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
- Luís Pires, explorer of the sea route to Brazil
- 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 ; 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
Saints
- Amador of Portugal
- Anthony of Lisbon
- Beatrice of Silva
- Elizabeth of Portugal
- Felix the Hermit
- Francisco Marto
- Fructuosus of Braga
- Irene of Tomar
- Jacinta Marto
- John de Brito
- John of God
- Julia
- Mantius of Évora
- Martin of Braga
- Maxima
- Nuno Álvares Pereira
- Peter of Rates
- Quiteria
- Rita Amada de Jesus
- Rudesind
- Saint Ovidius
- Theotonius
- Verissimus
- Wilgefortis
Blessed
- Alexandrina of Balasar
- Amadeus of Portugal
- Bartolomeu dos Mártires
- Ferdinand the Holy Prince
- Inácio de Azevedo
- Joan, Princess of Portugal
- Mafalda of Portugal
- Sancha of Portugal
- Theresa of [Portugal, Queen of León|Teresa of Portugal]
- Elizabeth of Portugal
Religious
- António de Andrade, missionary, explorer of Tibet
- António Vieira, writer, diplomat and preacher
- João Ferreira Annes de Almeida, missionary
- Luís Fróis, jesuit and missionary in Japan
- Paulo António de Carvalho e Mendonça, priest and cardinal, Inquisitor-General of the Holy Inquisition
- Lúcia de Jesus dos Santos, visionary, involved in the 1917 Fátima events
- Paulus Orosius, historian, theologian and disciple of St. Augustine
Popes
Philosophers
- Agostinho da Silva
- António Castanheira Neves
- António Sérgio
- Damião de Góis
- Eduardo Lourenço
- José Gil
Musicians
- Adriano Correia de Oliveira, singer
- Alfredo Keil, composer of the Portuguese anthem
- Ana Free, singer
- Ana Moura, singer, fadista
- António Zambujo, singer, fadista
- Alfredo Marceneiro, fado singer
- Amália Rodrigues, the most famous fado singer
- António Fragoso, piano composer
- António Pinho Vargas, classical, jazz and piano composer
- António Variações, singer-songwriter
- Aurea, singer
- Camané, singer, fadista
- Carlos do Carmo, singer, fadista
- Carlos Paredes, Portuguese guitar player
- Carlos Seixas, composer
- Cristina Branco, fado singer
- Danny Fernandes, singer
- David Fonseca, singer
- Diogo Piçarra, singer
- DJ Vibe, DJ
- Duarte Lobo, composer
- Dulce Pontes, singer
- Fernando Lopes Graça, composer
- Fernando Ribeiro, Moonspell vocals
- Francisco d'Andrade, international opera baritone
- Guilhermina Suggia, cellist
- Isabel Soveral, composer
- Jay Kay, singer; Portuguese father
- João Domingos Bomtempo, composer
- Joaquim José Antunes, harpsichord maker
- Jorge Palma, singer, pianist and songwriter
- José Afonso, aka Zeca Afonso, composer, player
- Luciana Abreu, singer, composer, actress, TV host
- Lúcia Moniz, singer, actress
- Luís de Freitas Branco, composer
- Luísa Todi, lyrical singer
- Mafalda Arnauth, fado singer
- Malvina Garrigues, opera soprano
- Manuela Azevedo, singer
- Maria Ascensão, folklorist
- Maria João Pires, piano player
- Maria João, jazz singer
- Mário Laginha, piano player
- Mariza, fado singer
- Mísia, fado singer
- Nelly Furtado, singer
- Nuno Bettencourt, guitarist, singer-songwriter
- Paulo Furtado, blues performer
- Pedro de Escobar, composer
- Rita Guerra, singer
- Rita Redshoes, singer
- Rui da Silva, disc jockey
- Rui Gomes de Briteiros, troubadour
- Rui Veloso, singer
- Salvador Sobral, singer
- Sara Tavares, singer
- Shawn Desman, singer
- Shawn Mendes, singer
- Sérgio Godinho, singer
- Steve Perry, lead singer of band Journey
- Teresa Salgueiro, Madredeus vocals
- José Vianna da Motta, piano player, composer
- Vitorino, 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
- João Aguiar, writer
- José Cardoso Pires
- José Rodrigues Miguéis, 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
- 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, preacher and writer
- Damião de Góis, writer
- Eduardo Lourenço
- Fernão Lopes, royal chronicler
- Gil Vicente, playwright
- Gomes Eanes de Zurara, chronicler
- João de Barros, writer and historian
- Luiz Pacheco, writer and editor
- Natália Correia, writer and poet
- Raul Proença, writer
- Rosa Lobato Faria, writer
- Rui de Pina, chronicler
- Tomé Pires, author of the Suma Oriental
- Urbano Tavares Rodrigues, writer and journalist
