Surname Duarte - Meaning and Origin

Unraveling Intriguing Heritage: Insights from my iGENEA DNA Test on Duarte Surname

Embarking on a fascinating journey into my genetic heritage, I uncovered a rich, diverse ancestry related to the Duarte surname based on the insights from my iGENEA DNA test. The findings span from 15th century Sephardic Jews in the Iberian Peninsula to intercontinental migrations across Western Europe, North Africa, and even the Americas.

Q. Duarte

Duarte: What does the surname Duarte mean?

The surname Duarte is of Spanish and Portuguese origin, derived from the personal name Edward, which means "rich or prosperous guard", and composed of the elements "eaud", meaning "prosperity or wealth", and "ward", meaning "guard". In Spain and Portugal, it’s a popular surname and it became famous particularly because of Eva Duarte de Perón, commonly known as Evita, who was the First Lady of Argentina from 1946 until her death in 1952. The surname has different variations including Duarte, Duart, Duardo and Edward. Today, the surname Duarte is common in many parts of the world, especially in Portuguese and Spanish speaking countries. It should be noted that the origins and meanings of a surname can vary, even within the same country, due to regional linguistic differences.

Duarte: Where does the name Duarte come from?

The surname Duarte is of Portuguese and Spanish origin. Derived from the personal name Edward, translated as "Eduardo" in Spanish and "Duarte" in Portuguese, it means "wealthy or prosperous guardian". The name Duarte became a hereditary surname in Spain and Portugal during the late Middle Ages, often denoting noble or royal lineage. Portuguese navigators, explorers, and settlers spread the surname to their colonial territories, which is why it can be found in many parts of the world today.

Duarte is most common in Portugal, Spain, and Spanish-speaking countries in Latin America. It is also prevalent in former Portuguese colonies such as Angola, Mozambique, Goa in India, and East Timor. In the United States, it's common in states with large Hispanic populations like California and Texas from Mexican immigrants. Notably, there's a city named Duarte in California, named after Andres Duarte, a Mexican soldier granted the land by the Mexican government in the 1840s.

Variations of the surname Duarte

Duarte is a surname of Spanish, Portuguese, and Catalan origin. It is derived from "Eduard", meaning "rich guardian". It is also used as a given name. The multiple spelling variants mainly represent the phonetic differences across the languages in the countries where it is popular.

Some variants can include Dwarte, Dwart, and Duarty, though these are far less common. In terms of surnames of the same origin, "Eduard" and its variants can be found, which include "Edward", "Edwards", "Eduards", and "Eduardo". In addition, the surnames "Ede", "Edes", "Edis" and "Edison" are also derived from "Eduard".

The French equivalent of Duarte is "Duart", commonly found in the Britanny region of France. Sometimes, Duarte can also be found spelled phonetically as "Dewarte" or "Doarte".

In Portuguese and Spanish-speaking countries, "Duarte" is quite common as both a surname and male first name. In these languages, the surname "Duarte" has been sometimes americanized as "Dewart" or "Duart". In some Spanish-speaking regions, it's also common to find the variant "de Duarte" or "de la Duarte". Spanish double barrel surnames such as "Duarte-Gomez" or "Duarte-Lopez" can also be found.

Famous people with the name Duarte

• Eva Perón (Evita): Born as Maria Eva Duarte, she was the First Lady of Argentina from 1946 until her death in 1952. Known for her work in labor rights and women's suffrage.
• Juan Duarte: Eva Peron's brother, an influential figure in Argentinean politics.
• José Napoleón Duarte: A politician who served as President of El Salvador from 1984 to 1989.
• Carlos Duarte: A globally recognized scientist in the field of marine ecology and biological oceanography.
• Daniel Duarte: A filmmaker and director in Bolivia.
• Nilson Xavier: Born as Jorge Nilson Xavier Duarte, he is a Brazilian actor and blogger.
• Carlos Duarte Costa: A bishop for the Catholic Church who was excommunicated but formed the Brazilian Catholic Apostolic Church.
• Cecília Duarte: A professional tennis player from Portugal.
• Duarte Pio: Duke of Braganza, pretender to the defunct Portuguese throne.
• Aniceto Guterres Lopes: Born as Aniceto Guterres Duarte Lopes, he is an East Timorese politician who has been the president of country since 2022. This list includes people in various fields like acting, politics, science, and sports.

Other surnames

Duart