Amaral ([amaˈɾaw] or [amaˈɾal]) is a Portuguese-language surname of toponymic origin (from the central-northern Portuguese region of Beira), relatively common in Portugal and Brazil, amongst other countries. Its meaning probably comes from a plantation of a variety of grapes (azal tinto) known as amara (from the Latin language amarus/amara – "bitter", because of the taste of the fruit), used to produce wine, and the suffix -al denotes plantation. Amaral means a plantation of amaras.[1]
 Coat of arms associated with the Amaral surname | |
| Origin | |
|---|---|
| Meaning | "a plantation of amara grapes" |
| Region of origin | Beira, central-northern Portugal |
| Other names | |
| Variant form(s) | do Amaral (of —or from— the plantation of amaras) |
Another less reliable theory says that the surname Amaral would have Jewish origins and could derive from the Aramaic term Amar-Al. Amar would be the word, message, expression or concept and Al would be God, what is above, The Supreme. Amaral would mean, according to this theory, said by God.[1]
This family name is considered to be of high lineage because it descends from the King Ramiro II of León.[2] The current people with this surname are probably of pre-Roman Lusitanian, Christian Visigothic and some Sephardic Jewish and Berber descent.[1]
The coat of arms of this family name is composed of six upside-down crescent moons, possibly for an anti-Islamic reason. The Iberian Peninsula was occupied by Arab-Berber Muslims from Maghreb during the Middle Ages.[1]
A variation is do Amaral.
People
edit- Afrânio Pompílio Gastos do Amaral (1894–1982), Brazilian herpetologist
- Aguida Amaral (born 1972), Timor Leste runner
- Ana Luísa Amaral (1956–2022), Portuguese poet and professor
- Anthony Amaral (1930–1982), US West Historian, horse trainer
- Aracy Amaral (born 1930), Brazilian art historian and curator
- Carlos do Amaral Freire, Brazilian scholar, linguist, translator
- Dante Amaral (born 1980), Brazilian volleyball player more commonly known as Dante
- David Amaral (born 1950), US professor of psychiatry
- Francisco Keil do Amaral (1910–1975), Portuguese architect
- Karoline Amaral (born 1984), Brazilian model
- Luís Amaral (born 1968), Portuguese physicist
- Maria Adelaide Amaral (born 1942), Portuguese-born Brazilian playwright, screenwriter, novelist
- Maria do Carmo Estanislau do Amaral (born 1959), Brazilian botanist
- Miguel Amaral (born 1954), Portuguese businessperson, race car driver
- Rich Amaral (born 1962), US baseball player
Artists
edit- Eva Amaral (born 1972), Spanish singer-songwriter
- José Carlos Amaral Vieira (born 1952), Brazilian composer, pianist, musicologist
- Marina Amaral (born 1994), Brazilian colorist
- Olga de Amaral (born 1932), Colombian textile artist
- Roberto Amaral, flamenco dancer and singer for British/US rock band Carmen
- Tarsila do Amaral (1886–1973), Brazilian painter
Politicians
edit- Diogo Freitas do Amaral (1941–2019), Portuguese politician
- Francisco Joaquim Ferreira do Amaral (1843–1923), Portuguese naval commander, politician
- Francisco Xavier do Amaral (1937–2012), Timor Leste politician
- Joana Amaral Dias (born 1973), Portuguese politician and clinical psychologist
- João Maria Ferreira do Amaral (1803–1849), Portuguese colonial governor of Macau
- Moisés da Costa Amaral (1938–1989), Timor Leste politician
- Sérgio Amaral (born 1944), Brazilian politician, diplomat
- Tabata Amaral (born 1993), Brazilian politician, education activist
Footballers
edit- Amarildo Souza do Amaral (born 1964), Brazilian footballer
- António Amaral (born 1955), Portuguese footballer
- Casemiro do Amaral (1892–1939), Brazilian footballer
- David Amaral (footballer) (born 1958), Spanish footballer and coach
- Edinho (footballer, born 1967), Brazilian footballer, Edon Amaral Neto
- João Henrique de Andrade Amaral (born 1981), Brazilian footballer more commonly known as Andrade
- João Pedro Reis Amaral (born 1991), Portuguese footballer
- Jorge Amaral Rodrigues (born 1970), Portuguese footballer
- Leandro Amaral (born 1977), Brazilian footballer
- Paulo Lima Amaral (1923-2008), Brazilian footballer and coach
- Pedro Amaral (born 1997), Portuguese footballer
- Rodrigo Amaral (born 1997), Uruguayan footballer
- Thiago Amaral (born 1992), Brazilian footballer
- Wagner Pereira Cardozo (born 1966), Brazilian footballer
Fictional characters
edit- Buddy Amaral, the main character (played by Ben Affleck) in the 2000 movie Bounce
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b c d "(in Portuguese) Significado do nome Amaral (Origin of the surname Amaral)". Recanto das Letras. Retrieved 10 May 2019.
- ^ "(in Portuguese) ORIGEM DO SOBRENOME AMARAL (Meaning of the name Amaral)". Dicionário de Nomes Próprios. Retrieved 21 July 2019.
If an internal link intending to refer to a specific person led you to this page, you may wish to change that link by adding the person's given name(s) to the link.