Menezes, sometimes Meneses, was originally a Portuguese

toponymic surname A toponymic surname or habitational surname or byname is a surname or byname derived from a place name,

which originated in Montes Torozos, a region in Tierra de Campos, northeast of

Valladolid Valladolid ( ; ) is a Municipalities of Spain, municipality in Spain and the primary seat of government and ''de facto'' capital of the Autonomous communities of Spain, autonomous community of Castile and León. It is also the capital of the pr ...

and southeast of

Palencia Palencia () is a city of Spain located in the autonomous community of Castile and León. It is the capital and most populated municipality of the province of Palencia. Located in the northwest of the Iberian Peninsula, in the northern half of ...

. The ancestor of the Meneses lineage was Tello Pérez de Meneses. The family wealth and power grew remarkably in the 13th and 14th centuries, through several marriages with the Castilian and Portuguese royal families. Menezes is also a surname used by some members of the

Christian A Christian () is a person who follows or adheres to Christianity, a Monotheism, monotheistic Abrahamic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus in Christianity, Jesus Christ. Christians form the largest religious community in the wo ...

community in India. As a surname, Menezes/Meneses may refer to:

People

* Alex Meneses, United States actress and model * Alexandre Menezes, Brazilian guitarist * Alfred Menezes, Canadian cryptographer * Ana Lúcia Menezes, Brazilian voice actress *

Antonio Martínez de Meneses Antonio Martínez de Meneses (c. 1612 – 1661) was a playwright of the Spanish Golden Age The Spanish Golden Age (Spanish language, Spanish: ''Siglo de Oro'', , "Golden Century"; 1492 – 1681) was a period of literature and the The arts ...

, Spanish playwright * Antônio Meneses (born 1957), Brazilian cellist * Armando Menezes (1902–1983), Goan poet, writer, academic and civil servant * Artur Menezes (born 1997), Brazilian blues and blues rock guitarist, singer and songwriter * Bernardino Meneses y Bracamonte, Count of Peñalba, Spanish nobleman and military leader * Buwi Meneses, Filipino musician *

Christianne Meneses Jacobs Christianne Meneses Jacobs (born March 28, 1971) is a Nicaraguan American writer, editor, and teacher. She is the publisher of ''Iguana;'' a Spanish language magazine for children. Early life and education Meneses Jacobs was born in Managua, ...

, United States writer, editor, and teacher *

Daiana Menezes Daiana Alves Menezes (born June 20, 1987) is a Brazilians, Brazilian actress, singer, and television host based in the Philippines. Menezes is best known as a former co-host of Variety show, noontime variety show ''Eat Bulaga!'' and is currentl ...

(born 1987), Brazilian actress, model and television host * Diego Meneses (born 1998), Colombian para-athlete * Fernão Teles de Meneses, Portuguese fidalgo and soldier * Filipe Ribeiro de Meneses, Portuguese historian * Francisco Meneses Osorio, Spanish painter * Frutos Saavedra Meneses, Spanish soldier, geodesist and politician * Geo Meneses, Mexican singer and producer * Glória Menezes (born 1934), Brazilian actress * Gonzalo de Céspedes y Meneses, Spanish novelist *

Guillermo Meneses Guillermo Meneses (Caracas, 15 December 1911 - Porlamar, Nueva Esparta, 29 December 1978) was a Venezuelan writer, playwright, and journalist. He was the author of ''La Balandra 'Isabel' llegó esta tarde'' and ''Campeones'', among other works ...

, Venezuelan writer *

Heloísa Pinheiro Heloísa Eneida Paes Pinto Mendes Pinheiro (born July 7, 1943), better known as Helô Pinheiro (), is a Brazilian businesswoman and former model. Biography At the age of 17, Pinheiro became the source of inspiration for the song "The Girl from ...

