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Fernandes History Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables World Ranking

Contemporary Notables Related Stories Citations

Fernandes History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Portugal
Spain

The Fernandes surname is a patronymic form, created from the personal name Fernando. 1 This is one of the most common surnames in Portugal. Fernandes is the 243rd most common surname in the world.

The name Fernandes demonstrates the influence that Spanish often had on the Portuguese culture and surnames as it is composed of the Spanish words "faro" (journey, expedition) and "nano" (daring and brave). Combined, these two words may have been used a nickname surname; that is, as a surname that somehow describe a characteristic of its original bearer. Some think that this name may have been historically used by those engaged against the Moors.

Early Origins of the Fernandes family

The surname Fernandes was first found in Iberian peninsula. The name Fernandes and its many variants were one of the most popular surnames in Medieval Portugal and Spain, and remains among the most common on the Iberian Peninsula today. The earliest known Portuguese record of the name notes that Diogo Fernandes Correia held the office of Administrator of Flanders for King John II.

Early History of the Fernandes family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Fernandes research. Another 51 words (4 lines of text) covering the years 1394, 1445, 1446, 1453, 1455, 1456, 1460, 1475, 1488, 1495, 1498, 1501, 1511, 1542, 1563, 1569, 1576, 1580, 1595, 1596, 1605, 1606, 1614, 1636, 1642, 1654 and 1667 are included under the topic Early Fernandes History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Fernandes Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Fernant, Farrant, Hernando, Hernan, Hernanz, Fernando, Fernan, Fernao, Ferrao, Hernandez, Hernaez, Hernaiz, Fernandez, Ferrandez, Ferrandiz, Fernandes and many more.

Early Notables of the Fernandes family

Prominent members of the family include

António Fernandes, a Portuguese explorers of the early 15th century. He was raised in the household of Prince Henry "the Navigator" of Portugal (1394-1460), and lead expeditions to Africa. João Fernan...
João Fernandes Lavrador (1453-c.1501), a Portuguese explorer of the late 15th century

Fernandes World Ranking

In the United States, the name Fernandes is the 2,829^th most popular surname with an estimated 9,948 people with that name. 2 However, in Canada, the name Fernandes is ranked the 567^th most popular surname with an estimated 8,715 people with that name. 3 And in France, the name Fernandes is the 220^th popular surname with an estimated 16,173 people with that name. 4

Fernandes migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Fernandes Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Baltazar Fernandes, a Portuguese colonist, led expeditions into the interior of Brazil, laying the foundations of Sorocaba, 1654
Anthonio Fernandes, who landed in Maryland in 1660 5

Fernandes Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

John Francis Olivera Fernandes, who arrived in Norfolk, VA in 1805
Edward and Anthoney Fernandes both arrived in Philadelphia in 1816
F Fernandes, aged 21, who landed in New Orleans, La in 1827 5
Antonio Fernandes, aged 46, who arrived in New Orleans, La in 1829 5
A Fernandes, who arrived in New Orleans, La in 1829 5
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Fernandes migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Fernandes Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

S C I Fernandes, who arrived in Victoria, British Columbia in 1862

Fernandes migration to West Indies +

The British first settled the British West Indies around 1604. They made many attempts but failed in some to establish settlements on the Islands including Saint Lucia and Grenada. By 1627 they had managed to establish settlements on St. Kitts (St. Christopher) and Barbados, but by 1641 the Spanish had moved in and destroyed some of these including those at Providence Island. The British continued to expand the settlements including setting the First Federation in the British West Indies by 1674; some of the islands include Barbados, Bermuda, Cayman Island, Turks and Caicos, Jamaica and Belize then known as British Honduras. By the 1960's many of the islands became independent after the West Indies Federation which existed from 1958 to 1962 failed due to internal political conflicts. After this a number of Eastern Caribbean islands formed a free association. 6

Fernandes Settlers in West Indies in the 17th Century

Abraham Fernandes was on record in Jamaica in 1691

Fernandes Settlers in West Indies in the 18th Century

Aron. Dias Fernandes, who landed in Jamaica in 1740 5
Aron Dias Fernandes, who landed in Jamaica in 1740 5
Isaac Fernandes, who landed in Jamaica in 1740 5
Daniel Alves Fernandes was naturalized in Jamaica in 1741
David Fernandes, who landed in Jamaica in 1743 5
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Fernandes (post 1700) +

Ronald Michael "Ron" Fernandes (1951-2023), American football defensive lineman who played three seasons with the Baltimore Colts of the National Football League (NFL)
Margie Fernandes, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from California, 1996
John B. Fernandes, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Hawaii Territory, 1936, 1940
Arthur Fernandes, American Democratic Party politician, Alternate Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Massachusetts, 2008
Manuel José Tavares Fernandes (1951-2024), Portuguese football striker and manager
João Fernandes, Portuguese explorer of the 15th century
Vânia Fernandes (b. 1985), Portuguese singer
Filipe Miguel Lopes Fernandes (b. 1980), Portuguese footballer
Vasco Fernandes (1475-1542), one of the main Portuguese Renaissance painters
Mateus Fernandes (d. 1515), Portuguese architect
... (Another 21 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Citations +

Hanks, Patricia and Flavia Hodges, A Dictionary of Surnames. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1988. Print. (ISBN 0-19-211592-8)
"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
"Surnames Meanings, Origins & Distribution Maps - Forebears." Forebears, https://forebears.io/surnames
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)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_West_Indies