Peixoto

Peixoto is a surname of Portuguese origin that is found in Portugal and throughout Brazil, as well as in other Portuguese-speaking communities. In addition to its use as a family name, Peixoto appears in various place names and geographical designations.

The exact origin of the surname is not definitively established. It is commonly seen as either toponymic, derived from a place named Peixoto, or occupational, with associations to fishing or coastal livelihoods in historical contexts. As with many Portuguese surnames, its form and distribution reflect patterns of migration and settlement across the Lusophone world.

Geographically, Peixoto is well established in Brazil, reflecting Portuguese colonial and later internal migration. A notable toponymic instance is Peixoto de Azevedo, a municipality in Mato Grosso, which preserves the name in a rural and administrative identity. The surname also appears across Brazilian states and in Portugal, attached to families with long-standing historical roots.

Notable people bearing the name include individuals across public life, science, sport, and the arts, reflecting the surname’s broad presence in Portuguese-speaking societies. As a common surname, Peixoto is encountered in genealogical records, civil registries, and historical documents, illustrating its enduring role in naming traditions within the Portuguese-speaking world.