Cavalcanti is an Italian surname, also common in Brazil where it is used by people of ancient Italian origin. In Italy and Brazil the variant Cavalcante is also used. The family came to Brazil in 1560[1]. It may refer to:
Cavalcanti, Rio de Janeiro, a neighborhood in Rio de JaneiroAlberto Cavalcanti (1897-1982), Brazilian film directorAndrea Cavalcanti, a fictional character in The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre DumasCavalcante de' Cavalcanti (died c. 1280), Florentine philosopher, father of Guido CavalicantiEmiliano Di Cavalcanti (1897-1976), Brazilian painterGiovanni Cavalcanti (chronicler) (1381-c.1451), Florentine chroniclerGiovanni Cavalcanti (poet) (1444-1509), Florentine poetGuido Cavalcanti (c. 1255-1300), Italian poetSeverino Cavalcanti (born 1930), Brazilian politicianJoaquim Arcoverde de Albuquerque Cavalcanti (1850-1930), first Latin American Cardinal