Artists
- Sofia Areal, painter
- Almada Negreiros, 20th-century painter
- Amadeo de Souza Cardoso, 20th-century painter
- Ana Dias, photographer of erotic femininity
- António Soares dos Reis, 19th-century sculptor
- Aurélia de Souza, 19th/20th-century painter
- Columbano Bordalo Pinheiro, 19th/20th-century painter
- Eduardo Gageiro, 20th-century photographer and photojournalist
- Fernando Lanhas, 20th/21st-century painter and architect
- Filipe Alarcão, urban and modern contemporary designer
- Helena Corrêa de Barros, 20th-century photographer
- João M. P. Lemos, cartoonist
- José Dias Coelho, 20th-century artist
- José Malhoa, 19th-century painter
- Joshua Benoliel, 19th/20th-century photographer
- Júlio Pomar, 20th-century painter
- Marco Mendes, comic artist
- Manuel Pereira da Silva, 20th-century sculptor
- Nadir Afonso, geometric abstract painter
- Nuno Gonçalves, 15th-century painter
- Paula Rego, 20th-century painter
- Rafael Bordalo Pinheiro, 19th-century caricaturist
- Raquel Gameiro, painter and illustrator
- Vasco Fernandes, 15th-century painter
- Vieira da Silva, 20th-century painter
Scientists
- Abel Salazar
- Alexandre Quintanilha
- André de Resende
- António A. de Freitas, immunologist
- António Damásio, neurologist
- Bartolomeu de Gusmão, inventor
- Bento de Jesus Caraça, mathematician
- Diogo Abreu, geographer
- Egas Moniz, neurologist and Nobel Prize for Medicine in 1949
- Freitas-Magalhães, psychologist
- Garcia de Orta, botanical scientist
- Hanna Damásio, neurologist
- Jacob de Castro Sarmento
- João de Pina-Cabral, anthropologist
- João Magueijo, physicist
- Miguel Vale de Almeida, anthropologist
- Benedita Barata da Rocha, immunologist
- Orlando Ribeiro, geographer
- Pedro Nunes, mathematician and cosmographer
- Raquel Seruca, oncobiologist
- Sousa Martins
- Tomé Pires
Engineers and architects
- Álvaro Siza Vieira, architect
- João Luís Carrilho da Graça, architect
- Edgar Cardoso, engineer
- Nuno Montenegro, architect
- Eduardo Souto de Moura, architect
- Fernando Távora, architect
- José Tribolet, engineer, IST professor
- Tomás Taveira, architect
- António Maria Braga, architect
Psychiatrists
Actors and directors
Actors
- Alexandra Lencastre
- Ana Rita Machado
- António Silva
- Beatriz Batarda
- Beatriz Costa
- Carmen Miranda, singer and actress
- Daniela Melchior
- Daniela Ruah
- Diogo Infante
- Diogo Morgado
- Eunice Muñoz
- Fernando Rocha, comedian, actor
- Francisco Ribeiro, actor, comedian, film director, theatre director
- Herman José, actor and humourist
- João Villaret, actor and poetry reader
- Joaquim de Almeida
- Louis Ferreira
- Maria de Medeiros
- Maria Matos
- Nicolau Breyner
- Nuno Lopes
- Raul Solnado, actor and humourist
- Teresa Aço, actor
- Vasco Santana
- Vivian dsena, actor and model
Directors
- António Lopes Ribeiro
- Constantino Esteves
- Diana Andringa
- João César Monteiro
- João Pedro Rodrigues
- Luís Miguel Cintra
- Manoel de Oliveira
- Marco Martins
- Miguel Gomes
- Pedro Costa
- Rita Azevedo Gomes
- Vasco Nunes, director, cinematographer, producer
Others
- Vera Mantero, dancer and choreographer
Soldiers
- Álvaro Vaz de Almada, knight of the Garter, Captain-major of Portugal, killed in battle
- Fernando de Almada, Captain-major of Portugal
- Otelo Saraiva de Carvalho, chief strategist of the Carnation Revolution of Portugal
- Aníbal Augusto Milhais, most decorated soldier Ordem de Torre e Espada do Valor, Lealdade e Mérito of Portugal
- Salgueiro Maia, Captain who led a cavalry unit into Lisbon during the Carnation Revolution of Portugal
Sports
Football
- Bernardo Silva football player
- Carlos Queiroz, football coach
- Costinha, football player
- Cristiano Ronaldo, football player
- Dinis Vital, football player
- Diogo Jota, football player
- Eusébio, football player, born in Portuguese Mozambique; later moved to Portugal
- Francisco Conceiçao, football player
- Hugo Almeida, football player
- José Mourinho, football coach
- João Cancelo, football player
- João Félix, football player
- João Moutinho, football player
- Luís Figo, football player
- Luís Miguel Afonso Fernandes, football player
- Maniche, football player
