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

DeSousa, 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 DeSousa surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of DeSousa in America

DeSousa is the 8437th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The DeSousa surname appeared 3,915 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname DeSousa.

We can also compare 2010 data for DeSousa to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name DeSousa

The surname DeSousa originated in Portugal and is thought to be derived from the Portuguese word "sousa," which refers to a small river or stream. It is believed to have first appeared in the northern region of Portugal during the 12th or 13th century.

The name may have originated as a descriptive surname, referring to someone who lived near a small river or stream called Sousa. It is also possible that the name was derived from a specific place name or village named Sousa, though the exact origin is uncertain.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name DeSousa can be found in a Portuguese manuscript from the 14th century, which mentions a nobleman named João de Sousa. This suggests that the name was already established among the Portuguese nobility by that time.

In the 15th century, a prominent Portuguese explorer named Pero de Sousa played a significant role in the exploration and colonization of Brazil. He was among the first Europeans to establish settlements along the Brazilian coast in the early 1500s.

Another notable figure with the surname DeSousa was Martim Afonso de Sousa, a Portuguese colonial administrator and explorer who served as the third Governor-General of Portuguese India from 1542 to 1545. He was instrumental in consolidating Portuguese control over the western coast of India.

During the 16th and 17th centuries, the name DeSousa began to spread beyond Portugal as Portuguese explorers, traders, and colonists established settlements in various parts of the world. The name can be found in historical records from regions such as Brazil, Goa (India), and parts of Africa that were under Portuguese influence.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name in Brazil dates back to the late 16th century, when Francisco de Sousa Coutinho was appointed as the Governor-General of Brazil from 1590 to 1602. He played a significant role in the development of the Brazilian colony during its early years.

In the 18th century, Luís de Sousa Botelho Mourão, a Portuguese military officer and colonial administrator, served as the Governor of Portuguese Timor from 1786 to 1789. He is notable for his efforts to improve the administration and defense of the colony during his tenure.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name DeSousa

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

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 DeSousa was:

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.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of DeSousa has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

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 DeSousa was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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