Fernandes

Fernandes is a surname of Portuguese origin. It is a patronymic name meaning “son of Fernando,” with Fernando being the given name from which the surname is derived. The spelling Fernandes is the standard Portuguese form; in Spanish, the closest cognate is Fernández (or Fernandez in non-accented usage).

Geographic distribution and usage: Fernandes is common in Portugal and Brazil and is widely found in regions and communities with Portuguese heritage. It is particularly prevalent in Goa, India, among Konkani-speaking Catholic communities, as well as in other former Portuguese colonies and among the global Portuguese-speaking diaspora. Beyond the Iberian and Indian contexts, the surname appears in various countries due to migration and historical ties with Lusophone cultures, including regions in Africa, North America, and Europe.

Etymology and cognates: The given name Fernando, the source of Fernandes, is a form used across Portuguese-speaking communities and has long been linked to the Germanic name Ferdinand. Related surnames in other languages include Fernandez (Spanish) and Fernández with the Spanish orthography. Variants and spellings may appear in different regions due to localization, immigration, or transliteration.

Overall, Fernandes represents a typical Lusophone patronymic surname linked to the name Fernando, reflecting a historical practice of deriving family names from paternal given names.