Pinto is a Portuguese, Spanish, Jewish (Sephardic), and Italian surname. It is a high-frequency surname in all Portuguese-speaking countries and is also widely present in Spanish-speaking countries, Italy, India (especially in Mangalore, Karnataka), France and Israel.[1] Historically, it has been common among political elites in Portuguese- and Spanish-speaking countries, as numerous presidents, prime ministers, and heads of state have shared the surname.

Pinto
Origin
Language(s)Portuguese, Spanish, Italian
MeaningPainted or lively
Region of originPortugal, Spain, Italy
Other names
Cognate(s)Pinter
See alsoPinto bean, Ford Pinto, Pinto horse

In many languages, Pinto means "colored" or "painted" as it derives from the Late Latin pinctus and Classical Latin pictus, and in some cases, at least from the same word in the sense "lively or restless person".[2] It is linguistically related to the name of Columbus' ship La Pinta, meaning "The Painted One", "The Look", or "The Spotted One". Also related, though greatly diverging in meaning, is the unit of measurement pint, which comes from the Old French word pinte and perhaps ultimately from Vulgar Latin pincta meaning "painted", for marks painted on the side of a container to show capacity.[3]

Politicians edit

Sports players edit

Religious leaders edit

Explorers edit

Writers edit

Academics edit

Other edit

People with the given name or nickname edit

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ "Pinto Surname Distribution Map". Retrieved 25 August 2020.
  2. ^ "Meaning and Origin of: Pinto". Retrieved 25 August 2020.
  3. ^ "Pint". Merriam-Webster.com. 2013. Retrieved 31 May 2013.