List of Portuguese Americans

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This is a list of famous Portuguese Americans.

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Portuguese-Americans [1]
Total population

1,177,112 (2000), 0.4% of America's population
Regions with significant populations

California:  330,974,
Massachusetts:  279,722,
Rhode Island:  91,445,
New Jersey:  72,196,
Florida:  48,974,
Hawaii:  48,527,
Connecticut:  44,695,
New York:  43,839,
Washington:  17,200,
Texas:  16,552,
Oregon:  14,674,
Pennsylvania:  13,566,
New Hampshire:  13,095
Languages
Predominantly English and Portuguese and/or its dialects.
Religions
Predominantly Roman Catholic

Contents

[edit] Language + Origins

Portuguese is a Romance language spoken by about 191 million people mainly in Brazil and Portugal. There are also Portuguese speakers in Angola, Mozambique (Moçambique), Cape Verde (Cabo Verde), Guinea-Bissau (Guiné-Bissau), São Tomé e Principe, East Timor (Timor-Leste), Macau.

Portuguese is a descendent of Vulgar Latin, which was brought to the Iberian Peninsula by Roman soldiers, settlers and merchants from 218 BC. The earliest records of a distinctly Portuguese language appear in administrative documents dating from the 9th century AD. In 1290 King Denis decreed that Portuguese, then simply called the "Vulgar language" should be known as the Portuguese language and should be officially used. [2]

[edit] History of Portuguese-Americans

The Portuguese settled in California or Massachusetts in the 19th and 20th centuries, and because of this there are a number of famous people who are 2nd/3rd/4th generation Portuguese. A lot of them might not recognize their roots, but they do have Portuguese blood. Portuguese received the same amount of prejudice other immigrant populations received, especially during the first initial immigrations. As North America became more and more diverse, so has people's attitudes. New York is a great example, where Jewish, Polish, Italian, Spanish, Russian, even Portuguese intermingled, intermarried, and co-existed.

A general contribution the Portuguese people have made to American music is the ukulele, which originated in Madeira and is now popular in Hawaii. [3]

[edit] By the Numbers

Portuguese-Americans are the fourth largest ethnic group in the State of Hawaii, fifth largest group in Rhode Island and the eighth largest group in Massachusetts. [1]

[edit] Top 3 Biggest Communities

Top 3 Biggest Portuguese-American communities in the country (2000 Census):


(1) Metro Boston area leads the way with 192,017 Portuguese-Americans; (3.3% of Metro population). [4]
(2) Greater New York/New Jersey area with 129,865; (0.6% of total Metro population). [4]
(3) San Francisco-Oakland Bay Area with 121,757; (1.7% of total Metro population). [4]

The only other Metro area in North America with more than 100,000 people of Portuguese descent is the Greater Toronto, Ontario area (in Canada) with 171,545 Portuguese-Canadians. Montreal has the second largest Portuguese community in Canada with 41,050 Portuguese-Canadians. [5] (Note that Toronto is known for its high population of undocumented residents which could range from 30 000 to 50 000 additional individuals.)[citation needed]

[edit] Portuguese Americans

[edit] Art/Architecture

Lists of
famous Americans
by U.S. state
by ethnicity:
African American
Albanian | Arab
Armenian | Australian
Austrian | Bahamian
Bangladeshi | Belgian
Brazilian | Bulgarian
Cajun
Cambodian | Chinese
Croatian | Cuban
Danish | Dutch
English | Estonian
Filipino | Finnish
French
German | Greek
| Hmong
Hungarian
Indian | Iranian
Irish | Italian
Israeli
Jamaican | Japanese
Jewish | Korean
Laotian
Louisiana Creole
Mexican
Muslim
Native American
Native Hawaiian
Norwegian | Polish
Portuguese | Romanian
Russian | Salvadoran
Scots-Irish | Scottish
Swedish | Swiss
Taiwanese | Ukrainian
Vietnamese | Welsh

[edit] Film & television

[edit] Music

[edit] Radio Personalities

  • Keri Rodrigues, (1979- ), American talk radio personality; the youngest female talk show host in the United States.

