Teixeira

Teixeira
Teixeira original coat of arms.
PronunciationEuropean Portuguese: [tɐjˈʃɐjɾɐ]
Galician: [tejˈʃejɾɐ]
LanguagePortuguese, Galician
Origin
MeaningPlace of the yew trees
Region of originIberian Peninsula

Teixeira (European Portuguese: [tɐjˈʃɐjɾɐ], Galician: [tejˈʃejɾɐ]) is a Galician-Portuguese surname based on the toponym Teixeira, derived from teixo "yew tree" (Latin taxus). The progenitors of the name were a "Noble Portuguese Marrano family, originally bearing the surname of Sampayo," and the Teixeira coat of arms was conferred "in accordance with a decree of King Philip IV of Spain" in 1643. A less frequent variant spelling is Texeira. The variant Técher is common in the highlands of Reunion Island, notably in the Cilaos area.