These last names from Christianity can help you learn more about where they come from and why they are important.
India is a diverse country with people from various communities, beliefs, and religions living together peacefully. We have put together a list of Indian Christian surnames for you to explore. There are different Christian communities in India, including Lutherans, Catholics, Protestants, and Syrians. St. Thomas, one of Jesus’s disciples, introduced Christianity in India when he visited Malabar. Another tradition credits Bartholomew the apostle with introducing Christianity along the Konkan coast. Indian Christian last names often have Spanish, Latin, or Portuguese origins, or sometimes Western roots. Keep reading this post for a list of these last names, along with their origins and meanings.
Famous Indian Christian Surnames With Meanings
- Agostinho
It came from the Portuguese last name Augustine, which comes from the Latin word ‘augere,’ that means ‘to increase.’ Saint Augustine of Hippo was an important Christian theologian who spread the gospel to different parts of the world.
- Alberto
This last name in Christianity comes from the Spanish first name Alberto, which is the same as the English name Albert. It comes from the Germanic name Adalbert, which includes the parts Adal, meaning noble, and beraht, meaning bright.
- Alfonso
The last name Alfonso comes from the Old Germanic name Alphonso, which means prepared for war.
- Alvares
This surname is Portuguese and Galician and means son of Alvaro. This last name comes from ancient Norse words where alf means elf and arr means warrior.
- Alves
In Portugal, this last name is very common and comes from the first name Alvaro, which means all true in Germanic.
- Amaral
Amaral is a last name that comes from Portugal and refers to a farm where a type of grape called Amaras is grown.
- Amorin
This surname used by Christians in Goa comes from a Portuguese surname. It is a last name based on the names of various places called Amorin or Amorim in Portugal.
- Andrade
It’s a last name that originated in the 12th century among knights and lords in Portugal and Spain.
- Antunes
This last name comes from Portugal and means son of Anthony. It comes from the name Antonius, which originated from Greek.
- Arkanj
It is the Goan version of the English word Archangel, which originates from Greek and refers to the top angel.
- Batista
This is a Portuguese last name that means Baptist. It is a last name given to someone who performs baptism like John the Baptist.
- Borges
This last name, of Spanish and Portuguese origin, relates to the family name Burgess, which translates to of the town in English.
- Branco
This last name originates from Portuguese and translates to ‘white.’ This term was given as a nickname to a man with light-colored hair or skin.
- Cabral
This last name comes from Portugal and has Christian origins.It comes from the word Cabra which means goat.
- Camera
The last name Camera translates to chamber and is a popular last name in countries where Portuguese is spoken.
- Campos
The Indian Christian surname, which is frequently used in Goa, comes from Spanish and Portuguese roots and means fields.
- Carneiro
This last name signifies sheep and is a popular Portuguese and Galician surname. It is also a last name related to a specific place called Carneiro in Portugal.
- Chavara
Chavara is a version of the name Chavarria, which comes from the Spanish name Echeverría. This Spanish name, in turn, is derived from Etxeberria, a Basque name for a location, where ‘Etxe’ means ‘house’ and ‘berria’ means ‘new.’ Chavara is also the name of a village located in the Kollam district of Kerala.
- Coelho
This is a last name in Portuguese that means rabbit and comes from the Latin word cuniculus. Originally, it was used as a nickname for someone who looked like a rabbit.
- Correa
The last name Correa comes from Portuguese and Galician and means leather strap. It used to be spelled Correra as a surname.
- Daaveed
This last name comes from the first name David, which is a common name among Indian Christians. David is an important figure in the Bible and the name means beloved in Hebrew.
- D’Costa
This last name is derived from Da Costa and is a different version of Costa. It translates to slope or riverbank in Portuguese, Italian, and Catalan.
- D’Cruz
A common version of the name Cruz, which comes from Spanish and Portuguese and means Cross. This last name comes from the Latin word Crux, and describes someone who lived close to a cross symbol.
