| ![Show Contents]() Menezes History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
- Origins Available:
 Spain The distinguished surname Menezes comes from Spain, a country rich in culture and history. 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 and the most common patronymic suffix is ez. The patronyms were derived from a variety of given names that were of many different origins. Some names are derived from the saints of the Christian Church, but many Spanish surnames are derived from personal names of Germanic origin. The Visigoths, who ruled Spain between the mid-5th and early 8th centuries had a profound impact on the development of surnames. Early Origins of the Menezes familyThe surname Menezes was first found in Asturias, birthplace of the Reconquest. The first record of the family was Gutier Menéndez (c. 865 - 934), the most powerful Galician magnate of his time in the Kingdom of León. He was related to the royal family through marriages and acted as a powerbroker in the civil wars that followed the disputed succession of 925. His brother-in-law was Ordoño II, king of Galicia from 910 and then of León from 914 until his death in 924. In his will, Gutier says that during his career he obtained wealth through "royal grants, booty in war and other means" in addition to the wealth that he had inherited. His brother was Count Arias Menendez and one of the count's daughter Elvira Arias, married her cousin Muio (fl. 911-955.) Early History of the Menezes familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Menezes research. Another 158 words (11 lines of text) covering the years 1519, 1565, 1574, 1579, 1620, 1622, 1623, 1634, 1659, 1675, 1692, 1839, 1841, 1842, 1844, 1845 and 1847 are included under the topic Early Menezes History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Menezes Spelling VariationsSpelling variations of this family name include: Ménendez, Menendez, Méndez, Mendez, Meléndez, Melendez, Ménez, Menez and many more. Early Notables of the Menezes familyProminent among members of the family 14th century nobleman Ruy Méndez de Sevilla; 16th century Spanish soldier and writer Luis Méndez Quijada; Afonso Mendes (1579-1659), a Jesuit theologian, and Patriarch of Ethiopia from 1622 to 1634; 17th century Spanish politician Luis Méndez de...
Another 42 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Menezes Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
 Menezes migration to the United States | + |
Some of the first settlers of this family name were: Menezes Settlers in United States in the 20th Century- Jonas Menezes, aged 23, arrived in New York in 1919 aboard the ship "Sergipe" from Manaos, Brazil 1
- Manoel Victorino Cunta Menezes, aged 16, arrived in New York in 1919 from Gibraltar, Spain 1
| Contemporary Notables of the name Menezes (post 1700) | + |
- Victor J. Menezes (b. 1949), Indian banker, former chairman and CEO of Citibank, brother of Ivan Menezes
- Manuel Menezes ICS (1922-1996), Indian business executive, Chairman of the Indian Railway Board, father of Ivan Menezes
- Ivan M. Menezes (1960-2023), india-born, British businessman, Chief Executive Officer and Executive Director of Diageo plc
- Rildo da Costa Menezes (1942-2021), also known as Rildo, a Brazilian professional footballer who played as a defender
- Ana Lúcia Alves de Menezes (1975-2021), Brazilian actress, voice actress and dubbing director
- Holdemar Menezes (1921-1996), Brazilian writer
- Glória Menezes (b. 1934), Brazilian actress
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Menezes migration to the United States 
