List of Portuguese people

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

Pêro de Alenquer, explorer of the African coast

Pêro de Sintra, explorer of the African coast

Pêro Dias, explorer of the African coast

Pêro 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

Christopher Columbus, identity disputed, led Spain to the Caribbean islands (Bahamas) in 1492

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

Pêro da Covilhã, diplomat and explorer in Ethiopia and India

Pêro de Barcelos, explorer of North America

16th century

Afonso de Albuquerque, naval admiral and viceroy of India

António de Abreu, explorer of Indonesia

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 (1519–1522); 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

David Melgueiro, explorer of the Arctic

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

Saints

Amador of Portugal (Early Christianity)

Anthony of Lisbon (1195–1231)

Basileus (1st century)

Beatriz da Silva Menezes (1424–1490)

Elizabeth of Portugal (1271–1336)

Felix the Hermit (9th century)

Fructuosus of Braga (7th century)

Irene of Tomar (7th century)

João Baptista Machado (16th/17th century)

John de Brito (1647–1693)

John of God (1495–1550)

Julia (3rd century)

Mancius (Early Christianity)

Martin of Braga (520–580)

Maxima (3rd century)

Nuno Álvares Pereira (1360–1431)

Peter of Rates (1st century)

Quiteria (5th century)

Rita Amada de Jesus (1848–1913)

Rudesind (10th century)

Saint Ovidius (1st and 2nd centuries)

Theotonius (1088–1166)

Verissimus (3rd century)

Victor (3rd century)

Wilgefortis (folk saint)

Blessed

Alexandrina of Balasar (1904–1955)

Amadeus of Portugal (1420–1482)

Bartolomeu dos Mártires (1514–1590)

Ferdinand the Holy Prince (1402–1443)

Francisco Marto (1908–1919)

Inácio de Azevedo (1528–1570)

Jacinta Marto (1910–1920)

Joan, Princess of Portugal (1452–1490)

Mafalda of Portugal (1190–1256)

Sancha of Portugal (1180–1229)

Teresa of Portugal (1181–1250)

Religious

António de Andrade (1580–1634), missionary, explorer of Tibet

António Vieira (1608–1697), writer, diplomat and preacher

João Ferreira Annes de Almeida (1628–1691), missionary

Lúcia de Jesus dos Santos (1907-2005), visionary, involved in the 1917 Fátima events

Paulus Orosius (385–420), historian, theologian and disciple of St. Augustine

Popes

John XXI, 13th-century pope

Philosophers

Agostinho da Silva (1906–1996)

António Castanheira Neves (born 1929)

António Sérgio (1883–1969)

Damião de Góis (1502–1574)

Eduardo Lourenço (born 1923)

José Gil (born 1939)

