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 harpsichordistAlcinda Abreu (born 1953), Mozambican politicianAldo Abreu, Venezuelan recorder playerAleixo de Abreu (1568–1630), Portuguese physician and tropical pathologistAnderson Luís de Abreu Oliveira (born 1988), Brazilian footballerAnna Abreu (born 1990), Finnish-Portuguese singerAntónio de Abreu (16th century), Portuguese navigator and naval officerAryam Abreu Delgado (born 1978), Cuban chess GrandmasterAntónio Simões de Abreu (born 1947), Portuguese engineer and politicianBobby Abreu (born 1974), Venezuelan baseball playerCaio Fernando Abreu (1948–1996), Brazilian journalist and writerCarlos Renato de Abreu (born 1978), Brazilian footballerCasimiro de Abreu (1829–1860), Brazilian writerCláudia Abreu (born 1970), Brazilian actressDiogo Abreu (born 1947), Portuguese geographerAntónio Caetano de Abreu Freire Egas Moniz (1874–1955), better known as "António Egas Moniz", Portuguese psychiatrist, neurosurgeon, and Nobel Prize winnerErmilo Abreu Gómez (1894–1971), Mexican writerEufemio Abreu (1901-?), Cuban baseball playerFernanda Abreu (born 1961), Brazilian singerFlorêncio Carlos de Abreu e Silva (1839–1881), Brazilian lawyer, journalist, writer, and politicianFrancisco Abreu (born 1943), Spanish golferGeorge Leandro Abreu de Lima (born 1985), Brazilian footballerJesus Gil Abreu (1823–1900), American rancher and pioneerJosé Abreu (1688–1756), Spanish administratorJosé Antonio Abreu (born 1943), Venezuelan pianist, economist, educator, activist, and politiciansLuciana Abreu (born 1985), Portuguese singer and actressLucy d'Abreu (1892–2005), the oldest living person in the United Kingdom from April 2004 until her deathManuel de Abreu (1894–1962), Brazilian physician and scientistMarco Abreu (born 1974), Angolan footballerMarques Batista de Abreu (born 1973), Brazilian footballerMarta Abreu (1845–1909), Cuban philanthropistNorberto Collado Abreu (c1921-2008), Cuban revolutionaryPedro De Abreu (born 1989), Brazilian-American entrepreneurRico Abreu (born 1992), American racing driverSantiago Polanco Abreu (1920–1988), Puerto Rican politicianSebastián Abreu (born 1976), Uruguayan footballerSissi Abreu (born 1968), Brazilian singerTony Abreu (born 1984), Dominican baseball playerFrancisco Abreu, Spanish golferVania Abreu (born 1967), Brazilian singerWinston Abreu (born 1977), Dominican baseball playerXavier Abreu Sierra (born 1950), Mexican politicianYudit Abreu (born 1969), Cuban basketball playerZequinha de Abreu (1880–1935), Brazilian composer