, Brazilian real-life "Girl from Ipanema" * Herbert Meneses, Guatemalan actor * Holdemar Menezes, Brazilian writer * Icarius De Menezes, Brazilian creative director * Ivan Menezes, Indian-born American/British business executive * Janis Meneses, Chilean constituent * Jean Charles de Menezes, Brazilian killed by London police officers who mistook him for a terrorist * João Cardoso de Meneses e Sousa, Baron of Paranapiacaba, Brazilian poet, translator, journalist, lawyer and politician * João Costa Menezes, Portuguese actor and filmmaker * Joana Josefa de Meneses, Portuguese writer *

Jorge de Menezes Jorge de Menezes (also spelt Meneses) (c. 1498 – 1537) was a Portuguese explorer. Due to a monsoon, he was forced to reside in Versya, posited by Pieter Anton Tiele as Waisai, between 1526 and 1527. Menezes called the region ''Ilhas dos Papuas' ...

, Portuguese explorer * Laura Meneses, first Latin American in 1920 to be accepted into

Radcliffe College Radcliffe College was a Women's colleges in the United States, women's Liberal arts colleges in the United States, liberal arts college in Cambridge, Massachusetts, that was founded in 1879. In 1999, it was fully incorporated into Harvard Colle ...

, the women's educational institution affiliated with

Harvard University Harvard University is a Private university, private Ivy League research university in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States. Founded in 1636 and named for its first benefactor, the History of the Puritans in North America, Puritan clergyma ...

* Luís de Meneses, 2nd Viscount of Meneses, Portuguese artist * Luís de Menezes Bragança (1878–1938), Indian journalist, writer, politician and anti-colonial activist * Luiz Alberto Dias Menezes, Brazilian geologist, mineralogist and mineral dealer * Mai Meneses, Spanish singer-songwriter * Manuel Menezes, Indian business executive, chairman of the Indian Railway Board * María Elena Meneses Rocha, Mexican journalist * Maria Emilia Menezes, Indian industrialist * Mario Menezes, Indian director, triatist and vice president of Tiatr Academy Goa * Margareth Menezes, Brazilian singer * Monsueto Menezes, Brazilian sambista, singer, composer and drummer * Paulo Barreto Menezes (1925–2016), Brazilian civil engineer and politician * Philadelpho Menezes, Brazilian poet, visual poet, pioneer of new media poetry * Porfirio Meneses Lazón, Peruvian poet * Ricardo Meneses, Portuguese actor * Simone Menezes, Brazilian conductor * Tobias Barreto de Meneses (1839–1889), Brazilian critic, poet, jurist * Tyler Menezes, Canadian-American computer programmer and businessperson * Victor Menezes (1947–2025), Indian banker * Vidaluz Meneses (1944–2016), Nicaraguan librarian, poet, dean, and social activist

Politics

* Alfonso Téllez de Meneses ''el Viejo'', nobleman and participant in the key ''

Reconquista The ''Reconquista'' (Spanish language, Spanish and Portuguese language, Portuguese for ) or the fall of al-Andalus was a series of military and cultural campaigns that European Christian Reconquista#Northern Christian realms, kingdoms waged ag ...

Battle of Las Navas de Tolosa The Battle of Las Navas de Tolosa, known in Islamic history as the Battle of Al-Uqab (), took place on 16 July 1212 and was an important turning point in the ''Reconquista'' and the Spain in the Middle Ages, medieval history of Spain. The Christian ...

* António de Amaral de Meneses, 19th and last

Governor A governor is an politician, administrative leader and head of a polity or Region#Political regions, political region, in some cases, such as governor-general, governors-general, as the head of a state's official representative. Depending on the ...

Portuguese Ceylon Portuguese Ceylon (; ; ) is the name given to the territory on Ceylon, modern-day Sri Lanka, controlled by the Portuguese Empire between 1597 and 1658. Portuguese presence in the island lasted from 1505 to 1658. Their arrival was largely accide ...