- Matheus Nunes football player
- Nani, football player
- Nuno Gomes, football player
- Pauleta, football player
- Paulo Ferreira, football player
- Paulo Futre, former football player
- Paulo Sousa, former football player
- Pereira Da Silva, football player
- Ricardo Carvalho, football player
- Ricardo Pereira, football player
- Ricardo Quaresma, football player
- Ricardo Sá Pinto, football player
- Rúben Dias football player
- Rui Costa, football player
- Simão Sabrosa, football player
- Vítor Baía, football player
Others
- António Jesus Correia
- António Livramento, hockey player
- Rui Madeira, rally driver
- Carlos Lopes, marathon Olympic champion
- Carlos Sousa, off-road driver, world champion in 2003
- Fernanda Ribeiro, 10,000m Olympic champion
- Francis Obikwelu, Nigerian-born runner
- Gustavo Ribeiro, skateboarder
- Joaquim Agostinho, cyclist
- José Azevedo, cyclist
- João Garcia, mountaineer
- João Sousa, tennis player
- Moises Henriques, Australian cricketer from Portugal
- Pedro Lamy, former Formula One and DTM driver
- Rosa Mota, marathon Olympic champion
- Rui Costa, cycling world champion
- Telma Monteiro, four times judo silver medalist at world championships
- Tiago Monteiro, former Champ Car and Formula One driver
- Ticha Penicheiro, WNBA player
- Vanessa Fernandes, triathlon world champion
Politicians
- Afonso Costa, Prime Minister during the First Republic
- Alberto João Jardim, President of Regional Government of the Madeira Autonomous Region for 37 years
- Álvaro Cunhal, former General Secretary of the Portuguese Communist Party
- Aníbal Cavaco Silva, Prime Minister and President of the Republic
- Anton de Vieira, governor of St Petersburg and Okhotsk
- António de Oliveira Salazar, head of government and de facto leader of the Estado Novo dictatorial regime for 36 years
- António Guterres, Prime Minister, Secretary-General of the United Nations, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and President of the Socialist International
- António Vitorino, Minister, judge of the Constitutional Court, EU Commissioner and Director General of the International Organization for Migration
- Bento Gonçalves, General Secretary of the Portuguese Communist Party
- Carlos Alberto da Mota Pinto, Prime Minister
- Carlos Carvalhas, General Secretary of the Portuguese Communist Party
- Diogo Freitas do Amaral, President of the General Assembly of the United Nations and Minister of Foreign Affairs
- Duarte Pio, Duke of Bragança, claimant to the abolished throne of Portugal
- Francisco Sá Carneiro, Prime Minister
- Jaime Ornelas Camacho, first President of the Regional Government of Madeira
- Jerónimo de Sousa, General Secretary of the Portuguese Communist Party
- Jorge Sampaio, President of the Republic and Mayor of Lisbon
- José Manuel Barroso, Prime Minister and President of the European Commission
- José Sócrates, Prime Minister
- Manuel Pinho, Minister of the Economy and Innovation
- Marcelo Caetano, last head of government of the Estado Novo dictatorial regime, from 1968 to 1974
- Mário Soares, Prime Minister and President of the Republic
- Octávio Pato
- Pedro Santana Lopes, Prime Minister and Mayor of Lisbon
- Teresa Heinz Kerry, philanthropist and wife of US Senator John Kerry
- Vasco Gonçalves, Prime Minister
- Sebastião José de Carvalho e Melo, 1st Marquis of Pombal, statesman
Historians
- Diogo do Couto, historian of India and Sri Lanka
- José Hermano Saraiva
- Rui Nepomuceno, lawyer and historian of Madeira
Businesspeople
- Américo Amorim
- Belmiro de Azevedo
- Francisco Pinto Balsemão
- Joe Berardo
- Salvador Caetano
- António Champalimaud
- Antonia Ferreira, winemaker
Other
- Catarina de Albuquerque, UN Special Rapporteur
- Mariana Alcoforado, nun and writer
- Rita Almeida, World Bank economist
- Jorge de Cabedo, jurist
- Catarina Eufémia, assassinated rural worker
- Abraham Aboab Falero, 17th century Jewish philanthropist
- Aires de Ornelas e Vasconcelos, 19th-century archbishop of the Portuguese colonial enclave Goa
- Deu-la-Deu Martins 14th century hero
- Fernando Pessa, journalist
- Sara Sampaio, model
- Joey Batista, Pastel De Nata Ambassador