List of Portuguese people

The following is a list of notable and historically significant people from Portugal.

Navigators, explorers and pioneers

15th century

Afonso Gonçalves Baldaia, explorer of the African coast

Álvaro Caminha, explorer of the Atlantic islands

Álvaro Martins, explorer of the African coast

Alvise Cadamosto, explorer of the Atlantic islands and of the African coast

André Gonçalves, explorer of the sea route to Brazil

Antão Gonçalves, explorer of the African coast

Álvaro Fernandes, explorer of the African coast

Bartolomeu Dias, explorer of the African coast

Bartolomeu Perestrelo, explorer of the Atlantic islands

Dinis Dias, explorer of the African coast

Diogo Cão, explorer of the African coast

Diogo de Azambuja, explorer of the African coast

Diogo de Teive, explorer of the Atlantic islands

Diogo Dias, explorer of the Atlantic islands, of the African coast and the Indian Ocean, discovered Madagascar

Diogo Silves, explorer of the Atlantic islands

Duarte Pacheco Pereira, explorer of the Atlantic

Fernão do Pó, explorer of the African coast

Gil Eanes, explorer of the African coast

Gonçalo Velho, explorer of the Atlantic islands

João de Santarém, explorer of the Atlantic islands

João Gonçalves Zarco, explorer of the Atlantic islands

João Grego, explorer of the African coast

João Infante, explorer of the African coast

João Vaz Corte-Real, explorer of North America

Lopes Gonçalves, explorer of the Atlantic

Nicolau Coelho, explorer of the sea route to Brazil

Nuno Tristão, explorer of the African coast

Paulo da Gama, explorer of the sea route to India

Pedro Álvares Cabral, discoverer of Brazil in 1500

Pedro Escobar, explorer of the Atlantic islands

Pero de Alenquer, explorer of the African coast

Pero de Sintra, explorer of the African coast

Pero Dias, explorer of the African coast

Pero Vaz de Caminha, explorer of the sea route to Brazil

Tristão Vaz Teixeira, explorer of the Atlantic islands

Vasco da Gama, led the discovery of the sea route to India in 1498

15th/16th century

Afonso de Paiva, diplomat and explorer in Ethiopia

Fernão de Noronha, explorer of the Atlantic

Gaspar de Lemos, explorer of the Atlantic and of the sea route to Brazil

Gonçalo Coelho, explorer of the South American coast

João Fernandes Lavrador, explorer of North America

Pero da Covilhã, diplomat and explorer in Ethiopia and India

Pero de Barcelos, explorer of North America

Francisco Zeimoto, explorer and trader one of the first to reach Japan

16th century

Afonso de Albuquerque, naval admiral and viceroy of India

António de Abreu, explorer of Indonesia

António Mota, among the first to reach Japan

Bento de Góis, explorer

Cristóvão Jacques, explorer of the Brazilian coast

Cristóvão de Mendonça, some have claimed he discovered Australia; this is disputed

Diogo Lopes de Sequeira, explorer of the Indian Ocean

Diogo Rodrigues, explorer of the Indian Ocean

Duarte Fernandes, diplomat in Thailand

Estevão da Gama, explorer of the Indian Ocean

Fernão Lopez, soldier in India and first resident of the island of Saint Helena

Fernão Mendes Pinto, among the first to reach Japan

Fernão Pires de Andrade, merchant in China

Francisco Álvares, missionary and explorer in Ethiopia

Francisco de Almeida, explorer and viceroy of India

Gaspar Corte-Real, explorer of North America

Gomes de Sequeira, some claim he discovered Australia; this is disputed

João da Nova, explorer of the Atlantic and of the Indian Ocean

Jorge Álvares, the first to reach China

João Rodrigues Cabrilho, discoverer of California

Lourenço Marques, trader and explorer in East Africa

Martim Afonso de Sousa, explorer and soldier in India

Miguel Corte-Real, explorer of North America

Paulo Dias de Novais, colonizer of Africa

Pedro Mascarenhas, explorer of the Indian Ocean

Tristão da Cunha, naval general and discoverer

Ferdinand Magellan, led the first successful attempt to circumnavigate the Earth (1519–1522); explorer of the Pacific Ocean