- D’Cunha
It is a form of Cunha, which is a name derived from various places with the same name. Cunha originates from Portuguese and translates to ‘wedge.’ In Galician, this last name refers to a hill.
- D’Kabral
Cabral is a popular Indian Christian last name in the Marathi community, derived from Portuguese and translating to goat.
- D’Mello
It is a different version of Mello and comes from the Portuguese name Melo. This name probably originated as a surname referring to someone associated with a location called Melle.
- D’Sa
This last name is related to De Sa and is another way to spell Saa. It is a Sephardic Jewish name that comes from places called Saa in northern Portugal and Galicia.
- D’Silva
It’s a version of Silva, which translates to forest in Spanish and Portuguese.
- D’Souza
De Souza is a last name in Portuguese that means of Sousa and is connected to a river called Sousa in the north of Portugal. The surname also comes from the Latin word Saxa, which means stone or rock.
- Fernandez
In Spanish, it means son of Fernando. In Portuguese, it is Fernandes. The name Fernando originates from the German name Ferdinand, which translates to brave traveler.
- Ferreira
Ferreira is a popular last name for Goan Catholics that comes from Portugal. It is a surname based on where someone lived near a blacksmith’s shop or iron mine.
- Figueira
This last name from Portugal comes from a place name and describes a person who lived close to a fig tree. It originally comes from the Latin word Ficaria, which means fig tree.
- Geevarghese
The name Geevarghese comes from the name used by Saint Thomas Christians who speak Malayalam. It is the Malayalam version of the name George, which means farmer in Greek.
- Gomez
This last name has Christian origins and comes from the Portuguese surname Gomes. It comes from the word guma in Visigothic, which means man.
- Gonsalves
This surname is a different version of Goncalves and is frequently found in Western India. It comes from Portugal and translates to son of Goncalo.
- Henriques
The popular Indian Christian last name comes from Portugal and means son of Henrique. It is similar to the Spanish name Enrique and the Italian name D’Enrico.
- Kolan
Colon, a frequently seen Christian last name, is also spelled as Colón. It comes from the Spanish version of the Italian name Colombo, meaning dove-keeper.
- L’Costa
La Costa is a term that is often used by Indian Christians. Costa is a word that means slope or riverbank in Portuguese, Italian, and Catalan languages.
- Lopez
The name Lopez means son of Lope and has roots in both Portuguese and Spanish languages. The name Lope is derived from the Latin word lupus, which translates to wolf.
- L’Silva
La Silva is a type of Silva and is derived from the Portuguese and Spanish word for forest.
- Mariam/Mariamma
The Aramaic version of the name Mary, who was Jesus’ mother, is Marium. Another form of this name is Miriam, who was a prophetess and the sister of Moses.
- Martin
This last name comes from the Latin name Martinus, which means war-like or warrior.
- Mathaai
The name Mathaai comes from the English name Matthew. In the Bible, Matthew was one of the first followers of Jesus and his name means Gift from God. Many people believe Matthew wrote one of the books of the Bible.
- Medeiros
This Goan Catholic last name comes from the Portuguese word Medeiro, which means a place where groups of corn are collected.
- Mendonca
The surname is Portuguese and Galician, and it is linked to a person with a royal family background. The name originally comes from the Basque region.
- Menezes
Menezes, a surname that can also be spelled as Meneses, originates from Portugal and refers to a person who resided in an area called Montes Torozos in Tierra de Campos, Spain.
- Mikaayel
The name Mikaayel is a variation of the English name, Michael, which comes from the Bible. In Hebrew, it translates to who is like God.
- Morais
Morais is a version of the name Moraes and comes from Portuguese, meaning mulberry trees. It was used as a name for someone who cultivated these fruits in the past.
- Nascimento
This common last name and first name in the Catholic community comes from a Portuguese term that means birth. A lot of Christians like to use it as a first name for babies born on December 25th, the day celebrating the birth of Christ.
- Nazareth
The last name originates from the town Nazareth, where Jesus lived as a child. It is a popular destination for Christian travelers. The meaning of the name in Hebrew is to watch or to branch.
