Fernandes
A patronymic surname meaning “son of Fernando” or “son of Ferdinand.”
The #2,007 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 17,135 Americans shares it.
Etymology
Fernandes is a patronymic surname formed from the given name Fernando, the Iberian form of Ferdinand. The ending -es/-ez historically meant “son of,” so the name originally signified “son of Fernando/Ferdinand.” The personal name Ferdinand itself is of Germanic origin, usually explained as something like “bold journey” or “brave voyager.”
History
The surname is especially common in Portuguese-speaking areas, but it also appears in Spanish usage as a close counterpart to Fernández. In English-language records it often reflects immigration from Portugal, Spain, or Latin America. Historical surname lists from the 19th century simply note it alongside other Ferdinand-derived forms.
Origin
Regions
Variant spellings
Fun fact
Fernandes and Fernández are basically sibling surnames: same patronymic idea, different Iberian spelling traditions.
From the historical record
“Everard gives Everett and Everedd. Ferdinand gives Fernandes and Fernandez. Fergus gives Ferguson. Francis gives Frank, Franks, Frankson, &c.”
— Suffolk Surnames (3rd ed.)