Santos (surname)

Santos is a Spanish surname with several variations. It can also be a Portuguese and Galician surname. The English translation of Santos is Saints. A singular version, Santo, may occur. Origin: Christian, from Latin sanctus.

The dos Santos (English: 'of the saints') variation in Portugal and Galicia was commonly given to a baby born or baptised around All Saints’ Day.

Near the close of the nineteenth century and at the end of the Brazilian Empire, the abolition of slavery in Brazil led to the rise in the name's usage within slave communities, Santos becoming a common surname in area of the Bay of All Saints. A Portuguese slave with no surname, for example, might take the name Santos upon the abolition of slavery and subsequently earning his freedom; this would indicate that he was of Bahian origin. The surname was also used as a way to shorten the names of Brazilians, for example: Manuel da Bahia de Todos os Santos (en: Manuel of the Bay of All Saints).

Other Iberian grammatical forms include: De Santo, De Santos, Del Santo, Santi, Santis, Santiz, Senti, Sentis and others. Notable individuals with the surname Santos include:

General



 * Ahmed Santos (newspaper columnist) (born 1974), Mexican newspaper columnist and former boxer
 * Alberto Santos-Dumont (1873–1932), Brazilian aviation pioneer
 * Alexandre Jose Maria dos Santos, a Mozambican Cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church.
 * Alfredo M. Santos (1905–1990), former Filipino AFP chief of staff
 * Domitila, Marchioness of Santos (1797–1867), Brazilian noblewoman and the mistress of Emperor Pedro I of Brazil
 * George Anthony Devolder Santos (1988- ) Expelled member of the United States House of Representatives, 2023
 * Isabel dos Santos, daughter of President of Angola from 1979 to 2017 José Eduardo dos Santos; as of 2020, her wealth is $2 billion & the richest person in Africa
 * Lúcia dos Santos, known as Sister Lúcia of Jesus, Portuguese Roman Catholic Carmelite nun and seer of Our Lady of Fatima
 * Lúcio Alberto Pinheiro dos Santos (1889– 1950), Portuguese philosopher
 * José Abad Santos (1886–1942), 5th Justice of the Supreme Court of the Philippines
 * Paulino Santos, (1890–1945), Filipino soldier
 * Ricardo Santos (disambiguation)
 * Rufino Jiao Santos (1908–1973), Filipino Archbishop of Manila and cardinal
 * Santos Benavides (1823–1891), American soldier
 * Vicente Abad Santos (1916–1993), Justice of the Supreme Court of the Philippines

Mathematics

 * Radleigh Eigen Santos (born 1966), American mathematician, wrote 13 major papers contributing to the study of Eigenvalues and eigenvectors, best known for going to underpriveleged high schools to spark students' interest in linear algebra and its applications.

Arts

 * Santos (artist) (Sante Pucello, born 1971), Italian DJ
 * Antony Santos (born 1967), Dominican Bachata singer/composer
 * Anthony "Romeo" Santos, Dominican-American songwriter, lead singer, and featured composer of Aventura
 * Artur Carlos Maurício Pestana dos Santos (born 1941), known as Pepetela, Angolan writer
 * Ary dos Santos (1937–1984), Portuguese poet
 * Cesar Santos (born 1982) Cuban-American artist and portrait painter
 * Charo Santos (born 1955), Filipino actress and president of ABS-CBN Network
 * Daniel Santos (singer) (1916–1992), Puerto Rican singer and composer
 * Diana Santos (born 1950), Mexican voice actress
 * Domingo Santos (1941–2018), Spanish writer
 * Emanuele Rodriguez dos Santos (c. 1702–1764) Portuguese-Roman architect
 * Enrique Santos Discépolo (1901–1951), Argentine musician
 * Erik Ramos Santos (born 1982), Filipino singer
 * Gervacio Santos, Filipino film editor
 * Henry Santos Jeter, Dominican singer and composer/vocals for Aventura
 * Jay Santos, Spanish dance singer
 * Jesse Santos (1928–2013), Filipino comics artist
 * Joe Santos (1931–2016), American actor
 * Joly Braga Santos (1924–1988), Portuguese composer and conductor
 * José dos Santos Ferreira (1919–1993), Portuguese-Macanese writer
 * José Manuel Cerqueira Afonso dos Santos (1929–1987), known as Zeca Afonso, Portuguese singer, composer and poet
 * Jovino Santos-Neto (born 1954), Brazilian musician
 * Judy Ann Santos (born 1978), Filipino actress
 * Lenny Santos, Dominican-American guitarist, producer/arranger for Aventura
 * Lucélia Santos (born 1957), Brazilian actress, director and producer
 * María Santos (1899–1949), Argentine actress
 * Matthew Santos (born 1982), American alternative music singer
 * Max Santos, Dominican-American bassist for Aventura
 * Mayra Santos-Febres (born 1966), Puerto-Rican writer
 * Nelson Pereira dos Santos (1928–2018), Brazilian movie director
 * Pablo Santos (1987–2006), Mexican actor
 * Patricia Santos Marcantonio, American fiction writer
 * Rhea Santos (born 1979), Filipino TV news host and journalist
 * Roberto Santos (1928–1987), Brazilian film director
 * Romeo Santos, American singer, songwriter, record producer and actor
 * Vilma Santos, Filipino actress