* António Luís de Meneses, 1st Marquis of Marialva (1596–1675), Portuguese general in the Portuguese Restoration War * António José Manoel de Menezes Severim de Noronha, 1st Duke of Terceira (1792–1860), Portuguese soldier and statesman * António José Teles de Meneses, Governor of Portuguese Timor * Apolonio Méndez Meneses, Mexican politician * Aristide Menezes, political figure in Guinea-Bissau * Beatriz de Meneses, 2nd Countess of Loulé, Portuguese noble * Beatriz de Menezes, 2nd Countess of Vila Real, Portuguese noble * Carlos Alberto Menezes Direito, Brazilian judge of the Supreme Federal Court *

Duarte de Menezes Dom (honorific), Dom Duarte de Menezes (sometimes ''de Meneses'')(before 1488 – after 1539) was a 16th-century Portuguese nobleman and colonial administrator, List of governors of Tangier, Governor of Tangier from 1508 to 1521 and 1536 to 153 ...

(1488–1539), Portuguese nobleman and colonial officer * Duarte de Menezes, 3rd Count of Viana (1414–1464), Portuguese nobleman and military figure * Fernando de Magalhães e Menezes, Portuguese colonial administrator and Chief of Staff in 1891 * Fernando de Meneses, 2nd Count of Ericeira, Portuguese nobleman and military man. He was Governor of Tangier until 1661 * Fradique de Menezes, Former President of São Tomé and Príncipe * Francisco Barreto de Meneses, Portuguese governor * Francisco de Meneses, 3rd

* Francisco de Meneses Brito, Spanish Governor of Chile * Henrique de Meneses, Portuguese governor * Henrique de Meneses, 3rd Marquis of Louriçal, Portuguese nobleman * Jacquie Menezes, Canadian politician * João Afonso Telo, 4th Count of Barcelos (died 1381), Portuguese nobleman * João Afonso Telo de Meneses, 2nd Lord of Albuquerque, Portuguese nobleman * João Rodrigues de Sá e Menezes (16th century), first Count of Penaguião, a Portuguese title * Jorge de Meneses Baroche, 6th

Captain-major A donatary captain was a Portuguese colonial official to whom the Crown granted jurisdiction, rights and revenues over some colonial territory. The recipient of these grants was called a (donatary), because he had been given the grant as a (donat ...

* José António de Melo da Silva César e Meneses, high noble and general in the Portuguese Army * José Guedes de Carvalho e Meneses, Portuguese colonial administrator * José Manuel da Cunha Faro Menezes Portugal da Gama Carneiro e Sousa (1788–1849), Portuguese count and Prime Minister * Julião Menezes, Indian freedom fighter, medical practitioner, author, and

nationalist Nationalism is an idea or movement that holds that the nation should be congruent with the State (polity), state. As a movement, it presupposes the existence and tends to promote the interests of a particular nation,Anthony D. Smith, Smith, A ...

leader * Leonor de Castro Mello y Meneses (1512–1546), Portuguese noble and court official, the IVth Duchess of Gandia * Leonor Telles de Meneses, Queen Consort of Portugal *

Luís Filipe Menezes Luís Filipe de Menezes Lopes (born 2 November 1953) is a Portuguese politician. Background He is a son of José António Lopes (Porto, Alvar, 10 September 1925 –), an Industrialist (son and paternal grandson of cattle dealers and mate ...

, Portuguese politician * Luís de Meneses, 3rd Count of Ericeira, Portuguese nobleman * Manuel de Menezes, Duke of Vila Real (16th century), Portuguese Governor of Ceuta * Infanta Maria, Lady of Menezes and Orduña, Portuguese noble * Mark Menezes, American lawyer and Under Secretary of Energy * Martha Patricia Meneses Zavaleta, Primera Dama Municipio de Benito Juarez, Cancún, Quintana Roo, México * Martim Afonso Telo de Meneses, Portuguese nobleman * Omar Fayad Meneses, Mexican politician * Pedro de Meneses, 1st Count of Vila Real (1370–1437), Portuguese nobleman and military figure * Rodrigo Anes de Sá Almeida e Meneses, 1st Marquis of Abrantes, Portuguese nobleman and diplomat * Dom Roque Tello de Menezes, Portuguese nobleman * Roxana Miranda Meneses, Chilean politician * Sebastião Lopes de Calheiros e Meneses, Portuguese colonial administrator * Vasco Guedes de Carvalho e Meneses, Portuguese colonial administrator