[edit] Writers

[edit] Business world


[edit] Military

[edit] Patriots

  • Maria Isilda Ribeiro - Made U.S. flag that was placed on the moon. (Sousa, Vagos, Portugal) [9]
  • John Philip Sousa, (1854-1932), Composer of many marching band songs. (Portuguese father)

[edit] Politics

  • John Arruda (John M. Arruda) - Mayor of Fall River, Massachusetts, for six years. [37]
  • Clarence Azevedo - Former mayor of Sacramento, California. [38]
  • Judah P. Benjamin, (1811-1884), Politician and lawyer.
  • Dennis Cardoza, (1959- ), Democratic member of the United States House of Representatives since 2003, representing the 18th District of California.
  • Benjamin Cardozo, (1870-1938), A Sephardi Supreme Court Justice.
  • Tony Coelho, (1942- ), Elected to the United States House of Representatives from California; probably the first Portuguese American to serve in the national congress. [39]
  • Jim Costa, (1952- ), Democratic politician from the U.S. state of California.
  • Dinesh d'Souza, (1962- ), Conservative Luso-Goan writer.
  • Mary Fonseca, Mary L. Fonseca, Former senator in the Massachusetts State Legislature. [28]
  • Joseph Francis, (1973- ), Joseph F. Francis, Former senator in the Massachusetts State Legislature. [28]
  • André Heinz, (1969), Politician and one of the heirs of H.J. Heinz Company. (Portuguese on mother’s side)
  • Christopher Heinz, (1973- ), Politician, André's brother, and one of the heirs of H.J. Heinz Company. (Portuguese on mother’s side)
  • Benjamin F. Jonas, (1834–1911), was a politician in Louisiana and an officer in the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War.
  • Ernest Ladeira - Served as President Richard M. Nixon's advisor on social welfare. [28]
  • Dina Matos (McGreevey) - Former New Jersey First Lady. [40]
  • Richard Pombo, (1961- ), Former Republican member of the United States House of Representatives, representing California's 11th congressional district from 1993 to 2007.
  • Francis Salvador, (1747-1776)
  • John Vasconcellos - California senator.

[edit] Religion

[edit] Science/ Medicine

  • M. M. Enos (1875- ) - former head of the Portuguese Association of the Portuguese Hospital of Saint Anthony in Oakland, California. He was also director of the Portuguese American Bank and taught at the National Medical School of Chicago. [28]
  • Carlos Fernandes (medicine) (d. 1977) - former director of St. John's Hospital in San Francisco. [28]
  • Mathias Figueira (1853-1930) - founded the American College of Surgeons. [28]
  • Craig C. Mello - winner of 2006 Nobel Prize for Medicine

[edit] Technology

  • Abilio de Silva Greaves - Inventor of a fire-alarm system and of devices used in aviation. [28]

[edit] Sportspeople

[edit] Baseball

  • Sid Fernandez, (1962- ), National League baseball player.
  • Lew Fonseca, (1899-1989), Baseball player; coach for the Chicago White Sox; a pioneer in the use of film to analyze players' performances during a game. [28]
  • Jonny Gomes, (1980- ), Current outfielder and designated hitter for Tampa Bay Devil Rays.
  • Davey Lopes, (1945- ), Former star w/ LA Dodgers. (Cape Verdean)
  • Billy Martin, (1928-1989), Former Yankees/A's manager. (father from Azores Portugal who later migrated to Hawaii) [41]
  • Mark Teixeira, (1980- ), Baseball player for the Texas Rangers.
  • Robin Ventura, (1967- ), Former Major League ballplayer.
  • Bernie de Viveiros - Played baseball with the Detroit Tigers and the Oakland Oaks. [28]

[edit] Basketball

[edit] Boxing

  • Al Melo - Boxer who participated as a welterweight in the Olympics in 1924. [28]

[edit] Golf

  • Stephen Ames, (1964- ), 2002 PGA Players Championship. [9]
  • Billy Andrade, (1964- ), Pro golf player.
  • Tony Lema, (1934-1966), Winner of numerous professional golf tournaments; at the time of his death he ranked tenth in all-time earnings in the PGA. [28]

[edit] Soccer

  • Claudio Reyna, (1973- ), Former captain of the U.S. national soccer team.
  • Michael Desantis, (1989- ), a washed-up captain of the U.S. Special Olympics soccer team. Mike was so terrible that he was given the nickname, "Piece of Sh@t Mike" early on in his career. He was aslo known to have a secret lover, only known by the alias, Jessie Molak.

[edit] Wrestling

[edit] Other Sports

  • Henrique Santos - Winner of the United States fencing championship in 1942. [28]
  • Vic Seixas, Jr., (1923- ), E. Victor Seixas, Jr. Tennis star who won the U.S. Open Championship in 1954. [28]

[edit] Non-Athletes

[edit] Miscellaneous

[edit] See also


Portuguese Canadians
List of Portuguese people
Luso American

[edit] External links

[edit] Culture

[edit] Education

[edit] News

[edit] Organizations

[edit] Radio

  • KIGS - Portuguese Radio based in California
  • Rádio Ponte - WHTB 1400 AM, broadcasting from Fall River, Massachusetts
  • WFAR: Radio Familia - Family oriented radio station in Connecticut broadcasting in English, Portuguese, Spanish and Italian.
  • WJFD-FM - Portuguese radio station in New Bedford, Massachusetts.

