TheNameDBSouza
TopographicMeaning
A surname derived from the place name Souza in Portugal, indicating ancestral origin from that location.
Etymology
The name originates from the town of Souza in the Minho region of northern Portugal, which became a hereditary family surname. The place name itself may derive from Latin or pre-Latin elements related to the landscape.
About the Souza Surname
A Portuguese surname with clear topographic origins from the northern Portuguese town of Souza. The name became widespread through Portuguese colonization and emigration, particularly to Brazil.
Distribution
Primarily found in Portugal, Brazil, and Portuguese diaspora communities worldwide.
Notable Bearers
John Philip Sousa (variant spelling, American composer)