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

DeSouza, 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 DeSouza surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of DeSouza in America

DeSouza is the 5255th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The DeSouza surname appeared 6,639 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 2 people would have the surname DeSouza.

We can also compare 2010 data for DeSouza 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 DeSouza

The surname DESOUZA originated in Portugal, with its roots dating back to the 15th century. It is derived from the Portuguese words "de" meaning "from" and "Souza," which is a place name referring to the town of Sousa in northern Portugal. The name is sometimes spelled as DE SOUSA or DE SOUZA, reflecting its Portuguese origins.

DESOUZA is believed to have been initially adopted by individuals who hailed from the town of Sousa or its surrounding areas. As families migrated and settled in different regions, the name spread across Portugal and eventually to other parts of the world, particularly to Portuguese colonies and territories.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the DESOUZA surname can be found in the "Livro das Linhagens" (Book of Lineages), a medieval Portuguese manuscript that chronicles the genealogy of noble families. This work, compiled in the 13th and 14th centuries, mentions individuals bearing the DESOUZA name, indicating its longstanding presence in Portuguese history.

During the Age of Exploration, as Portuguese explorers and colonizers ventured across the globe, the DESOUZA surname traveled with them. Prominent figures with this name emerged in various parts of the world, contributing to the spread and recognition of the surname.

One notable individual was Tomé de Sousa (c. 1503-1579), a Portuguese explorer and colonial administrator who served as the first Governor-General of Brazil from 1549 to 1553. He played a crucial role in establishing Portuguese settlements in the colony and laid the foundations for the future development of Brazil.

Another individual of historical significance was Luís de Sousa (1555-1632), a Portuguese writer and historian who authored works such as "A Vida de D. Frei Bartolomeu dos Mártires" (The Life of D. Frei Bartolomeu dos Mártires), a renowned biography of a 16th-century Portuguese theologian and writer.

In the realm of arts and culture, João de Sousa Carvalho (1745-1798) was a Portuguese painter and architect known for his work in the Neoclassical style. He contributed to the design and decoration of several notable buildings in Portugal, including the Palácio da Ajuda in Lisbon.

Moving to more recent times, Manuel de Sousa (1858-1919) was a prominent Portuguese politician who served as Prime Minister of Portugal from 1911 to 1912 during the early years of the First Portuguese Republic.

Lastly, José de Sousa Saramago (1922-2010) was a renowned Portuguese writer and recipient of the 1998 Nobel Prize in Literature. His works, such as "Ensaio sobre a Cegueira" (Blindness) and "Memorial do Convento" (Memoir of the Convent), have been widely acclaimed and translated into numerous languages.

Overall, the DESOUZA surname has a rich and diverse history, originating in Portugal and spreading across the globe through exploration, colonization, and migration. It has been carried by individuals who have made significant contributions in various fields, leaving an indelible mark on the cultural and historical tapestry of numerous regions.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name DeSouza

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

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

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

Reference this page

We spend a lot of resources downloading, cleaning, merging, and formatting the data that is shown on the site.

If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!