- Noronha
The surname is frequently found in Goa, a former Portuguese colony, and in areas of western India that were colonized by the Portuguese. It originates from the town of Norena in Asturias, Spain, and is used as a surname for people from that town.
- Oliveira
It is a version of the surname De Oliveira, which means ‘of the Olive tree.’ This last name is frequently found among Christians in Goa.
- Ousepachan
The English version of this last name is Joseph, which comes from the Hebrew name Yosef that means he will add.
- Pathappan
It is a popular last name among Christians from Kerala. This surname comes from the name Pathappan, which was commonly used by Saint Thomas Christians. The name is a variation of Peter, which means ‘stone’ in Greek.
- Pathrose
It is a version of the name Peter. Jesus Christ gave the apostle Simon this name, which means ‘stone’ in Greek and Aramaic.
- Paulose
The name Paul comes from a Christian background and is commonly found in cultures with a Christian history. It is a surname from ancient Rome that originates from the Latin word for humble or small.
- Peeri
This last name comes from the first name Peeri, which was commonly used by Saint Thomas Christians who spoke Malayalam. It is also linked to the name Peter from the Bible.
- Pereira
The surname Pereira is of Portuguese origin and is based on a place name in Portugal. It translates to pear tree in Portuguese.
- Pinto
Pinto is a popular last name in the western region of India, introduced by Portuguese settlers. The name translates to colorful or painted in Spanish and Portuguese.
- Quadros
The name comes from the Portuguese last name Cuadros and is a Spanish name for someone who lived in a town called Cuadros in the Leon province of Spain.
- Rebelo
The surname can also be spelled as Rebello and it originates from Portugal. It is common in western India and means someone from the house of Rebelo. .
- Rodrigues
Rodrigues is a last name that comes from Portugal and means son of Rodrigo, with Rodrigo being a variation of Roderick which means famous ruler or famous power.
- Scariachan
The name Saccariah is another way to spell Zechariah, which means God remembers. This name comes from both Persian and Hebrew languages.
- Sequeira
The surname Sequeira comes from places in Portugal called Sequeira. The name means dry land in Late Latin.
- Torres
The name can also be spelled as Torrez and comes from the Portuguese word for towers. It is a last name that indicates someone is from one of the many towns called Torres in Portugal.
- Thoma/Thommi/Thomachan
The last name is derived from Thomas, which translates to twin in Aramaic. It is frequently used by families belonging to the Saint Thomas Christian community in Kerala.
- Varghese
The name comes from the name Varghese and a shorter version of Geevarhese, which is a Malayalam version of George. In Greek, the name means farmer or Earth worker.
- Varughese
The last name comes from the first name Varughese, which is commonly used by Malayali Saint Thomas Christians. Varughese is also a variation of the name George found in the Bible.
- Xavier
In Basque, it means the new house. Saint Francis Xavier, a Jesuit priest and missionary, had the surname Xavier.
- Yesu
The last name comes from Yeshu Masih, the Hindi and Urdu name for Jesus Christ. It is a popular first name and last name among Christians in various regions of India.
- Yohanan
Yohanan is a popular name among Malayali Saint Thomas Christians and Cochin Jews. This name comes from the Hebrew name John, which means ‘God is gracious.’
- Yohannan
The name Yohannan comes from Syria and is a form of John. It has been used by multiple leaders in the Church of East. The name John originated from Hebrew and means God is gracious.
- Yudaas
Yudaas comes from the English name Judas and the Hebrew name Judah. It means God is thanked and is a popular name among Jews.
Frequently Asked Questions
India is famous for its variety, with individuals from various religions and cultures living together peacefully. Therefore, it is not uncommon to come across people with Indian Christian surnames like D’Cruz, Martin, Daveed, Henriques, or Alberto. These names have unique meanings and come from a variety of sources, but are more prevalent in Spanish and Portuguese-speaking nations. They have origins tied to specific locations or the Bible, and have remained popular names for many years, giving them a special significance.