Religion

* Aleixo de Menezes, Portuguese Archbishop of Braga * Beatrice of Silva Menezes, Saint (1424–1492), Spanish nobleman, foundress of the Order of the Immaculate Conception of Our Lady * José Ángel Saiz Meneses, Spanish prelate of the

Catholic Church The Catholic Church (), also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the List of Christian denominations by number of members, largest Christian church, with 1.27 to 1.41 billion baptized Catholics Catholic Church by country, worldwid ...

who has served as the metropolitan archbishop of Seville since 2021 * Juan Francisco Meneses, Chilean priest and political figure * Juan González Meneses, Roman Catholic prelate who served as the Bishop of Almería * María Romero Meneses, Nicaraguan nun *

Mary Noel Menezes Sister Mary Noel Menezes OR (14 July 1930 – 31 August 2022) was a Guyanese Roman Catholic nun and historian of Portuguese descent. She was involved with the University of Guyana from 1967 to her death in 2022, as a lecturer, head of departme ...

, Guyanese Roman Catholic nun and historian * Rozario Menezes, Roman Catholic Bishop of Lae, Papua New Guinea * Tello Téllez de Meneses, bishop of Palencia

Sports

* Agdon Menezes, Brazilian football forward * Alex Paulo Menezes Santana, known as Alex Santana, Brazilian footballer *

Ademir Marques de Menezes Ademir Marques de Menezes (; 8 November 1922 – 11 May 1996) was a Brazilian footballer, regarded as one of the best forwards in the country's history. His prominent underbite earned him the nickname (The Jaw). He was also the top goalsco ...

, Brazilian footballer * Andréa Menezes, Brazilian tennis player * Ângelo Meneses, Portuguese footballer * António Menezes, Portuguese sailor * António de Menezes, Portuguese fencer * Benedicto de Moraes Menezes, Brazilian football player * Bia Menezes, Brazilian footballer * Bruno Marques Menezes, Brazilian footballer * Bruno Menezes, Brazilian footballer * Bruno Menezes Soares, also known as Bruno Mineiro, Brazilian football striker * Carlos Menezes, Peruvian boxer * Carlos de Menezes Júnior, Brazilian professional footballer * Cecília Menezes, Brazilian indoor volleyball player * Christopher Meneses (born 1990), Costa Rican footballer * Claudio Meneses, Chilean footballer * Daiane Menezes Rodrigues, Brazilian footballer * Daiane Menezes Rodrigues (Bagé), Brazilian footballer * Daltro Menezes, Brazilian football manager *

Débora Menezes Débora Bezerra de Menezes (born 18 May 1990) is a Brazilian para taekwondo practitioner. She won the silver medal in the women's +58 kg event at the 2020 Summer Paralympics in Tokyo, Japan. She came in fourth place in the women's +65 kg event ...

