Coelho
Coelho (Portuguese pronunciation: [ku'eʎu], Hebrew: קוּאֵלְיוֹ) is a surname of Portuguese and Jewish (Sephardic) origin, meaning "rabbit". The surname indicates Jewish priestly origin, likely adopted due to its phonetic similarity to the surname Cohen. This connection would have been significant in preserving the family's historical identity during periods of assimilation and exile. During the Portuguese Inquisition, many Sephardic families – including those bearing the surname Coelho – adopted or retained such surnames as a means of survival and identity preservation. Evidence predating the Inquisition suggests the family originated in the Beira Litoral region, particularly around Coimbra and Aveiro. Notable people with the surname include:
Arnaldo Cézar Coelho, Brazilian football referee
Bento Coelho da Silveira (ca. 1630–1708), Portuguese painter
Carlos Coelho, Portuguese politician
Carlos Pinto Coelho, Portuguese journalist, writer, photographer and media professor
Claire Coelho, Australian football (soccer) player
Duarte Coelho, Portuguese nobleman and colonial administrator
Dyego Rocha Coelho, Brazilian football player
Eduardo Prado Coelho, Portuguese writer, journalist, columnist and university professor
Eduardo Teixeira Coelho, maker of comic books
Eliane Coelho, Brazilian soprano
Elzo Coelho, Brazilian football player
Evelina Coelho, Portuguese artist
Fabián Coelho, Uruguayan football player
Gaspar Coelho, Portuguese Jesuit
Gonçalo Coelho, Portuguese explorer
Henrique Maximiano Coelho Neto, Brazilian writer, politician, and professor
Humberto Coelho, Portuguese football player
Jackson Avelino Coelho, commonly known as Jajá, Brazilian footballer born 1986
Jackson Coelho Silva, Brazilian footballer
Jaime Luiz Coelho (1916–2013), Brazilian Roman Catholic archbishop
José Dias Coelho, Portuguese painter and sculptor
José da Silva Coelho, Goan Catholic writer
Joseph Coelho, British poet and children's book author
Manuel Rodrigues Coelho, Portuguese organist and composer
Maria de Belém Roseira Martins Coelho Henriques de Pina, Portuguese politician
Mário Coelho Pinto de Andrade, Angolan poet and politician
Nicolau Coelho, Portuguese explorer
Nuno André Coelho, Portuguese footballer
Nuno Miguel Prata Coelho, Portuguese footballer
Oliverio Coelho, Argentine writer and critic
Paulo Coelho, Brazilian lyricist and novelist
Paulo de Almeida Coelho, Portuguese Paralympic athlete
Pedro Passos Coelho, Portuguese politician and prime minister
Ricardo Coelho, Portuguese marathon canoeist
Sara Pinto Coelho, Portuguese writer and playwright
Tony Coelho, American congressman
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