Cadima last name popularity, history, and meaning

Find out how popular the last name Cadima is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Cadima.

Meaning of Cadima

A habitational surname derived from a Portuguese place name.

Cadima, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Cadima surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Cadima in America

Cadima is the 131379th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Cadima surname appeared 129 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Cadima.

The history of the last name Cadima

The surname Cadima has its origins in Portugal, with records dating back to the 16th century. It is believed to have derived from the Portuguese word "cadimo," which means "permanent" or "enduring." This suggests that the name may have initially been used to refer to someone who was steadfast or resilient.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Cadima can be found in the baptismal records of the parish of São Pedro in Mértola, Alentejo, Portugal, from the year 1558. The name appears in various spellings, such as "Cadyma" and "Cadymo," reflecting the regional variations in pronunciation and spelling at the time.

In the 17th century, the name Cadima was also found in the Portuguese colonies, particularly in Brazil. One notable figure was João Cadima, a merchant and landowner in the city of Salvador, Bahia, who lived from 1625 to 1692. His descendants continued to use the surname, contributing to its spread throughout the region.

As the centuries passed, the Cadima name spread to other parts of the world due to Portuguese exploration and migration. In the 19th century, Manuel Cadima (1832-1914), a prominent poet and writer from the Azores Islands, gained recognition for his works celebrating the Azorean culture and identity.

Another notable figure was Luís Cadima (1898-1972), a Portuguese military officer and politician who served as a minister in the Estado Novo regime of António de Oliveira Salazar. He played a significant role in the colonial administration of Portuguese territories in Africa during the mid-20th century.

In more recent times, José Cadima (born 1948) has made a name for himself as a renowned Portuguese actor, known for his performances in various theater productions and films.

While the surname Cadima is not as widespread as some other Portuguese names, it has left its mark in various regions, reflecting the rich history and cultural influences of Portugal and its former colonies.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Cadima

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Cadima.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

  1. White only
  2. Black only
  3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
  4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
  5. Hispanic
  6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Cadima was:

Race/EthnicityPercentageTotal Occurrences
Non-Hispanic White Only47.29%61
Non-Hispanic Black Only(S)%(S)
Non-Hispanic Asian and Pacific Islander Only(S)%(S)
Non-Hispanic American Indian and Alaskan Native0.00%0
Non-Hispanic of Two or More Races0.00%0
Hispanic Origin51.94%67

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

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

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

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