About the Da Fonseca Surname

Da Fonseca is how some branches of the Fonseca family came to write their name. Surname dictionaries give the meaning as “dry spring”. Da Fonseca simply joins the particle Da to Fonseca, a pattern common in Portuguese naming. Census takers and immigration officers often wrote what they heard.

Other spellings include Fonsecca.

Looking for a Da Fonseca coat of arms? Arms were granted to families, not to surnames, and our research shows which heraldic tradition fits yours. Want more than a summary? See the Da Fonseca family name pack.