Surname Raposo - Meaning and Origin
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Raposo: What does the surname Raposo mean?
Raposo is a Portuguese surname that originated from Portugal. The word 'raposo' translates to 'fox' in English. The name might have been initially used as a nickname for someone who was cunning or clever, characteristics often associated with a fox. Alternatively, it could have been taken from a place name or utilized by a person who lived near a spot where foxes were commonly spotted. Surnames based on occupations, nicknames, or geographical locations were common practice in medieval Europe. The surname also spread to Brazil and other regions due to Portuguese colonization. Today, individuals with the surname Raposo can be found globally, but it is still most prevalent in Portuguese-speaking countries.
Order DNA origin analysisRaposo: Where does the name Raposo come from?
The last name Raposo is a predominantly Portuguese and Spanish surname. It is most common in Portugal, particularly in regions like Alentejo, Estremadura, and the Azores, as well as in Spain. Raposo can also be found in Brazil, particularly in the states of Sao Paulo and Parana, as well as in Angola, the Cape Verde Islands, and East Timor.
Due to Portuguese and Spanish emigration during the 17th to 19th centuries, Raposo is also found in countries around the world – from Europe to the Americas and Africa. In Europe, it is most commonly found in the former Portuguese and Spanish colonies, like France, Belgium, Luxembourg, United Kingdom, Netherlands, Germany, Switzerland, Luxembourg, Italy, and particularly in the former Portuguese colony of Macau. In the Americas, Raposo is most common in Mexico, the Caribbean, and South American countries like Venezuela, Peru, and Colombia. In the United States and Canada, Raposo is found mainly in California, Texas, Arizona, Florida, Illinois, Massachusetts, and Ontario.
The last name Raposo is a testament to the far-reaching legacy of the Portuguese and Spanish in the world. It is a reminder of how the pioneering explorations of the 15th and 16th centuries resulted in the permanent settlement of large Portuguese and Spanish populations in distant parts of the world – and how these populations, in turn, were largely responsible for the diversification of cultures around the world.
Variations of the surname Raposo
Raposo is a common surname of Portuguese origin. Variations of the Raposo surname typically take the form of Rapozzo, Raposo, and Raposso. Other variations of the name can include Rapoza, Rapuso, Rapuza, Rappuza, and Rappuzza. Additionally, some Portuguese-speaking populations may also have the surname Apozzo, Apuzzo, Apuzzu, and Apuza.
In Spain, Raposo is an uncommon surname, with most people of that surname having either emigrated or descended from Portuguese emigrants. Its variants are the surnames Rapoza, Rapozzo, Rapuce, and Apuza.
In Brazil, Raposo is a common surname that originally came from the small town of Raposo, located in Minas Gerais state. This surname can take the forms of Apuzzo, Raposo, Rapusso, Rapuzzi, Rapposo and Apusso.
In Portugal, Raposo is a very popular surname, which originated from the town of Raposo, located in the northern province of Braga. Its variants include Raposo, Rapozzo, Rapuzzo, Rapuso, Rapuzo, Rappuzzo, Apusso, Apuzzo, Apuza and Apuzzu.
Regardless of the variant, all spellings of the surname Raposo typically reference the same origin, which is a town of the same name located in Minas Gerais state, in Brazil. As a result, spelling variations of this surname can often appear across Central and South American countries, and occasionally in Spain or Portugal.
Famous people with the name Raposo
- Tony Raposo, actor, singer, songwriter and television writer
- Geraldo Raposo, Brazilian journalist
- Francisco José Raposo, Portuguese poet
- Natália Raposo, Portuguese singer
- David Raposo, Brazilian actor
- Tarcísio Raposo, Brazilian footballer
- Roberta Raposo, Brazilian actor
- Nassif Raposo, Brazilian clarinetist
- Rubens Raposo, Brazilian volleyball player
- Mariana Raposo, Brazilian television hostess
- Flávio Raposo, Portuguese footballer
- Cristina Raposo, Portuguese actress
- Patrícia Raposo, Brazilian actress
- Nuno Raposo, Portuguese footballer
- Carolina Raposo, Portuguese model
- José Raposo, Portuguese footballer
- João Raposo, Portuguese actor
- Marcos Raposo, Brazilian footballer
- Ana Raposo, Portuguese singer
- Hugo Raposo, Portuguese musician