Where Does the Sampayo Surname Come From?

The spelling Sampayo grew out of Sampaio, a Portuguese surname with a long paper trail. Surname dictionaries give the meaning as “Saint Pelagius”.

How the spelling arose

Only a small detail separates the spellings: Sampayo has “y” where Sampaio has “i”. Census takers and immigration officers often wrote what they heard. Other spellings include São Paio.

Sampayo coat of arms

Looking for a Sampayo coat of arms? Arms were granted to families, not to surnames, and our research shows which heraldic tradition fits yours.

Get the complete Sampayo report, with a museum-style coat of arms.