, Brazilian taekwondo pratictioner * Diego Salgado Costa de Menezes, Brazilian footballer * Eduardo Menezes, Brazilian Olympic show jumping rider * Eloy de Menezes, Brazilian equestrian * Enilton Menezes de Miranda, Brazilian footballer * Erik Jorgens de Menezes, Brazilian-born Emirati footballer * Esteban Meneses, Argentine rugby union coach * Felipe Menezes, Brazilian professional footballer * Fernando Meneses, Chilean footballer * Francisco Jackson Menezes da Costa, known as Jackson Caucaia, Brazilian footballer * Frederika Menezes, Goan author, poet and artist * Gledson da Silva Menezes, Brazilian football defender * Gustavo Menezes, American racing driver * Harlei de Menezes Silva, Brazilian goalkeeper * Helena de Menezes, Brazilian sprinter * Henry Menezes, Indian football manager * Igor Caetano Menezes Trindade, Brazilian football player * Jady Menezes, Brazilian kickboxer * Jean Meneses, Chilean footballer * Jeferson Lima de Menezes, known as Gauchinho, Brazilian footballer * Jeimes Menezes de Almeida, Brazilian footballer * Jessenia Meneses, Colombian cyclist * João Menezes (born 1996), Brazilian tennis player * Joey Meneses (born 1992), Mexican baseball player * John Meneses (born 1984), Colombian footballer * José Clayton Menezes Ribeiro, Brazilian-Tunisian footballer * José Meneses, Guatemalan sprinter * José Meneses (basketball), Mexican basketball player * Jude Menezes, Indian field hockey goalkeeper * Luis Rodolfo López Meneses, Guatemalan footballer * Luís Vinícius de Menezes, Brazilian footballer * Luiz Antonio "Mano" Venker Menezes, Brazilian football manager * Matheus Menezes, Brazilian footballer * Paulo Menezes (footballer) (born 1982), footballer from Brazil * Paulo Menezes (football coach) (born 1978), Portuguese football manager * Luís Cardoso de Menezes, Portuguese equestrian * Luiz Henrique Ferreira de Menezes, Brazilian former footballer * Luiz Felipe Costa Meneses, Brazilian football player * Luís Maia de Bittencourt Menezes, Brazilian former footballer * Marcos Antonio Menezes Godoi, Brazilian football player * Óscar Meneses, Chilean football manager * Oscar Meneses (athlete), Guatemalan sprinter * Osman Menezes Venâncio Júnior, Brazilian footballer * Marcela Menezes, Brazilian group

rhythmic gymnast Rhythmic gymnastics is a sport in which gymnasts perform individually or in groups on a floor with an apparatus: hoop, ball, clubs, ribbon and rope. The sport combines elements of gymnastics, dance and calisthenics; gymnasts must be strong, fle ...

* Matías Meneses, Chilean footballer *

Mauro Menezes Mauro Menezes (born 27 July 1963) is a former professional tennis Tennis is a List of racket sports, racket sport that is played either individually against a single opponent (singles (tennis), singles) or between two teams of two players e ...

, former professional tennis player from Brazil * Paulo Victor de Menezes Melo, also known as Paulinho, Brazilian footballer * Ramon Menezes, Brazilian football manager * Ramon Menezes Roma, Brazilian footballer * Ria Meneses, Filipino volleyball player * Rildo da Costa Menezes, Brazilian footballer * Rodrigo Menezes, Brazilian footballer * Ronald Menezes, Brazilian freestyle swimmer * Sarah Menezes, Brazilian judoka * Sérgio Menezes, Brazilian sprinter * Sherwin Meneses, Filipino volleyball coach * Taiberson Ruan Menezes Nunes, Brazilian footballer *

Thaísa Menezes Thaísa Daher de Menezes (; born 15 May 1987) is a Brazilian professional volleyball player. She won back-to-back gold medals at the 2008 and 2012 Summer Olympics. She has won numerous Best Spiker and Best Blocker Awards, and is often singled o ...

, Brazilian volleyball player * Thiago dos Santos Menezes, Brazilian footballer * Tony Menezes, Canadian-Brazilian footballer * Valeska Menezes, Brazilian volleyball player * Vergel Meneses, Filipino basketball player * Vilson Xavier de Menezes Júnior, Brazilian footballer * Wallace Menezes dos Santos, Brazilian footballer * Yadir Meneses, Colombian footballer * Yasmin Menezes, Brazilian female acrobatic gymnast * Yulitza Meneses, Cuban sprint canoeist * William Menezes, Brazilian football goalkeeper * William Douglas Menezes, Brazilian footballer * Wilson Meneses, Colombian cyclist

People

Politics

Religion

Sports

See also