DeSouza
A Portuguese surname meaning “from Sousa,” originally pointing to someone from the Sousa region or estate.
The #5,255 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 46,505 Americans shares it.
Etymology
DeSouza is a Portuguese surname built from de, meaning “of” or “from,” plus Sousa, a place name and family name. In origin it identified someone connected with Sousa, usually understood as a locational surname referring to a person from that area. The place-name itself is ancient and may go back to a pre-Roman river or settlement name.
History
The surname is strongly associated with Portugal and the wider Portuguese-speaking world, especially Brazil. In English-language records it often appears as De Sousa, DeSouza, or Souza, with spelling changes shaped by migration and local record-keeping. Like many Portuguese surnames, it spread widely through colonial-era movement and later diaspora communities.
Origin
Regions
Variant spellings
Fun fact
The shorter form Souza is very common in Brazil, while De Sousa is closer to the traditional Portuguese spelling.