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

Contemporary Notables Related Stories Sources

Fernandes History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Portugal
Spain

Etymology of Fernandes

What does the name Fernandes mean?

The distinguished Spanish surname Fernandes is a proud sign of a rich and ancient heritage. The earliest forms of hereditary surnames in Spain were the patronymic surnames, which are derived from the father's given name, and metronymic surnames, which are derived from the mother's given name. Spanish patronymic names emerged as early as the mid-9th century; the most common patronymic suffix being "ez." The Fernandes name is derived from the Spanish elements "faro," meaning "journey" and "nano, " meaning "brave."

Early Origins of the Fernandes family

The surname Fernandes was first found in Castile, where the name originated in Visigothic times. Much of the popularity of this name and its cognates is due to King Ferdinand III of Castile and Leon (1198-1252) who, after leading much of the reconquest of Christian Spain from the Moors, was then canonized.

Early History of the Fernandes family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Fernandes research. Another 135 words (10 lines of text) covering the years 1500, 1536, 1576, 1604, 1636 and 1800 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: Fernández, Fernandez, Ferranz, Ferrándiz, Ferrandiz, Ferrández, Ferrandez, Fernandeiz, Federnandiz, Fredenandiz, Fredinandoz, Frenandoz, Fredelandez, Fredernandiz, Fernayz and many more.

Early Notables of the Fernandes family

was Asur Fernández, count of Monzon in the tenth century. Juan Fernández de Heredia, a fourteenth century Aragonese nobleman, was Grand Master of the Knights Hospitallers of Rhodes. Gonzalo Fernández de Córdoba was Captain of the Spanish Infantry under Ferdinand and Isabella, and led his troops against the French in Italy in the early 1500s. Also of note were the Spanish artist Gregorio Fernandez (1576-1636), who gained considerable fame...
Another 69 words (5 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Fernandes Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Fernandes World Ranking

the United States, the name Fernandes is the 2,829^th most popular surname with an estimated 9,948 people with that name. 1 However, in Canada, the name Fernandes is ranked the 567^th most popular surname with an estimated 8,715 people with that name. 2 And in France, the name Fernandes is the 220^th popular surname with an estimated 16,173 people with that name. 3

Fernandes migration to the United States +

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 4

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 4
Jose Fernandes, aged 18, who arrived in New Orleans, La in 1829 4
A Fernandes, who arrived in New Orleans, La in 1829 4
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Fernandes migration to Canada +

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. 5

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 4
Aron. Dias Fernandes, who landed in Jamaica in 1740 4
Isaac Fernandes, who landed in Jamaica in 1740 4
Daniel Alves Fernandes was naturalized in Jamaica in 1741
David Fernandes, who landed in Jamaica in 1743 4
... (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
Ernesto Fernandes (1945-2025), Timorese politician, Member of the National Parliament of Timor-Leste (2017-2023)
Raymundus Sau Fernandes (b. 1973), Indonesian politician, regent of North Central Timor Regency (2010-2021)
Teodoro Fernandes Sampaio (1855-1937), Afro-Brazilian polymath and public intellectual who worked as an engineer, geographer, politician, and historian
Manuel José Tavares Fernandes (1951-2024), Portuguese football striker and manager
Norma Fernandes (1946-2024), Pakistani teacher from Karachi, she was honored in 2014 with the Tamgha-i-Imtiaz for her services to education
... (Another 23 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Sources +

"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