Musicians

Adriano Correia de Oliveira (1942–1982), singer

Alfredo Keil (1850–1907), composer of the Portuguese anthem

Ana Free, singer

Ana Moura (born 1979), singer, fadista

António d'Andrade (born 1854), international opera tenor

António Zambujo (born 1975), singer, fadista

Alfredo Marceneiro (1891–1982), fado singer

Amália Rodrigues (1920–1999), the most famous fado singer

António Fragoso (1897–1918), piano composer

António Pinho Vargas (born 1951), classical, jazz and piano composer

António Variações (1944–1984), singer and songwriter

Camané (born 1967), singer, fadista

Carlos do Carmo (born 1939), singer, fadista

Carlos Paredes (1925–2004), Portuguese guitar player

Carlos Seixas (1704–1742), composer

Cristina Branco (born 1972), fado singer

Danny Fernandes, singer

David Fonseca (born 1973), singer

DJ Vibe

Duarte Lobo (1565–1646), composer

Dulce Pontes (born 1969), singer

Fernando Lopes Graça (1906–1995), composer

Fernando Ribeiro (born 1974), Moonspell vocals

Francisco d'Andrade (born 1856), international opera baritone

Guilhermina Suggia (1885–1950), cellist

Isabel Soveral (born 1961), composer

Jay Kay (born 1969), singer; Portuguese father

João Domingos Bomtempo (1775–1842), composer

Joaquim José Antunes (1725–1790), harpsichord maker

Jorge Palma (born 1950), singer, pianist and songwriter

José Afonso (1929–1987), aka Zeca Afonso, composer, player

Luciana Abreu (born 1985), singer, composer, actress, TV host

Lúcia Moniz (born 1976), singer, actress

Luís de Freitas Branco (1890–1955), composer

Luísa Todi (1753–1833), lyrical singer

Mafalda Arnauth (born 1974), fado singer

Malvina Garrigues (born 1825), opera soprano

Manuela Azevedo, singer

Maria João Pires (born 1944), piano player

Maria João (born 1956), jazz singer

Mário Laginha (born 1960), piano player

Mariza (born 1973), fado singer

Mísia, fado singer

Nelly Furtado, singer

Nuno Bettencourt (born 1966), guitarist, songwriter, singer

Paulo Furtado, blues performer

Pedro de Escobar (c. 1465 – 1535), composer

Rita Guerra (born 1967), singer

Rita Redshoes, singer

Rui da Silva, disc jockey

Rui Veloso (born 1957), singer

Sara Carvalho (born 1970), composer

Sara Tavares (born 1978), singer

Shawn Desman, singer

Shawn Mendes, singer

Sérgio Godinho (born 1948), singer

Steve Perry, lead singer of band Journey

Teresa Salgueiro (born 1969), Madredeus vocals

Tim (born 1960), player, vocals Xutos & Pontapés

José Vianna da Motta (1868–1948), piano player, composer

Vitorino (born 1942), singer

Writers

Agostinho da Silva, writer and philosopher

Agustina Bessa-Luís, writer

Alexandre Herculano, writer

Alice Vieira, writer

Almada Negreiros, writer

Almeida Garrett, writer and playwright

Álvaro Cunhal, neo-realist writer

Álvaro Magalhães, writer

Alves Redol, neo-realist writer

Ana de Castro Osório, writer and pioneer feminist

Ana Luísa Amaral, poet

André de Resende, writer

Antero de Quental, writer

António Alçada Baptista, writer

António José da Silva, playwright

António Lobo Antunes, writer

António Vieira (1608-1697), preacher and writer

Aquilino Ribeiro, neo-realist writer

Bartolomeu Valente, writer, poet

Branquinho da Fonseca, writer

Bulhão Pato, writer

Camilo Castelo Branco, writer

Clara Ferreira Alves, writer, journalist

Carlos de Oliveira, writer

Damião de Góis, writer

Daniel Sampaio, writer and psychiatrist

David Mourão-Ferreira, writer

Dinis Machado, writer

Diogo Barbosa Machado (1682-1772), writer

Eça de Queiroz, writer

Fernando Aires, writer

Fernando Pessoa, poet writer philosopher, described as one of the most significant literary figures of the 20th century

Fernão Lopes (c. 1380-1458), royal chronicler

Fiama Hasse Pais Brandão, poet and writer

Gil Vicente, playwright

Gomes Eanes de Zurara, writer

Gonçalo Tavares, writer

Guerra Junqueiro, poet and writer

Hélia Correia, writer

Inês Pedrosa, writer

Irene Lisboa (1892–1958), writer

Jacinto Lucas Pires, writer

João Aguiar, writer

João Barrento, writer

João Bénard da Costa, writer

João de Barros, writer and historian

João Manuel Ferreira Simões, journalist

Jorge de Sena, writer and poet

José Cardoso Pires, writer

José Gomes Ferreira, writer

José Leon Machado, writer

José Rodrigues Miguéis (1901–1980), writer

José Saramago, writer, Nobel Prize for Literature in 1998

Luiz Pacheco (1925–2008), writer and editor

Luís Vaz de Camões, poet, playwright

Luiza Neto Jorge, poet and writer

Manuel Alegre, poet, writer and politician

Marina Tavares Dias, writer, journalist, historian

Mário de Sá-Carneiro, novelist and poet

Miguel Torga, poet and writer

Natália Correia, writer and poet

Orlando da Costa, poet and playwright

Ramalho Ortigão, writer

Raul Brandão (1867–1930), writer

Raul Proença (1884–1941), writer

Rosa Lobato Faria, writer

Rui de Pina, writer

Soeiro Pereira Gomes, neo-realist writer

Teixeira de Pascoaes, writer and poet

Sophia de Mello Breyner Andresen, poet and writer

Tomé Pires (1465–1540), author of the Suma Oriental

Urbano Tavares Rodrigues, writer and journalist

Vasco Graça Moura, writer

Vergílio Ferreira, writer

Vitorino Nemésio, poet and writer

Artists

Almada Negreiros (1893–1970), 20th-century painter

Amadeo de Souza Cardoso (1887–1918), 20th-century painter

António Soares dos Reis (1847–1889), 19th-century sculptor

Aurélia de Souza (1865–1922), 19th/20th-century painter

Columbano Bordalo Pinheiro (1857–1929), 19th/20th-century painter

Eduardo Gageiro (born 1935), 20th-century photographer

Fernando Lanhas (1923-2012)

