (1867-1922), Portuguese painter
Norbert D'Souza (1937-2025), Indian novelist and writer
Walter D'Souza (1930-2020), Indian first-class cricketer who played for Gujarat
Frederick D'Souza (1934-2016), Roman Catholic bishop
Henry Sebastian D'Souza (1926-2016), Indian Roman Catholic bishop
Stephie D'Souza (1936-1998), Indian athlete