17th century

Estêvão Cacella, missionary and explorer of Tibet, first European in Bhutan

Baltasar Fernandes, explorer of Brazil's interior

Jerónimo Lobo, missionary and explorer of Ethiopia

Luís Vaz de Torres, 16th-century/17th-century explorer of south-west Pacific

Pedro Fernandes de Queirós, 16th-century/17th-century explorer of south-west Pacific, some claim he discovered Australia

Pedro Teixeira, explorer of the Amazon River

António Raposo Tavares, bandeirante

18th century

Alexandre Rodrigues Ferreira, explorer of Brazil's interior

Francisco de Lacerda, explorer of Africa

19th century

Alexandre de Serpa Pinto, explorer of Africa

António da Silva Porto, explorer of Africa

Hermenegildo Capelo, explorer of Africa

Roberto Ivens, explorer of Africa

20th century

Gago Coutinho and Sacadura Cabral, first to cross the South Atlantic Ocean by air

Monarchs

Monarchs of Portugal

Saints

Amador of Portugal (Early Christianity)

Anthony of Lisbon (1195–1231)

Beatrice of Silva (1424–1490)

Elizabeth of Portugal (1271–1336)

Felix the Hermit (9th century)

Francisco Marto (1908–1919)

Fructuosus of Braga (7th century)

Irene of Tomar (7th century)

Jacinta Marto (1910–1920)

John de Brito (1647–1693)

John of God (1495–1550)

Julia (3rd century)

Mantius of Évora (Early Christianity)

Martin of Braga (520–580)

Maxima (3rd century)

Nuno Álvares Pereira (1360–1431)

Peter of Rates (1st century)

Quiteria (5th century)

Rita Amada de Jesus (1848–1913)

Rudesind (10th century)

Saint Ovidius (1st and 2nd centuries)

Theotonius (1088–1166)

Verissimus (3rd century)

Wilgefortis (folk saint)

Blessed

Alexandrina of Balasar (1904–1955)

Amadeus of Portugal (1420–1482)

Bartolomeu dos Mártires (1514–1590)

Ferdinand the Holy Prince (1402–1443)

Inácio de Azevedo (1528–1570)

Joan, Princess of Portugal (1452–1490)

Mafalda of Portugal (1190–1256)

Sancha of Portugal (1180–1229)

Teresa of Portugal (1181–1250)

Elizabeth of Portugal (1282–1325)

Religious

António de Andrade (1580–1634), missionary, explorer of Tibet

António Vieira (1608–1697), writer, diplomat and preacher

João Ferreira Annes de Almeida (1628–1691), missionary

Luís Fróis, jesuit and missionary in Japan

Paulo António de Carvalho e Mendonça (1702–1770), priest and cardinal, Inquisitor-General of the Holy Inquisition

Lúcia de Jesus dos Santos (1907–2005), visionary, involved in the 1917 Fátima events

Paulus Orosius (385–420), historian, theologian and disciple of St. Augustine

Popes

Damasus I, 4th-century pope

John XXI, 13th-century pope

Philosophers

Agostinho da Silva (1906–1994)

António Castanheira Neves (born 1929)

António Sérgio (1883–1969)

Damião de Góis (1502–1574)

Eduardo Lourenço (1923–2020)

José Gil (born 1939)

