Surname Prata - Meaning and Origin
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Prata: What does the surname Prata mean?
Prata is a Portuguese surname which directly translates to "Silver" in English. It is derived from the precious metal, which is widely symbolic of wealth, prosperity, and status. Historically, it might have been used to refer to silversmiths, or families who worked in silver mines or owned silver assets. The use of such occupational or descriptive terms was common in many cultures for creating surnames. Surnames like Prata are prevalent in Portugal and also in Brazil due to the heavy Portuguese influence. Variations of the name can also be found in other cultures. However, the exact origins of the surname and its original significance might differ among different families and lineages.
Order DNA origin analysisPrata: Where does the name Prata come from?
The last name Prata is increasingly popular in Portugal, where it is currently the 320th most common surname. It has its origins in the Latin word pater (father). It is believed that people took on this name to represent an ancestral father figure, or to denote their patrimony.
Prata is also found in other regions in the world that have a Portuguese influence, such as Angola, Mozambique, Brazil, Macau, Cape Verde, India, and China. It is common among people in India of Goan descent. In Goa, most Goan families with the last name Prata are descended from converts from Hinduism to Christianity. It is one of the most frequent last names in the beach areas of Goa.
In the United States, the last name Prata is found in many states, primarily Florida, New York, and California. It is also present in both the United Kingdom and Belgium. It is particularly common in South America, where its frequency is growing the most rapidly in recent decades.
Overall, the last name Prata is enjoying increasing popularity worldwide, particularly in parts of the world with a strong Portuguese influence. It is also becoming more prevalent in other parts of the world, particularly in regions with large Portuguese migrant populations.
Variations of the surname Prata
The surname Prata is an Italian name derived from the Latin word pratum, meaning a pasture or meadow. As such, the name is most commonly found in Italy, particularly in the Tuscany region, and among Italian immigrant populations worldwide.
The variants and spellings of Prata include Praata, Prat, Pratai, Pratta, Pratti and Pratte. It can also be found in the German form of Pratter and Preater.
The surname may also be found with different endings in some areas. In Portugal, the ending ‘es’ is added to the name, resulting in Prates or Praates, while variations such as Prade or Pradde are sometimes found in southern Italy. In Catalonia, Spain, and France, it may be written Pradés or Pradez. In Hungary, it is written as Pradi or Pradt. Variations of the original Italian form may also be found in the United States, notably the abbreviated Plate, or its variant Platt.
In terms of surnames related to Prata, due to the rarity of the name, there are no readily identifiable variants. However, some Filipinos may have a surname of Prata due to the Spanish origins of the Philippines.
Famous people with the name Prata
- João Prata: João Prata is a Brazlian actor and film director best known for his role as Zeca in the 1993 comedy film Me You Them.
- Elismar Prata: Elismar Prata is a Brazilian mixed martial artist who competes in the light heavyweight division.
- Augusto Prata: Augusto Prata is a Brazilian musician, composer, and writer, best known for his works as the frontman of the blues band "The Blues Etílicos".
- Renato Prata: Renato Prata is a Brazilian soccer player who currently plays for Recife-based Santa Cruz Football Club.
- Joaquim Prata: Joaquim Prata is a retired Brazilian footballer who was part of the 1962 FIFA World Cup National Brazilian Team.
- Steven Prata: Steven Prata is an American computer programmer and author of the book C++ Primer Plus.
- Jorge Prata: Jorge Prata is a Portuguese designer and artist, known for his signature mix of photography and digital artwork.
- Esteban Prata: Esteban Prata is a Spanish singer and actor, best known for his role as Antonio in the Broadway production of Hamilton.
- Lucinha Prata: Lucinha Prata is a Brazilian actress and singer, best known for her starring role in the 2006 film, Mulheres Apaixonadas.
- Margarida Prata: Margarida Prata is a Brazilian historian and curator, known for her work on researching and archiving the stories of Brazilian immigrants in the United States.