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English
Alexander |
Portuguese
Alexandre |
|
Portuguese
Alexandre |
English Alexander |
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Library of Congress|
Like other ethnic groups in the United States, the Portuguese have modified their names to make them easier for English speakers to pronounce or recognize, as well as to avoid the discrimination often felt by immigrants and their progeny. Some have even Anglicized their names upon naturalization to show their pride in their new citizenship. First names are generally Anglicized in predictable ways: António becomes Tony; Maria becomes Mary; José becomes Joseph; Ana becomes Ann. Manuel is often rendered Manny. Last names, however, are a more complicated matter. Some new names were taken because they sounded like the original Portuguese ones -- for example, Leitão/Leighton; Coelho/Quail; Rosa/Rose. Many of these new names, but certainly not all, not only sounded like the original Portuguese name but were also literal translations. Other Portuguese surnames were translated with the results sounding nothing like the original. Thus, White was taken in place of Alves, Oakes for Carvalho, King instead of Reis. Yet other Portuguese immigrants have adopted variations of family nicknames for surnames.
The following is only a partial list of the many fascinating Anglicized forms of Portuguese surnames found in the United States. |