Musicians

Adriano Correia de Oliveira (1942–1982), singer

Alfredo Keil (1850–1907), composer of the Portuguese anthem

Ana Free (born 1987), singer

Ana Moura (born 1979), singer, fadista

António Zambujo (born 1975), singer, fadista

Alfredo Marceneiro (1891–1982), fado singer

Amália Rodrigues (1920–1999), the most famous fado singer

António Fragoso (1897–1918), piano composer

António Pinho Vargas (born 1951), classical, jazz and piano composer

António Variações (1944–1984), singer-songwriter

Aurea, singer

Camané (born 1967), singer, fadista

Carlos do Carmo (1939–2021), singer, fadista

Carlos Paredes (1925–2004), Portuguese guitar player

Carlos Seixas (1704–1742), composer

Cristina Branco (born 1972), fado singer

Danny Fernandes, singer

David Fonseca (born 1973), singer

Diogo Piçarra, singer

DJ Vibe, DJ

Duarte Lobo (1565–1646), composer

Dulce Pontes (born 1969), singer

Fernando Lopes Graça (1906–1995), composer

Fernando Ribeiro (born 1974), Moonspell vocals

Francisco d'Andrade (1856–1921), international opera baritone

Guilhermina Suggia (1885–1950), cellist

Isabel Soveral (born 1961), composer

Jay Kay (born 1969), singer; Portuguese father

João Domingos Bomtempo (1775–1842), composer

Joaquim José Antunes (1725–1790), harpsichord maker

Jorge Palma (born 1950), singer, pianist and songwriter

José Afonso (1929–1987), aka Zeca Afonso, composer, player

Luciana Abreu (born 1985), singer, composer, actress, TV host

Lúcia Moniz (born 1976), singer, actress

Luís de Freitas Branco (1890–1955), composer

Luísa Todi (1753–1833), lyrical singer

Mafalda Arnauth (born 1974), fado singer

Malvina Garrigues (1825–1904), opera soprano

Manuela Azevedo, singer

Maria Ascensão (1926–2001), folklorist

Maria João Pires (born 1944), piano player

Maria João (born 1956), jazz singer

Mário Laginha (born 1960), piano player

Mariza (born 1973), fado singer

Mísia, fado singer

Nelly Furtado, singer

Nuno Bettencourt (born 1966), guitarist, singer-songwriter

Paulo Furtado, blues performer

Pedro de Escobar (c. 1465 – 1535), composer

Rita Guerra (born 1967), singer

Rita Redshoes, singer

Rui da Silva, disc jockey

Rui Gomes de Briteiros (1190? - 1249), troubadour

Rui Veloso (born 1957), singer

Salvador Sobral (born 1989), singer

Sara Tavares (born 1978), singer

Shawn Desman, singer

Shawn Mendes, singer

Sérgio Godinho (born 1948), singer

Steve Perry, lead singer of band Journey

Teresa Salgueiro (born 1969), Madredeus vocals

José Vianna da Motta (1868–1948), piano player, composer

Vitorino (born 1942), singer

Writers

Fictionists

Agustina Bessa-Luís

Alexandre Herculano

Almeida Garrett, also a poet and playwright

Alves Redol, neo-realist writer

António Lobo Antunes

Aquilino Ribeiro, neo-realist writer

Bernardim Ribeiro

Camilo Castelo Branco

Carlos de Oliveira

Eça de Queiroz

Gonçalo M. Tavares

Hélia Correia

Inês Pedrosa

Irene Lisboa (1892–1958)

João Aguiar, writer

José Cardoso Pires

José Rodrigues Miguéis (1901–1980), writer

José Saramago, Nobel Prize for Literature in 1998

Júlio Dinis

Mário de Sá-Carneiro, novelist and poet

Miguel Torga, also a poet

Ramalho Ortigão

Raul Brandão (1867–1930)

Soeiro Pereira Gomes, neo-realist writer

Vergílio Ferreira

Vitorino Nemésio

Poets

Ana Luísa Amaral

Antero de Quental

António Nobre

Camilo Pessanha

Cesário Verde

David Mourão-Ferreira

Eugénio de Andrade

Fernando Pessoa, poet writer philosopher, described as one of the most significant literary figures of the 20th century

