Mangalorean Catholic name

Mangalorean Catholic names and surnames encompass the different naming conventions of the Mangalorean Catholic community. Historically, many of them had names of Christian saints, while Portuguese-language surnames were most commonly found.^[1] A formal Mangalorean Catholic name consists of a given name, a middle name, and a surname.

Mangalorean Catholics use English forms of their names and surnames in English-language contexts and their native language Konkani forms in Konkani-language contexts.

Male given names

Most Mangalorean Catholic names for males follow the second declension. However, if the name ends in e, it follows the first declension, such as Zoze (Joseph). If the name ends in o, it follows the third declension, such as Lorso (Lawrence). The name follows the fourth declension if it ends in i, such as Jākki (Joachim). The fifth declension is observed if the name ends in u, such as Gabru (Gabriel), or if it ends in ãuñ, such as Zuãuñ (John).^[2]

Female given names

Mangalorean Catholic female naming conventions differ for married or grown up females and young girls. In case of married or grown up females, most names (more distinctly names ending in a or e) follow the first declension.^[2]

Surnames

After the Portuguese conquest of Goa in 1510, the Portuguese consolidated their power by imposing their own government and cultural institutions in Goa. They also started spreading Christianity in Goa & many converted to Christianity. The Christians adopted Portuguese surnames but retained their Konkani customs & values. These Christians migrated to South Canara, due to the religious intolerance of the Goa Inquisition (1560), the Mahratta Invasion of Goa and Bombay in the late 17th century,^[4] food shortages, epidemics, heavy taxation & other causes.^[5][6]

After these Konkani migrants settled in South Canara, they continued using Portuguese surnames bestowed on their ancestors.^[7] Some families, however, still use their original Bammon & Charoda surnames.^[8][9][10] Some still do have Hindu surnames such as Shett, Shenoy, Kamath, Padval etc.^[1] These ancestral pre-conversion surnames of the Mangalorean Catholics are called paik in Konkani.^[11] Mudartha-D'Souza is a unique Mangalorean Catholic surname to be found among some who hail from the Udupi district.^[12]

Presently, Portuguese surnames are also observed in Goan Catholics, Bombay East Indian Catholics, Damanese Catholics & some other Christians in India. Portuguese surnames are popular in some parts of the world, they significant in Portugal, Brazil, Macao, Angola, Cape Verde, East Timor, Equatorial Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, São Tomé and Príncipe and Mozambique.

Bold indicates common surnames Italics indicates uncommon surnames