Mangalorean Catholic names and surnames encompass the different naming conventions of the Mangalorean Catholic community. Historically, many of them had names of Christian saints, while Portuguese-language surnames were most commonly found.[1] A formal Mangalorean Catholic name consists of a given name, a middle name, and a surname.

Mangalorean Catholics use English forms of their names and surnames in English-language contexts and their native language Konkani forms in Konkani-language contexts.

Male given names

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Most Mangalorean Catholic names for males follow the second declension. However, if the name ends in e, it follows the first declension, such as Zoze (Joseph). If the name ends in o, it follows the third declension, such as Lorso (Lawrence). The name follows the fourth declension if it ends in i, such as Jākki (Joachim). The fifth declension is observed if the name ends in u, such as Gabru (Gabriel), or if it ends in ãuñ, such as Zuãuñ (John).[2]

Males
Mangalorean Catholic variant Portuguese variant English/anglicized variant Meaning
Saver Xavier Xavier new house
Valentin Valentim Valentine strong, healthy
Simāuň Simão Simon he has heard
Sebastiauň or Bastiauň Sebastião Sebastian
Salvador or Saldor Salvador Salvador Saviour
Rozār or Ruzār Rosário Rosario Rosary
Kalvin Kalvino Calvin Court Jester
Filip Filipe or Felipe Philip friend of horses
Paullu or Paullā Paulo Paul Humble
Pāsku Pascoal Pascal associated with Passover (or Easter)
Niklāuň or Niku Nicolau or Nico (informal) Nicholas Victory of the people
Mortin Martim Martin Warlike
Mortes Mateus Matthew Gift of God
Luis Luís Lewis Famous warrior
Lorso or Lores Lourenço Laurence from Laurentum, an ancient Roman city
Lazar or Lādru Lázaro Lazarus God has helped
Jākki or Jokki Joaquim or Jaquim (informal) Joachim
Jākob or Jāku Jacob or Jacó James Holds the heel
Mingel Miguel Michael Who is like God?
Pedru Pedro Peter Stone
Šila Silvestre Sylvester Wooded
Zuãuñ João John God is gracious
Zoze José Joseph The Lord will add
Source: English-Konkani Dictionary (2001)[3]

Female given names

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Mangalorean Catholic female naming conventions differ for married or grown up females and young girls. In case of married or grown up females, most names (more distinctly names ending in a or e) follow the first declension.[2]

Females
Mangalorean Catholic variant Portuguese variant English/anglicized variant Meaning
Zúān Joana Jane Yahweh (God) is gracious
Lus or Lujeň Luz or Lúcia Lucy Light
Luisā Luísa Louisa
Mornel Madalena Magdalene
Martu Marta Martha the lady
Rakel Raquel Rachel one with purity
Rejin Regina Regina Queen
Ritu Rita Rita
Rozzi Rosa Rose
Sobin Sabina Sabina
Serpin Serafina Serafina
Monku Mónica Monica To advise
Nâtu Natália Natalia Birthday
Zâbel Isabel Elizabeth My God is my oath
Source: English-Konkani Dictionary (2001)[3]

Surnames

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After the Portuguese conquest of Goa in 1510, the Portuguese consolidated their power by imposing their own government and cultural institutions in Goa. They also started spreading Christianity in Goa & many converted to Christianity. The Christians adopted Portuguese surnames but retained their Konkani customs & values. These Christians migrated to South Canara, due to the religious intolerance of the Goa Inquisition (1560), the Mahratta Invasion of Goa and Bombay in the late 17th century,[4] food shortages, epidemics, heavy taxation & other causes.[5][6]

After these Konkani migrants settled in South Canara, they continued using Portuguese surnames bestowed on their ancestors.[7] Some families, however, still use their original Bammon & Charoda surnames.[8][9][10] Some still do have Hindu surnames such as Shett, Shenoy, Kamath, Padval etc.[1] These ancestral pre-conversion surnames of the Mangalorean Catholics are called paik in Konkani.[11] Mudartha-D'Souza is a unique Mangalorean Catholic surname to be found among some who hail from the Udupi district.[12]

Presently, Portuguese surnames are also observed in Goan Catholics, Bombay East Indian Catholics, Damanese Catholics & some other Christians in India. Portuguese surnames are popular in some parts of the world, they significant in Portugal, Brazil, Macao, Angola, Cape Verde, East Timor, Equatorial Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, São Tomé and Príncipe and Mozambique.