Fiama Hasse Pais Brandão, poet and writer

Guerra Junqueiro, poet and writer

Herberto Hélder

Jorge de Sena, writer and poet

José Gomes Ferreira, writer

Luís Vaz de Camões, poet, playwright

Manuel Alegre, poet, writer and politician

Manuel Maria Barbosa du Bocage

Sá de Miranda

Sophia de Mello Breyner Andresen

Teixeira de Pascoaes

Vasco Graça Moura

Others

Agostinho da Silva, writer and philosopher

Alice Vieira, children's books writer

Almada Negreiros

Álvaro Cunhal, neo-realist writer

Álvaro Magalhães, writer

Ana de Castro Osório, writer and pioneer feminist

André de Resende, writer

António Ferreira (poet)

António José da Silva, playwright

António Vieira (1608–1697), preacher and writer

Damião de Góis, writer

Eduardo Lourenço

Fernão Lopes (c. 1380–1458), royal chronicler

Gil Vicente, playwright

Gomes Eanes de Zurara, chronicler

João de Barros, writer and historian

Luiz Pacheco (1925–2008), writer and editor

Natália Correia, writer and poet

Raul Proença (1884–1941), writer

Rosa Lobato Faria, writer

Rui de Pina, chronicler

Tomé Pires (1465–1540), author of the Suma Oriental

Urbano Tavares Rodrigues, writer and journalist

Artists

Sofia Areal, painter

Almada Negreiros (1893–1970), 20th-century painter

Amadeo de Souza Cardoso (1887–1918), 20th-century painter

Ana Dias (born 1984), photographer of erotic femininity

António Soares dos Reis (1847–1889), 19th-century sculptor

Aurélia de Souza (1865–1922), 19th/20th-century painter

Columbano Bordalo Pinheiro (1857–1929), 19th/20th-century painter

Eduardo Gageiro (1935–2025), 20th-century photographer and photojournalist

Fernando Lanhas (1923–2012), 20th/21st-century painter and architect

Filipe Alarcão (born 1963), urban and modern contemporary designer

Helena Corrêa de Barros (1910–2000), 20th-century photographer

João M. P. Lemos, cartoonist

José Dias Coelho (1923–1961), 20th-century artist

José Malhoa, 19th-century painter

Joshua Benoliel (1873–1932), 19th/20th-century photographer

Júlio Pomar (1926–2018), 20th-century painter

Marco Mendes (born 1978), comic artist

Manuel Pereira da Silva (1920–2003), 20th-century sculptor

Nadir Afonso (1920–2013), geometric abstract painter

Nuno Gonçalves, 15th-century painter

Paula Rego, 20th-century painter

Rafael Bordalo Pinheiro, 19th-century caricaturist

Raquel Gameiro (1889–1970), painter and illustrator

Vasco Fernandes (Grão Vasco), 15th-century painter

Vieira da Silva, 20th-century painter

Scientists

Adelaide Estrada (1898 – 1979)

Abel Salazar (1889–1946)

Alexandre Quintanilha (born 1945)

André de Resende (c. 1500 – 1573)

António A. de Freitas (born 1947), immunologist

António Damásio (born 1944), neurologist

Bartolomeu de Gusmão (1685–1724), inventor

Bento de Jesus Caraça (1901–1948), mathematician

Diogo Abreu (born 1947), geographer

Egas Moniz (1874–1955), neurologist and Nobel Prize for Medicine in 1949

Freitas-Magalhães (born 1966), psychologist

Garcia de Orta (c. 1499 – 1568), botanical scientist

Hanna Damásio (born 1942), neurologist

Jacob de Castro Sarmento (c. 1691 – 1762)

João de Pina-Cabral (born 1954), anthropologist

João Magueijo (born 1967), physicist

Miguel Vale de Almeida (born 1960), anthropologist

Benedita Barata da Rocha (1949–2021), immunologist

Orlando Ribeiro (1911–1997), geographer

Pedro Nunes (1502–1578), mathematician and cosmographer

Raquel Seruca (1962–2022), oncobiologist

Sousa Martins (1843–1897)

Tomé Pires (c. 1465–c.