Carvalho is a Portuguese surname meaning “oak” in Portuguese, possibly originating as a toponymic name for someone who lived near such a tree. The name's etymology may trace back to Celtic roots, from )(s)kerb(h)/karb (“hard, twisted”).
Distribution
Carvalho is most common in Portugal, Brazil, and Galicia (where it can also appear as Carballo or Carvallo). It is also found in former Portuguese African colonies such as Angola and Mozambique, in the Indian region of Goa and the town of Vasai (north of Mumbai), and among Portuguese diaspora communities in the Americas and Asia-Pacific.
Notable Bearers
The surname has been borne by many individuals, including:
- Alice Carvalho, Portuguese actress
- Beth Carvalho, Brazilian samba singer
- Eleazar de Carvalho, Brazilian conductor and composer
- João de Carvalho, Portuguese footballer
- José Carvalho, Portuguese footballer
- Maria Carvalho, Portuguese politician
- Ricardo Carvalho, Portuguese footballer
- Sara Carvalho, Portuguese actress
- William Carvalho, Portuguese footballer
In Popular Culture
The surname appears in fiction: Mr Joe B. Carvalho is an Indian film comedy (2013), and Pepe Carvalho is a fictional private detective created by Spanish writer Manuel Vázquez Montalbán.
Related Names
Related surnames include Carballo and Carvallo, common Galician variants, as well as other tree-related surnames such as Pereira (“pear tree”) and Oliveira (“olive tree”).
- Meaning: Oak
- Origin: Portuguese, possibly Celtic
- Type: Toponymic surname
- Usage Regions: Portugal, Brazil, Galicia, former Portuguese colonies, Goa, Portuguese diaspora worldwide
Sources: Wikipedia — Carvalho