Abreu is a Portuguese language surname. The surname is particularly prevalent among those of Portuguese and Sephardic Jewish descent. The surname is also found in Sri Lanka where it was introduced during Portuguese rule in Sri Lanka where the spelling has been corrupted to De Abrew.
The source of the name is debated. The family name has a Portuguese form, and has been explained as being an ancient branch of the house of Normandyvia the Countship of Évreux, France. It has also been linked to the name Abraham (Portuguese Abraão), the Biblical figure. Some argue that it is an abbreviation of the Portuguese phrase “Abraham The Hebrew” (Portuguese Abraão O Hebreu).
Prominent people with the surname are:
Abraham Abreu, Venezuelan harpsichordist
Alcinda Abreu (born 1953), Mozambican politician
Aldo Abreu, Venezuelan recorder player
Aleixo de Abreu (1568–1630), Portuguese physician and tropical pathologist
Anderson Luís de Abreu Oliveira (born 1988), Brazilian footballer
Anna Abreu (born 1990), Finnish-Portuguese singer
António de Abreu (16th century), Portuguese navigator and naval officer
Aryam Abreu Delgado (born 1978), Cuban chess Grandmaster
António Simões de Abreu (born 1947), Portuguese engineer and politician
Bobby Abreu (born 1974), Venezuelan baseball player
Caio Fernando Abreu (1948–1996), Brazilian journalist and writer
Carlos Renato de Abreu (born 1978), Brazilian footballer
Casimiro de Abreu (1829–1860), Brazilian writer
Cláudia Abreu (born 1970), Brazilian actress
Diogo Abreu (born 1947), Portuguese geographer
António Caetano de Abreu Freire Egas Moniz (1874–1955), better known as "António Egas Moniz", Portuguese psychiatrist, neurosurgeon, and Nobel Prize winner
Ermilo Abreu Gómez (1894–1971), Mexican writer
Eufemio Abreu (1901-?), Cuban baseball player
Fernanda Abreu (born 1961), Brazilian singer
Florêncio Carlos de Abreu e Silva (1839–1881), Brazilian lawyer, journalist, writer, and politician
Francisco Abreu (born 1943), Spanish golfer
George Leandro Abreu de Lima (born 1985), Brazilian footballer
Jesus Gil Abreu (1823–1900), American rancher and pioneer
José Abreu (1688–1756), Spanish administrator
José Antonio Abreu (born 1943), Venezuelan pianist, economist, educator, activist, and politicians
Luciana Abreu (born 1985), Portuguese singer and actress
Lucy d'Abreu (1892–2005), the oldest living person in the United Kingdom from April 2004 until her death
Manuel de Abreu (1894–1962), Brazilian physician and scientist
Marco Abreu (born 1974), Angolan footballer
Marques Batista de Abreu (born 1973), Brazilian footballer
Marta Abreu (1845–1909), Cuban philanthropist
Norberto Collado Abreu (c1921-2008), Cuban revolutionary
Pedro De Abreu (born 1989), Brazilian-American entrepreneur
Rico Abreu (born 1992), American racing driver
Santiago Polanco Abreu (1920–1988), Puerto Rican politician
Sebastián Abreu (born 1976), Uruguayan footballer
Sissi Abreu (born 1968), Brazilian singer
Tony Abreu (born 1984), Dominican baseball player
Francisco Abreu, Spanish golfer
Vania Abreu (born 1967), Brazilian singer
Winston Abreu (born 1977), Dominican baseball player
Xavier Abreu Sierra (born 1950), Mexican politician
Yudit Abreu (born 1969), Cuban basketball player
Zequinha de Abreu (1880–1935), Brazilian composer
