This Portugese surname CABRAL was of the occupational group of names denoting one who was a goatherd, and originally derived from the Latin name CAPRA (nanny-goat). Occupational surnames originally denoted the actual occupation followed by the individual. At what period they became hereditary is a difficult problem. Many of the occupation names were descriptive and could be varied. In the Middle Ages, at least among the Christian population, people did not usually pursue specialized occupations exclusively to the extent that we do today, and they would, in fact, turn their hand to any form of work that needed to be done, particularly in a large house or mansion, or on farms and smallholdings. In early documents, surnames often refer to the actual holder of an office, whether the church or state. A noteworthy person of this name was CABRAL, or CABRERA, Pedro Alvarez (c.1467-1520) the Portugese navigator and discoverer. In 1500 he sailed from Lisbon in command of a fleet of thirteen vessels bound for the West Indies. Falling into the South American current of the Atlantic, he was carried to the unknown coast of Brazil, which he claimed on behalf of the king of Portugal. He then made for India, but, after losing seven of his ships, he landed at Mozambique, of which he was the first to give clear information, and, sailing thence to Calicut, established the first commercial treaty between Portugal and India. He returned to Lisbon in 1501. Portugese surnames share many of the features of Spanish surnames, in particular Arabic and Visigothic influence. A notable feature of Portugese surnames is the class of religious names referring to festivals of the church or attributes of the Virgin Mary. One respect in which Portugese names differ from those of the rest of the Iberian peninsular, is that some were adopted at a comparatively late date and honour saints who did not give rise to surnames in other languages. Portugese names typically have the ending 'eiro'. The associated coat of arms for this name are recorded in J.B Rietstaps Armorial General. Illustrated by V & H.V Rolland's. This monumental work took 23 years to complete and 85,000 coats of Arms are included in this work. |
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