Madeira

1. Portuguese: metonymic occupational name for a carpenter, from madeira ‘wood’, ‘timber’ (Late Latin materia, from classical Latin materies ‘material’, ‘substance’).

2. local name from the island of Madeira, which was named with Portuguese madeira ‘timber’ because of the timber that grew there. The island was colonized in the 15th century under the patronage of Prince Henry the Navigator.

GIVEN NAMES: Portuguese 17%; Spanish 17%. Joaquim (7), Joao (6); Jose (10), Carlos (5), Manuel (5), Alfredo, Amancio, Amando, Ana, Anabel, Arlindo, Armando, Armindo, Augusto.

See the Key to the Dictionary or consult the General Introduction for further explanation.