Moraes first name popularity, history and meaning

Find out how popular the first name Moraes has been for the last 1 years (from 2005 to 2005) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Meaning of Moraes

A Portuguese surname derived from the plural form of "morada" meaning "dwellings".

Popularity of Moraes by gender

Based on the last 1 years of data, Moraes is exclusively a male name.

For the most recent data in 2005, there were 5 male babies and 0 female babies born with the name Moraes.

Year Male Count Female Count
2005 5 0

The history of the first name Moraes

The name Moraes is of Portuguese origin, with roots tracing back to the 14th century. It is believed to have derived from the Portuguese word "mora," which means "dwelling" or "residence." This suggests that the name may have initially been associated with someone who lived in a particular place or settlement.

During the Age of Discovery, when Portuguese explorers and settlers ventured across the globe, the name Moraes likely spread to various regions influenced by Portuguese colonization. In Brazil, for instance, the name became relatively common, particularly among families with Portuguese ancestry.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Moraes can be found in the historical records of the 15th century Portuguese explorer and navigator, Pedro Álvares Cabral, who is credited with the discovery of Brazil in 1500. Among his crew members was a sailor named João de Moraes, who may have been one of the first individuals to bear this name in the Americas.

Throughout the centuries, several notable individuals have carried the name Moraes. In the 16th century, Pero de Moraes Sarmento was a Portuguese poet and author who wrote works on the history of Portugal. In the 17th century, Manuel de Moraes e Silva was a renowned Portuguese lexicographer and grammarian, known for his contributions to the study of the Portuguese language.

Moving forward, one of the most celebrated figures with the name Moraes was José Vieira Couto de Moraes, a 19th-century Brazilian journalist, politician, and abolitionists who played a crucial role in the movement to abolish slavery in Brazil. He was born in 1816 and passed away in 1883.

Another prominent individual was Prudente José de Moraes Barros, the third president of Brazil, who served from 1894 to 1898. He was born in 1841 and played a significant role in the transition from the Brazilian Empire to a republican form of government.

In the 20th century, Vinicius de Moraes, a Brazilian poet, playwright, and lyricist, gained international recognition for his contributions to the bossa nova music movement. He was born in 1913 and passed away in 1980, leaving behind a lasting legacy in Brazilian literature and music.

While these are just a few examples, the name Moraes has been carried by numerous individuals throughout history, reflecting its enduring presence and cultural significance, particularly in Portuguese-speaking regions and communities with ties to Portugal's rich historical legacy.

Data source

The first name data used on this page comes from the Social Security Administration (SSA). They've been collecting data on baby names since 1880.

The history and meaning of the name Moraes was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Moraes, please contact us.

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"Moraes first name popularity, history and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on August 2, 2025. http://namecensus.com/first-names/moraes-meaning-and-history/.

"Moraes first name popularity, history and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/first-names/moraes-meaning-and-history/. Accessed 2 August, 2025

Moraes first name popularity, history and meaning. NameCensus.com. Retrieved from http://namecensus.com/first-names/moraes-meaning-and-history/.

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