Meaning & History
Antunes is a Portuguese surname of patronymic origin, meaning "son of António." António is the European Portuguese form of the Latin name Antonius, which has been assimilated into English as Anthony. The name Antonius itself is of uncertain Etruscan origin, but it gained prominence through figures such as the Roman general Marcus Antonius (Mark Antony) and the various saints who bore the name, including Saint Anthony the Great, a 4th-century Egyptian hermit, and Saint Anthony of Padua, patron saint of Portugal.
Etymology and History
The suffix -es in Portuguese surnames typically indicates a patronymic, akin to -son or -sen in Germanic languages. Thus, Antunes literally means "António's son." This naming pattern was especially common in Portugal and other Iberian regions during and after the Middle Ages. The variant in Spanish is Antúnez or Antunez, reflecting the Spanish form Alfonso in place of António. The name and its variations disseminate across Portuguese-speaking communities worldwide, including in Brazil and parts of Africa where Portuguese is spoken.
Notable Bearers
The surname Antunes is borne by notable individuals spanning fields from politics to academia. In Portugal, João do Canto e Castro Antunes served as President of Portugal from 1918 to 1919. Other political figures include Manuel Antunes Frasquilho (so that correct link is not provided), and Manuel Lobo Antunes, a current diplomat. In Brazil, Supreme Federal Court Justice Carmen Lúcia Antunes Rocha carries it. In the sciences, Brazilian civil engineer José Antunes Sobrinho remains prominent in engineering circles.
- Meaning: Son of António (Anthony)
- Origin: Portuguese
- Type: Surname
- Usage Regions: Portugal, Brazil, Portuguese-speaking Africa
Related Names
Sources: Wikipedia — Antunes