Filipe Alarcão (born 1963), urban and modern contemporary designer

João M. P. Lemos, cartoonist

José Dias Coelho, 20th-century artist

José Malhoa, 19th-century painter

Joshua Benoliel (1873–1932), 19th/20th-century photographer

Júlio Pomar (born 1926), 20th-century painter

Manuel Pereira da Silva (1920–2003), 20th-century sculptor

Nadir Afonso (1920-2013), geometric abstract painter

Nuno Gonçalves, 15th-century painter

Paula Rego, 20th-century painter

Rafael Bordalo Pinheiro, 19th-century caricaturist

Vasco Fernandes (Grão Vasco), 15th-century painter

Vieira da Silva, 20th-century painter

Scientists

Abel Salazar (1889–1946)

Alexandre Quintanilha (born 1945)

André de Resende (c. 1500 – 1573)

António A. de Freitas (born 1947), immunologist

António Damásio (born 1944), neurologist

Bartolomeu de Gusmão (1685–1724), inventor

Bento de Jesus Caraça (1901–1948), mathematician

Diogo Abreu (born 1947), geographer

Egas Moniz (1874–1955), neurologist and Nobel Prize for Medicine in 1949

Freitas-Magalhães (born 1966), psychologist

Garcia de Orta (c. 1499 – 1568), botanical scientist

Hanna Damásio (born 1942), neurologist

Jacob de Castro Sarmento (c. 1691 – 1762)

João de Pina-Cabral (born 1954), anthropologist

João Magueijo (born 1967), physicist

Miguel Vale de Almeida (born 1960), anthropologist

Benedita Barata da Rocha (born 1949), immunologist

Orlando Ribeiro (1911–1997), geographer

Pedro Nunes (1502–1578), mathematician and cosmographer

Sousa Martins (1843–1897)

Tomé Pires (c. 1465-c. 1540)

Engineers and architects

Álvaro Siza Vieira (born 1933), architect

João Luís Carrilho da Graça, architect

Edgar Cardoso (1913–2000), engineer

Eduardo Souto de Moura, architect

Fernando Távora (1923–2005), architect

José Tribolet, engineer, IST professor

Tomás Taveira (born 1938), architect

Psychiatrists

João dos Santos

Actors and directors

Alexandra Lencastre

António Lopes Ribeiro (1908–1995), film director

António Silva, actor

Beatriz Batarda, actress

Beatriz Costa, actress

Carmen Miranda (1909–1955), singer and actress

Daniela Ruah, actress

Diogo Infante, actor

Eunice Muñoz (born 1928), actress

Fernando Rocha (born 1975), comedian, actor

Francisco Ribeiro (1911-1984), actor, comedian, film director, theatre director

Herman José (born 1954), actor and humourist

João César Monteiro (1939–2003), film director

João Villaret (1913–1961), actor and poetry reader

Joaquim de Almeida (born 1957), actor

Luís Miguel Cintra (born 1948)

Manoel de Oliveira (born 1908), film director

Marco Martins (born 1972), film director

Maria de Medeiros, actress

Maria Matos (1890–1952), actress

Nicolau Breyner, actor

Nuno Lopes (born 1978), actor

Raul Solnado, actor and humourist

Vasco Nunes (born 1974), director, cinematographer, producer

Vasco Santana (1898–1958), actor

Soldiers

Álvaro Vaz de Almada (count of Avranches) (1390–1449), knight of the Garter, Captain-major of Portugal, killed in battle

Fernando de Almada (count of Avranches) (1430–1496), Captain-major of Portugal

Otelo Saraiva de Carvalho (born 1936), chief strategist of the Carnation Revolution of Portugal

Aníbal Augusto Milhais (1895–1970), most decorated soldier Ordem de Torre e Espada do Valor, Lealdade e Mérito of Portugal

Sports

Ana Rocha, professional wrestler

António Jesus Correia (1924–2003)

