LIMA
Lima is a surname that traces its roots to the Iberian Peninsula, a region historically inhabited by a mix of cultures and languages. The name is predominantly found in the countries of Spain and Portugal, where it has been recorded for several centuries.
The etymology of Lima is most commonly linked to the Portuguese word for lime tree, which is lima. In this sense, the surname is a locational one, traditionally assigned to individuals who lived near or hailed from places named Lima. Such place-names often arose from notable natural features, in this case the presence of lime trees along a settlement’s outskirts or within a particular district.
Another linguistic possibility for the origin of Lima stems from the Latin word limus, meaning mud or slime. This interpretation suggests that the surname may have been used to describe those residing in marshy or muddy areas. While this derivation is plausible, the predominant theory favours the lime-tree explanation because of the stronger historical association with the geographical locations bearing the name.
Religiously, the surname is traditionally associated with Christian families in both Spain and Portugal. Christian influence throughout the region’s history has impacted naming conventions, with surnames such as Lima being recorded in parish registers and civil documents across Iberian provinces.
Today, individuals bearing the surname Lima can be found not only in Portugal and Spain but also in communities across the globe, a testament to centuries of migration and cultural exchange. The name remains a recognisable marker of Iberian heritage and reflects the enduring connection between people, place, and language.
Typical given names associated with the Lima surname
Male
- Antonio
- Artur
- Carlos
- David
- Fernando
- Joao
- Joaquim
- John
- Jose
- Manuel
- Nelson
- Nuno
- Pedro
Female
- Alexandra
- Ana
- Carla
- Isabel
- Lucia
- Maria
- Natalie
- Nazmin
- Patricia
- Rita
- Sandra
- Sarah
- Sian
- Vanessa
Similar and related surnames
- Lahm
- Laime
- Lam
- Lama
- Lamaa
- Lamai
- Lamb
- Lame
- Lami
- Lamia
- Lamie
- Lamm
- Lamma
- Lamme
- Lammi
- Lammie
- Lamo
- Leam
- Leame
- Leem
- Leema
- Lehm
- Lehmo
- Leim
- Lem
- Lema
- Lemb
- Leme
- Lemm
- Lemma
- Lemme
- Lemo
- Leume
- Liam
- Liem
- Lihme
- Lim
- Limage
- Limal
- Limam
- Liman
- Limani
- Limar
- Limas
- Limata
- Limaye
- Limb
- Lime
- Limm
- Limn
- Limna
- Limo
- Limoi
- Lims
- Lium
- Llama
- Loam
- Lom
- Loma
- Lomb
- Lome
- Lomi
- Lomo
- Lomu
- Loom
- Loomb
- Loome
- Loum
- Lowm
- Lum
- Luma
- Lumb
- Lume
- Lumia
- Lumm
- Lumme
- Lummi
- Lumu
- Luoma
- Lym
- Lymas
- Lyme
- Lymm
- Wylam
Related and similar names are generated algorithmically based on the spelling, and may not necessarily share an etymology.
How to communicate the surname Lima in...
Braille
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Morse
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Semaphore
There are approximately 1,061 people named Lima in the UK. That makes it roughly the 7,050th most common surname in Britain. Around 16 in a million people in Britain are named Lima.
Origin: Iberian
Region of origin: Europe
Country of origin: Spain
Religion of origin: Christian
Language of origin: Spanish
Famous people named Lima
- Adriana Lima - Brazilian model and actress
- Anthony Lima - Mayor of Gibraltar
Names and descriptions courtesy of Wikipedia, and may contain errors. This is not intended to be an exhaustive list of every famous person with this name.