Rhys Eddy, 60 Hornbrook St Nth, Temuka, New Zealand
Email: eddy@xtra.co.nz
Date submitted: before 1998
Village: Unknown.
Surname: Sousa.
Comments: I am trying to find information on an ancestor. His name was Manuel de Sousa who, I believe, was born on Pico in 1840. His father wasJoseph de Sousa and his mother was Mary Francis. Apparently, Joseph was an ambassador to England. Any information at all on either would be greatlyappreciated.

A typical Portuguese name is composed of one or two given names, and two family names. There is a division between given names and family names. Thefirst surname is the same as the last surname in the mother's maiden name, and the second surname is the same as the last surname of the father.Married women may add their husband's surname to the end of their own name (without replacing any other name), but this is not mandatory. The samemay happen with men, though the adoption of his wife's surname by the husband is extremely rare. In theory a person can choose to use any of theirnames in their personal or professional life.

Sousa is a common surname in the Portuguese language, namely in Portugal and Brazil. Sosa is the Castilian equivalent. It was originally a toponym.Sometimes the spelling is Souza (archaic form). Spelled as D’Souza, it is also a very common surname of Indian Catholics, many of whom aredescendants of the Portuguese from their Indian colonies, namely Mangalore, Goa and Ceylon.