Politicians

 * Ahmed Santos (militant), Filipino convert to Islam and political militant
 * Antonio da Costa Santos (died 2001), Brazilian architect and politician
 * António dos Santos Ramalho Eanes (born 1935), Portuguese general and politician
 * Conrad Santos (1934–2016), Canadian politician
 * Daiana Santos (politician) (1982-), Brazilian politician
 * Délio dos Santos (died 2020), Brazilian politician
 * Eduardo Santos Montejo, owned the El Tiempo newspaper, and served as the President of Colombia from August 1938 to August 1942
 * Elvin Santos (born 1963), Honduras 2009 presidential candidate
 * Farley Santos, American politician from Connecticut
 * Fernando da Piedade Dias dos Santos (born 1950), Angolan politician
 * Francis E. Santos, CHamoru (Guam) politician
 * Francisco R. Santos, CHamoru (Guam) politician
 * George Santos (born 1988), American politician
 * Hélio de Oliveira Santos (born 1950), Brazilian physician and politician
 * José Eduardo dos Santos (1942–2022), Angolan politician and former president of Angola
 * José Santos Guardiola (1816–1862), Honduran politician
 * José Santos Zelaya (1853–1919), Nicaraguan politician
 * Juan Manuel Santos Calderón, Colombian president
 * Manuel António dos Santos (born 1943), Portuguese politician
 * Marcelino dos Santos (1929–2020), Mozambican politician
 * Teresita Santos, politician from the Northern Mariana Islands