Bold indicates common surnames
Italics indicates uncommon surnames

  Portuguese Surnames
A B C D E F G H I J K L M
Adailton Bandeira Cabral da Costa Esteves Faria Gama Henriques Lopes 𝐌𝐢𝐫𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐬
Abreu Baptista Caeiro da Rosa Estibeiro Fernandes Gomes Lasrado Martin
Ademir Bacardo Caiado de Costa Estrocio Ferreira Gonsalves Lobo Martins
Afonso Barbosa Calado de Cunha Figueira Gonçalves Luis Medeiros
Agostinho Barboz Calisto de Mello Furtado Gracias Lewis Mendonça
Aguiar Barcelos Camara de Penha Fonseca Goveas Mendonca
Alberto Barco Câmara de Souza Ferrao Menezes
Albuquerque Barnes Campos D'Costa Moraes
Alcantara Barreto Cardinho D'Cunha Machado
Aldeia Barros Cardoso D'Mello Mendes
Alemao Batista Caridade D'Penha Miranda
Almeida Benedicto Carlos D'Souza Madtha
Alva Benjamin Carmo Dias Martis
Alvares Bennis Carneiro Dorado Mathias
Álvares Bento Carrasco D'Silva Misquith
Alves Borges Carreira de Silva Monis
Alves da Silva Botelho Carvalho Dourado Monteiro
Alvim Braga Castanha D'sa Mascarenhas
Amaral Branco Castelino Domingo Moras
Amarildo Brandao Castellino
Ambrose Brandão Catao
Amor Brito Cavaco
Amorim Britto Cereja
Andrade Bruno Chico
Antunes Buthello Clement
Aranha Betancourt Coelho
Araújo Biscoito Colaço
Assunção Brazão Coma
Aurora Barrows Conceicao
Azavedo Conceição
Azevedo Concessao
Alfonso Corda
Abreo Cordeiro
Cordo
Correia
Corte-Real
Corte-Real
Costa
Coutinho
Couto
Crasta
Crasto
Criado
Cruz
Cunha
N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
Nascimento Olivera Pacheco Quadros Rangel Tavares Valadares Xavier Zuzarte
Nazareth Pais Raposo Saldanha Tavora Valles
Neves Paes Rasquinha Sales Teles Vaz
Noronha Paiva Rebello Santamaria Telles Veiga
Nunes Palha Rego Santimano Texeira Velho
Palmeira Remedios Sapeco Torrado Verdes
Peixote Reveredo Sardinha Torres Viegas
Pereira Ribeiro Schunker Torquato Vieira
Peres Rocha Roche Sena Travasso
Picardo Sequeira Trinidade
Pimenta Rodricks Silva
Pinheiro Rodrigues Silveira
Pinho Rosario Simoes
Pinto Soares
Pires Suares
Po Sousa
Prazeres Souza
Portuguese variant Mangalorean Catholic variant
Sousa Soz
Coelho Coel
Pinto Pint
Sources: A Konkani Grammar (2003)[13]

Notes

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  1. ^ a b Pinto 1999, p. 168 "The Konkani Christians had names of saints like Peter, John, James, Jacob and Portuguese surnames like Saldanha, Britto, Coelho, Pinto, Vas and others. Some did have Hindu surnames: Shet, Shenoy, Kamalh, Padival, etc."
  2. ^ a b Maffei 2003, p. 38
  3. ^ a b Maffei 2001, p. 541
  4. ^ "Original settlements ('roots') of mangalore catholic families in kanara/Mangalore and the community's socio-economic evolution and transition in recent times. – Catholic Association of South Kanara". Archived from the original on 21 July 2024.
  5. ^ "Christianity in Mangalore". Diocese of Mangalore. Archived from the original on 22 June 2008. Retrieved 30 July 2008.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  6. ^ Pinto 1999, p. 124
  7. ^ Farias 1999, p. 12 "The Christians have European surnames which were bestowed on their ancestors by the Portuguese who stood sponsors to them at the time of their baptism."
  8. ^ South Kanara District Gazetteer 1973, p. 103
  9. ^ Maffei 2003, p. 217
  10. ^ Sarasvati's Children - Joe Lobo
  11. ^ Prabhu 1999, p. 137
  12. ^ D'Souza, Dr. Eugene (5 September 2009). "Prof Wilfred D'Souza - Third Generation Teacher Who Achieved Greater Heights". Daijiworld Media Pvt Ltd Mangalore. Archived from the original on 27 April 2010. Retrieved 19 November 2009.
  13. ^ Maffei 2003, p. 8

References

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