António Livramento (1944–1999), hockey player

Carlos Lopes (born 1947), marathon Olympic champion

Carlos Queiroz, football coach

Carlos Sousa, off-road driver, world champion in 2003

Costinha (born 1974), football player

Cristiano Ronaldo (born 1985), football player

Dinis Vital (born 1932), football player

Eusébio (born 1942), football player, born in Portuguese Mozambique; later moved to Portugal

Fernanda Ribeiro (born 1969), 10,000m Olympic champion

Francis Obikwelu, Nigerian-born runner

Joaquim Agostinho, cyclist

José Azevedo, cyclist

José Mourinho, football coach

João Moutinho, football player

Luís Figo (born 1972), football player

Maniche (born 1977), football player

Nani, football player

Nelson Évora, long jump Olympic and world champion

Nuno Gomes, football player

Pauleta, football player

Paulo Ferreira, football player

Paulo Futre, former football player

Paulo Sousa, former football player

Pedro Lamy, former Formula One and DTM driver

Ricardo Carvalho, football player

Ricardo Pereira, football player

Ricardo Quaresma (born 1983), football player

Ricardo Sá Pinto, football player

Rosa Mota (born 1958), marathon Olympic champion

Rui Costa (born 1972), football player

Rui Costa, cycling world champion

Simão Sabrosa (born 1979), football player

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

Vítor Baía (born 1969), football player

Politicians

Afonso Costa (1871–1937), Prime Minister during the First Republic

Alberto João Jardim (born 1943), President of Regional Government of the Madeira Autonomous Region

Álvaro Cunhal (1913–2005), former General Secretary of the PCP

Aníbal Cavaco Silva, economist, former Prime Minister, current President of the Republic

Anton de Vieira (1682-1745), governor of St Petersburg and Okhotsk

António de Oliveira Salazar (1889–1970), Head of State, leader of the National Union "União Nacional"

António Guterres, former Prime Minister, current president of the Socialist International and United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees

António Vitorino, former Minister and EU Commissioner

Bento Gonçalves (1902–1942), former General Secretary of the PCP

Carlos Alberto da Mota Pinto (1936–1985), former Prime Minister

Carlos Carvalhas (born 1941), former General Secretary of the PCP

Diogo Freitas do Amaral, former president of the General Assembly of the United Nations, current Minister of Foreign Affairs

Duarte Pio, Duke of Bragança, claimant to the abolished throne of Portugal

Francisco Sá Carneiro (1934–1980), former Prime Minister

Jaime Ornelas Camacho (born 1911), first Regional Government President of Madeira

Jerónimo de Sousa (born 1947), General Secretary of the PCP

Jorge Sampaio, former President of the Republic

José Manuel Barroso, former Prime Minister, current president of the EU Commission

José Sócrates, former Prime Minister

Manuel Pinho (born 1954), former Minister of Economy and Innovation

Marcelo Caetano (1906–1980) (former Head of State from 1970 to 1974

Mário Soares (born 1924), former Prime Minister and President of the Republic

Octávio Pato (1925–1999)

Pedro Santana Lopes, former Prime Minister, former Mayor of Lisbon

Teresa Heinz Kerry, philanthropist and the wife of US Senator John Kerry

Vasco Gonçalves (1922–2005), former Prime Minister

Sebastião José de Carvalho e Melo, 1st Marquis of Pombal (1699–1782), statesman

Historians

Diogo do Couto (1542–1616), historian of India and Sri Lanka

José Hermano Saraiva (1919-2012)

Businesspeople

Américo Amorim (born 1934)

Belmiro de Azevedo (born 1938)

Francisco Pinto Balsemão (born 1937)

Joe Berardo (born 1944)

Salvador Caetano (born 1926)

António Champalimaud (1918–2004)

Antonia Ferreira (born 1811), winemaker

Edgar Matias (born 1969)

Other

Mariana Alcoforado (1624–1723), nun and writer

Catarina Eufémia (1928–1954), assassinated rural worker

Abraham Aboab Falero, 17th century Jewish philanthropist

Aires de Ornelas e Vasconcelos (1837–1880), 19th-century archbishop of the Portuguese colonial enclave Goa

Fernando Pessa (1902–2002), journalist

Diego Alvarez, fictional character in Bibhutibhushan Bandopadhyay's Bengali novel Chander Pahar (Bengali: চাঁদের পাহাড়, English: Mountain of the Moon)