Meaning & History
Paredes is a toponymic surname of Portuguese and Spanish origin, derived from the word for "wall" — Portuguese parede and Spanish pared, both from Latin paries. It originally denoted a person who lived near a wall, likely a prominent or defensive structure in a village or town.
History and Distribution
The surname Paredes is found throughout the Portuguese and Spanish-speaking worlds. In Portugal, it is also the name of a municipality in the Porto District. The related Spanish word paredes ("walls") may have given rise to the surname in Spain, where it is used as both a masculine and feminine surname. Portuguese emigrants carried the name to Brazil, where it is moderately common, and to other parts of the Americas.
Notable Bearers
While comprehensive lists exist elsewhere famous bearers include: Carminha Paredes (?-1889), lover of Emperor Pedro I of Brazil; Héctor Paredes (b. 1976), Honduran footballer; and John Paredes (b. 1957), Belizean politician. The name also appears in Chilean politics through various minor figures.
- Meaning: “one who lives by a wall”
- Origin: Portuguese/Spanish from Latin paries
- Type: Toponymic
- Regions: Portugal, Spain, Brazil, Latin America
Sources: Wiktionary — Paredes