Soares

Soares is a surname of Portuguese and Galician origin. It functions as a patronymic name, historically meaning a descendant of or son of Soeiro, a medieval given name in the Iberian peninsula. The form Soares crystallized in the Portuguese-speaking world and became widespread as families moved within Portugal, as well as to Brazil and other Lusophone regions.

Today, Soares is one of the most common surnames in Portugal and Brazil, and it is well represented in other Portuguese-speaking countries such as Angola, Mozambique, Cape Verde, and East Timor. The name is also found among immigrant communities in Europe and the Americas, where Portuguese and Galician heritage has spread.

Variants and forms observed in historical records include prefix-forms such as de Soares or dos Soares, reflecting traditional feudal or territorial naming practices. In Galicia and among Galician-descended communities, the surname also appears in its standard form as Soares.

Cultural and demographic notes: as a widely dispersed surname with deep roots in Iberian history, Soares is associated with numerous notable figures across politics, sports, literature, and the arts, reflecting the broader demographic reach of Portuguese-speaking populations.

See also: Soares (disambiguation), Soares (surname).