Sports

 * Adilson dos Santos (born 1976), Brazilian footballer
 * Airton Ribeiro Santos (born 1990), Brazilian footballer
 * Alejandro de los Santos (1902–1982), Argentine footballer
 * Alessandro dos Santos, Brazilian-Japanese footballer
 * Alison dos Santos (born 2000), Brazilian runner
 * Álvaro Santos (born 1980), Brazilian footballer
 * André Bernardes Santos (born 1989), Portuguese midfielder footballer
 * André Santos (born 1983), Brazilian footballer
 * Andréia dos Santos, Brazilian footballer
 * Antony Matheus dos Santos (born 2000), Brazilian footballer
 * Arwind Santos (born 1981), Filipino basketball player
 * Cairo Santos (born 1991), Brazilian American football placekicker
 * César Santos (born 1969), Brazilian footballer
 * Cristiano Ronaldo dos Santos Aveiro, Portuguese footballer
 * Daiane dos Santos (born 1983), Brazilian gymnast
 * Daniel Santos (boxer) (born 1975), Puerto Rican boxer
 * Djalma Santos (1929–2013), Brazilian footballer
 * Edgardo Santos (born 1970), Puerto Rican professional boxer
 * Eriks Santos (born 1996), Brazilian footballer
 * Fausto dos Santos (1905–1939), Brazilian footballer
 * Fernando Castro Santos (born 1952), Spanish football manager
 * Fernando Santos (Brazilian footballer) (born 1980)
 * Fernando Santos (Portuguese footballer) (born 1954), now a football manager
 * Flavio Santos (born 1987), Mexican footballer
 * Francileudo Santos (born 1979), Brazilian-born Tunisian footballer
 * Georges Santos, French-born (born 1970), Cape Verdean footballer
 * Giovani dos Santos (born 1989), Mexican footballer
 * Gregory Santos (born 1999), Dominican baseball player
 * Héctor Santos (footballer) (1944–2019), Uruguayan footballer
 * Héctor Santos (athlete) (born 1998), Spanish long jumper
 * Iliarde Santos (born 1980), Brazilian mixed martial artist
 * Jonathan dos Santos (born 1990), Mexican footballer
 * Jorge Luis dos Santos (born 1972), Brazilian footballer
 * José Mário dos Santos Mourinho Félix, Portuguese football manager
 * Julio Santos (born 1976), Ecuadorian freestyle swimmer
 * Junior dos Santos (born 1984), Brazilian mixed martial artist
 * Kelly Santos (born 1979), Brazilian WNBA basketball player
 * Leicy Santos, Colombian footballer
 * Leslie George Santos, Hong Kong footballer
 * Luis Santos (baseball) (born 1991), Dominican baseball pitcher
 * Luís Santos (water polo) (born 1980), Brazilian water polo goalkeeper
 * Luíz Antônio dos Santos (born 1964), Brazilian long-distance runner
 * Luís Fernando Rodrigues dos Santos (born 1983), Brazilian footballer
 * Maicon Santos (born 1984), Brazilian footballer
 * Manny Santos (boxer) (1940–2013), Tongan/New Zealand boxer of the 1960s and '70s
 * Marc Dos Santos (born 1977), Canadian soccer manager
 * Marcílio Luís Evangelista dos Santos (born 1964), Brazilian footballer known as Santos
 * Marco Aurélio Cunha dos Santos (born 1967), Brazilian footballer
 * Maria Santos (swimmer) (born 1978), Portuguese swimmer
 * Marílson Gomes dos Santos (born 1977), Brazilian distance-runner
 * Neymar da Silva Santos, Jr. (born 1992), Brazilian footballer
 * Nicholas Santos (born 1980), Brazilian freestyle swimmer
 * Nílton Santos (1925–2013), Brazilian football player
 * Omir Santos (born 1981), Puerto Rican baseball player
 * Paulo Jorge dos Santos Futre (born 1966), Portuguese footballer
 * Renan dos Santos (born 1989), Brazilian footballer
 * Ricardo Izecson dos Santos Leite aka "Kaká" (born 1982), Brazilian footballer
 * Ricky Santos (born 1984), American Canadian football quarterback
 * Rodney Santos (born 1973), Filipino professional basketball player
 * Rodrigo dos Santos (born 1981), Brazilian water polo player
 * Ronivaldo Santos Conceição (born 1972), Brazilian squash player
 * Rony Santos (born 1995), Cape Verdean footballer
 * Sergio Santos (baseball) (born 1983), American baseball player
 * Sérgio Santos (volleyball) (born 1975), also known as Serginho or Escadinha, Brazilian volleyball player
 * Sergio Santos (footballer, born 1994), Brazilian footballer
 * Sérgio Santos (footballer, born 1998), Portuguese footballer
 * Sidnei dos Santos, Jr. (born 1982), Brazilian volleyball player better known as Sidão
 * Sueli dos Santos (born 1965), Brazilian javelin thrower
 * Tiago Alencar dos Santos (born 1986), Brazilian footballer
 * Todd Santos (born 1964), American footballer
 * Toninho dos Santos (born 1965), Brazilian footballer
 * Victor Irving Santos (born 1976), Dominican-American baseball player
 * Yanelis Santos (born 1986), Cuban volleyball player

Others

 * Altamira Cecília dos Santos (1923-2019), Candomblé high priestess
 * Cayetano Santos Godino (1896-1944), Argentine serial killer
 * Eunice Santos, American computer scientist
 * Johan Santos (born 1987), Filipino television actor
 * Keity Souza Santos, Brazilian immunologist
 * Lena Lorraine Santos (1928–2004), American secretary, clubwoman, and civil rights advocate
 * Lulu Santos (born 1953), Brazilian singer and guitarist
 * Riza Santos (born 1987), Filipino-Canadian beauty queen
 * Tony Santos, Spanish funk/R&B singer

Characters

 * Santos Family, in the American soap opera Guiding Light
 * Danny Santos
 * Michelle Bauer Santos, a fictional character on the popular CBS daytime soap opera, Guiding Light
 * Matt Santos, character on the United States television show The West Wing
 * Manny Santos (Degrassi: The Next Generation), character on the Canadian television show Degrassi: The Next Generation
 * Nadia Santos, a fictional character in the television series Alias

All My Children

 * Julia Santos
 * Mateo Santos
 * Maria Santos
 * Rosa Santos
 * Tageiry Santos
 * Diana Santos
 * Derrica Santos
 * Tiyanna Santos
 * Derrick 'Dee Santos
 * Charmaine Santos
 * Ta'Poris Santos