Pronunciation | European Portuguese: [tɐjˈʃɐjɾɐ] Galician: [tejˈʃejɾɐ] |
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Language(s) | Portuguese, Galician |
Origin | |
Meaning | Place of the yew trees[1] |
Region of origin | Iberian Peninsula |
Teixeira (European Portuguese: [tɐjˈʃɐjɾɐ], Galician: [tejˈʃejɾɐ]) is a Galician-Portuguese surname based on the toponym Teixeira, derived from teixo "yew tree" (Latin taxus).[2] The progenitors of the name were a "Noble Portuguese Marrano family, originally bearing the surname of Sampayo," and the Teixeira coat of arms was conferred "in accordance with a decree of King Philip IV of Spain" in 1643.[3] A less frequent variant spelling is Texeira. The variant Técher is common in the highlands of Reunion Island, notably in the Cilaos area.