Lopes

Etymology

Lopes is a Portuguese and Galician patronymic surname, meaning "son of Lopo." Lopo itself is the Portuguese form of the Germanic name Loup, derived from the Latin lupus meaning "wolf." The name can be traced back to early saints, including a 5th-century bishop of Troyes who reportedly persuaded Attila the Hun to spare the city.

Notable Bearers

The surname Lopes appears across many fields, particularly in Portuguese-speaking countries. Notable bearers include Portuguese footballer Américo Lopes (1933–2023), Cape Verdean revolutionary Amílcar Lopes Cabral (1924–1973), Brazilian politician Adriane Lopes (born 1976), and Portuguese poet Adília Lopes (1960–2024). In sports, numerous Brazilian and Guinea-Bissauan footballers share the name, such as Adelino Lopes and Almir Lopes de Luna.

Distribution and Variants

Lopes is common in Portugal, Galicia (northwest Spain), Brazil, and former Portuguese colonies like Cape Verde, Guinea-Bissau, and East Timor. Variants include the Spanish López (or Lopez), Italian Lupo, French Loup, and Romanian Lupu or Lupescu.

• Meaning: Son of Lopo (wolf)
• Origin: Portuguese, Galician
• Type: Patronymic surname
• Usage Regions: Portugal, Brazil, Lusophone Africa (Cape Verde, Guinea-Bissau), East Timor, Galicia