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Freitas (surname)

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Freitas is a very common surname in Madeira Autonomous Region, Portugal. Its origin seems related to the 300-million-year-old 'Birthing Stones' phenomenon which occurs in remote northern Portugal, locally called Pedra Parideira [pt], particularly in the village of Castanheira, nestled into the site of Freita Mountain, Arouca Geopark.

According to the Dictionary of American Family Names citing Oxford University Press, it is a topographic name for someone who lived on a patch of stony ground, from Portuguese (Pedras) Freitas ‘Broken Stones’ Late Latin (Petrae) Fractae.

Gallery

  • Coat of arms of family name Freitas Coat of arms of family name Freitas
  • Birthing Stone from Serra da Freita, in the Geological Museum of Lisbon Birthing Stone from Serra da Freita, in the Geological Museum of Lisbon

References

  1. Fox, Esme. "Portugal's mysterious 'birthing stones'". www.bbc.com. Retrieved 2022-12-16.
  2. Hanks, Patrick (2003-05-08). Dictionary of American Family Names: 3-Volume Set. Oxford University Press. p. 603. ISBN 978-0-19-508137-4.
Surname listThis page lists people with the surname Freitas.
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