Surname Nunes - Meaning and Origin

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N. Nunes

Nunes: What does the surname Nunes mean?

The last name Nunes originated from the Portuguese language, where it was used as a patronymic to refer to a person of the “son of Nuno”. Nuno is derived from the Latin term nunnius which literally translates to “messenger”. It was commonly used in Portugal and the Galicia region of Spain during the Middle Ages and was originally used to refer to a person who was sent on a mission or who served as a messenger.

The family name of Nunes, therefore, has its roots in the Latin language and directly translates to “son of Nuno” or “descendant of a messenger”. It is a very common surname in both Portugal and Brazil, but is also found in the United States, particularly in the New England area, largely due to Portuguese and Spanish immigration during the 19th and 20th centuries. The orthography and pronunciation of the last name Nunes may slightly vary from region to region, but the meaning remains the same.

Nunes is an incredibly ancient and noble family name, and its bearer can consider themselves descendants of ancient and distinguished people who had the capacity to occupy a high social position in the past.

Nunes: Where does the name Nunes come from?

The last name Nunes is most commonly found in Portugal and Brazil. It is one of the most popular Portuguese surnames, with an estimated 70,000 families bearing the name, mostly in the northern and central parts of Portugal. It is also quite common in Brazil, especially in the state of Bahia.

In the United States, Nunes is also quite common, especially in the states of Massachusetts, New York, Rhode Island, and California. These four states have the highest concentration of the last name with nearly 40,000 Nunes families living in these states. The majority of these families are of Portuguese and Brazilian ancestry.

The last name Nunes is also found in Angola, Australia, the United Kingdom, Canada, Colombia, and France. In some of these countries, the families there are most likely descendants of Portuguese and Brazilian immigrants.

The spelling of the surname can also vary around the world. Some spelling variations include Nunez, Nune, Nunees, Nuniz, Noones, Noon, and Neuns. All of these spellings refer to the same surname but may be used depending on the country and culture of the family.

Variations of the surname Nunes

The surname Nunes is of Portuguese, Spanish, and Jewish (Ashkenazic) origin. It comes from the popular given name Nuno, which is derived from the Latin word "nonnus," meaning "holy man." Over time, the variants, spellings, and surnames associated with this name have evolved.

In Portugal, the surname Nunes is most often found written simply as Nunes, although it is also found as Nunhes and Nuniz. In Spain, the variants include Nuñez, Núñez and Nunez.

Jewish (Ashkenazic) variants of Nunes include Nunez, Nunens, Nunnaz, Nunans, Noones, Nones, and Nunas; the latter two often being found among Spanish Jews whose ancestry originates in Spain.

Other variants of the name Nunes, closely associated with the Portuguese spelling, are Nonce, Nunnz, Nono, Nonada, Nonaz, and Nonis. While some of these variants are primarily found in the United States, they may have originated from early Portuguese immigration.

The surnames Neanes, Naanes, and Naanesalves are somewhat related to Nunes, although their origin is slightly different. They are often considered Portuguese variants of the name Nunes, but they also have connections to Spain.

In conclusion, the surname Nunes has evolved and spread across multiple cultures and regions. It is a common name in Portugal, Spain, and other countries with Portuguese- and Spanish-speaking populations, as well as many countries with Jewish (Ashkenazic) populations. From the Latin nonnus, the surname has evolved to assume many variants, spellings, and surnames over time.

Famous people with the name Nunes

• Jair Messias Nunes: Current President of Brazil
• Devin Nunes: Former Chairman of the United States House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence
• Caio Nunes: Brazilian Children's Literature Author
• Augusto Nunes: Brazilian Journalist and Political Analyst
• Paulo Nunes: Portuguese Politician and Lawyer
• Sofia Nunes: Professional Football Player
• Gudio Nunes: Former Brazilian Football Player
• Fernando Nunes: Professional Brazilian Football Player.
• Alfredo Nunes: Portuguese Professional Football Player
• Vinicios Nunes: Brazilian Rock Musician

Other surnames

NünemannNunezNunezioNunezio