Ribeiro

Ribeiro is a surname of Portuguese origin derived from the word ribeiro, which refers to a small river or stream. The toponymic origin suggests that the name was originally given to people who lived near such a feature. Today, Ribeiro is a common surname in Portugal, Brazil, and other Lusophone regions, where it appears across a wide range of communities and professions.

Ribeiro also functions as a geographic toponym in Portuguese-speaking areas. It is used for places and features in Portugal and Brazil that lie along rivers or streams, and it may appear as part of longer place names or in compound forms.

In addition to its geographic usage, Ribeiro is widely borne as a family name by individuals across various fields, including sports, science, politics, and the arts. The name’s prominence in the Portuguese-speaking world reflects historical patterns of settlement and naming, with the surname spreading to countries with Portuguese heritage through migration and cultural exchange.

See also: Ribeiro (surname) and Ribeiro (disambiguation).