[edit] References

[edit] Footnotes

  1. ^ a b Portuguese American Population Numbers. Retrieved on February 12, 2007.
  2. ^ Writing Systems and Languages of the World- Portuguese. Retrieved on February 12, 2007.
  3. ^ Ukulele origins from Madeira Portugal. Retrieved on February 12, 2007.
  4. ^ a b c Census 2000- Population of European-American and other ethnic groups in major American metropolitan areas. Retrieved on February 12, 2007.
  5. ^ Stats Canada: Population figures of Portuguese Canadians.. Retrieved on February 12, 2007.
  6. ^ William L Pereira at (www.everyculture.com/). Retrieved on February 12, 2007.
  7. ^ Family trees of Krista Allen. Retrieved on February 12, 2007.
  8. ^ Joaquim de Almeida bio at imdb.com. Retrieved on February 12, 2007.
  9. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Distinguished Americans & Canadians of Portuguese Descent. Retrieved on February 12, 2007.
  10. ^ Hal De Forrest bio at imdb.com. Retrieved on February 12, 2007.
  11. ^ Frank Delima bio at Official web site. Retrieved on February 12, 2007.
  12. ^ Delima Portuguese background. Retrieved on February 12, 2007.
  13. ^ Emeril Lagasse bio at Official web site. Retrieved on February 12, 2007.
  14. ^ Patricia Ford bio at Starglimpse.com. Retrieved on February 12, 2007.
  15. ^ "Franco is Portuguese. I'm one quarter through my grandfather. My grandfather and then I'm also Russian and Swedish.". Retrieved on February 12, 2007.
  16. ^ Tom Hanks family tree; Portuguese Ancestry. Retrieved on February 12, 2007.
  17. ^ Danica McKellar of "Scottish and Portuguese descent.". Retrieved on February 12, 2007.
  18. ^ Jesse Metcalfe, "...mother is of Portuguese-Italian descent".. Retrieved on February 12, 2007.
  19. ^ Carmen Miranda's Bio at imdb.com. Retrieved on February 12, 2007.
  20. ^ Nestor Paiva bio at imdb.com. Retrieved on February 12, 2007.
  21. ^ Piper Perabo Bio at Official web site.. Retrieved on February 12, 2007.
  22. ^ Kevin Pereira bio at experts.about.com. Retrieved on February 12, 2007.
  23. ^ Keanu Reeves Family Tree; paternal grandmother from Portugal (Rose Lokalia Miguel). Retrieved on February 12, 2007.
  24. ^ Al Santos Bio at imdb.com. Retrieved on February 12, 2007.
  25. ^ Jonathan Taylor Thomas; "I am, like, Heinz 57! I mean, I'm a mix of everything! But I'm part Portuguese. That's where I get the olive skin. I tan really easily.". Retrieved on February 12, 2007.
  26. ^ Meredith Vieira bio at (www.nndb.com). Retrieved on February 12, 2007.
  27. ^ Nuno Bettencourt Bio at (www.allmusic.com/). Retrieved on February 12, 2007.
  28. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s Portuguese-Americans at (www.everyculture.com/). Retrieved on February 12, 2007.
  29. ^ Bobbie Gentry Bio at (www.allmusic.com/). Retrieved on February 12, 2007.
  30. ^ Glenn Medeiros family roots from Azores Portugal, later migrated to Hawaii. Retrieved on February 12, 2007.
  31. ^ "The 54-year-old rock guitarist grew up in Hopedale in an Italian-Portuguese family and said a passion for food is “in my blood.'’". Retrieved on February 12, 2007.
  32. ^ Linda Perry- Portuguese father and Brazilian mother.. Retrieved on February 12, 2007.
  33. ^ Steve Perry-Portuguese American, (both parents from Azores Portugal) ; Bio at Yahoo Shopping.. Retrieved on February 12, 2007.
  34. ^ Raposo "son of Portuguese immigrants" from (www.muppetcentral.com/). Retrieved on February 12, 2007.
  35. ^ Pereira surname origins.. Retrieved on February 12, 2007.
  36. ^ Sgt. LeRoy Mendonca; Congressional Medal of Honor. Retrieved on February 12, 2007.
  37. ^ John M. Arruda- Portuguese American. Retrieved on February 12, 2007.
  38. ^ Clarence Azevedo "Portuguese-American.". Retrieved on February 12, 2007.
  39. ^ Tony Coelho- Portuguese-American.. Retrieved on February 12, 2007.
  40. ^ Dina Matos, former NJ first lady. Portuguese ancestry. Retrieved on February 12, 2007.
  41. ^ Billy Martin's father from the Azores Portugal, later migrated to Hawaii. Retrieved on February 12, 2007.
  42. ^ Ticha Penicheiro Bio at wnba web site. Retrieved on February 12, 2007.
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