Moura

Moura is a toponym and surname with roots in the Iberian Peninsula. The most widely known place bearing the name is Moura, a city and municipality in Beja District in the Alentejo region of southern Portugal. The municipality comprises several civil parishes and features a historic town center with influences from various periods, including Roman and Moorish eras.

The name Moura derives from the Portuguese word for Moor (mouro) and has been used in Iberian place names since medieval times. As a surname, Moura is common in Portugal and Brazil and is found among people of Lusophone heritage. The term also appears in folklore and cultural references tied to the Moorish history of the region.

Notable uses of the name include individuals bearing Moura as a surname. For example, Lucas Moura (Lucas Rodrigues Moura Da Silva) is a Brazilian footballer who has played for Tottenham Hotspur and the Brazil national team. In cultural contexts, Moura Encantada refers to a figure in Portuguese folklore—a magical Moorish woman often featured in legends from southern Portugal.

Beyond these uses, Moura may appear in various geographic and familial contexts within Portuguese- and Spanish-speaking communities. The term carries historical associations with Moorish presence in the Iberian Peninsula and remains a recognized place name and surname in contemporary use.