Surname Freitas - Meaning and Origin
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Untangling the roots of my family tree with an iGENEA DNA test was an enlightening journey. Revealing unexpected North African roots, Sephardic Jewish ancestry, and connections to indigenous South American tribes, my understanding of my identity, history and family name Freitas has dramatically changed.
N. Freitas
read moreFreitas: What does the surname Freitas mean?
The last name Freitas is of Portuguese origin. It is derived from the old Latin name Frigidus, which translates to “cold” or “frigid”. Within Portugal, it is a well-known family name, especially in the north of the country.
The family is said to have played an important role in Portugal’s history. Members of the family are said to have held top positions in Portugal, been members of the royal family and influential in political and religious matters.
Freitas is usually a surname found amongst Catholic families, and refers to someone who is god-fearing or pious. In Portugal, the name has been adopted by families of various social classes, which is likely due to the varied ancestry present.
Overall, the surname Freitas is a reminder of the strong family ties within Portuguese culture and conveys associations with loyalty, integrity and perseverance. This name has been made prominent by members of the family who have achieved success in their respective fields.
Order DNA origin analysisFreitas: Where does the name Freitas come from?
The last name Freitas is currently most commonly found in Brazil, Portugal, and Cape Verde. The Portuguese surname Freitas is very ancient and is also found in both Jewish and Spanish families. The origin of the name can be traced back to the medieval period and is thought to have derived from the Latin term ‘frutetus,’ meaning woods. The early bearers of the name originated froma region in North Portugal close to the Minho river.
In Brazil, the name Freitas is incredibly popular and research shows that it is the eleventh most common last name. One of the most significant families of Freitas in the country is from Santos Dumont, Minas Gerais, who dates back to the 18th century. They are well-known for their extensive contributions to brewage, mining, and commerce.
In Portugal, the Freitas family is originally from the Tras-os-Montes province in the north. Some of the most prominent figures of the Freitas in Portugal include Coronel Freitas Goncalves, an influential and respected civil servant who was famously known as the ‘Apostle of Brazil’ and brothers Luís Freitas Branco and António Freitas Branco, well known writers and poets.
In the United States, the name Freitas is not as popular. The 2000 U.S. Census showed that the Freitas surname was ranked 2080 in terms of being the most common last name. Nevertheless, the name can still be found in some parts of the U.S., especially in California and Massachusetts.
Lastly, the FreitasLast name is also common in Cape Verde, the island off the coast of Africa. Here, it is one of the most popular surnames and is usually associated with the Mestico (mixed-race) community.
Variations of the surname Freitas
The surname Freitas is derived from the Latin term frutex meaning "a kind of shrub." The surname can be spelt in a variety of ways, such as Freita, Freitas, Fritas, Frits, Frutta, Frietz, and Frytz. Many of these spellings are found in diaspora locations around the world. In Portugal the surname is also found as Friaça and sometimes Friaes.
In Hispanic areas, the surname is also spelled Freites, Fraytes, Fraytas, and Freitez. The South American version is found as Frietz or Fruitz.
In France, the surname manifests as Friet and Freze, while in Germany it is found as Freytz, Frits, and Frietz. In some cases, the surname is hybridized with other last names, such as Freitas-Vaz, Freitas-Zagalo, Freitas-de Sousa, Freitas-Cardoso, Freitas-Ramos, Freitas-Tavares, Freitas-Silva, and Freitas-Brum.
In the United States, the surname may take an even more diverse form, as Frits, Frutta, Friets, Fruit, and Fritas.
In some rare cases, the surname can manifest as Frutos, Frutes, Frutaz, and Friot. Depending on the region, the spelling variations mentioned above can also be slightly modified. The variations mentioned above make up only a few of the possible spellings that the surname Freitas or its derivatives might take.
Famous people with the name Freitas
- Tati Freitas: Brazilian singer and dancer
- Micael Freitas: Portuguese politician and Member of the European Parliament
- David Freitas: American professional baseball catcher
- Sasha Freitas: Brazilian actress and model
- Bruno Freitas: Brazilian actor and performer
- Hinata Freitas: Japanese opera singer
- Marcela Freitas: Brazilian actress and television presenter
- Alecxandre Freitas: Brazilian Songwriter and record producer
- Diego Freitas: Argentinian professional footballer
- Caio Freitas: Brazilian actor and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu practitioner