Nogueira Ferrão
Encyclopedia
Nogueira Ferrão is a European (Portuguese) double-barrelled surname that was born out of the combined surnames of two gentry families from northern Portugal, Nogueira and Ferrão. The literal meaning of these surnames is "Walnut Tree" (Nogueira) and "Stinger" or "Point on a Knight's Round Shield" (Ferrão). As Nogueira Ferrão is a combined name, only one family exists with this surname, thus anyone named Nogueira or Ferrão, but not both, may not be related to this family.
The surnames of Nogueira and Ferrão were united through the marriage in the cathedral city of Viseu
of Dr. José António Ribeiro Nogueira (1716-1764) and Ana Joaquina Bernarda Ferrão Cardoso de Almeida (1723-1793) on February 26, 1743. Both families trace their roots to the city of Viseu
, with the Nogueiras having direct lineage to João Nogueira, "o Velho" ("the Older"), who was born on or about 1600 and died on September 12, 1661, and was laid to rest in Massorim, Viseu, whilst direct lineage on the Ferrões can be traced to Maria Ferrão (1655-1710). From there the Nogueira Ferrão family continued to flourish, and research is able to demonstrate direct lineage dating back to around 1600 through to our present day.
The family name Nogueira dates back as early as 1088, before Portugal became an independent country, and historical documents of the period refer to a noble Templar Knight, Dom ("Sir") Mendo Nogueira, who earned his noble title and coat of arms through his brave combat against the Moors during the country's mission to expel the infidels from the County of Portucale (later becoming the Kingdom of Portugal), and other historical documents reflect that his lineage was carried on by a nephew of his. Though no known records exist demonstrating a direct lineage of João Nogueira, the Older, to this knight, it is nonetheless striking that another nobleman, Filipe Nogueira, a direct descendant of the original Nogueiras, bearing the same coat of arms, established himself in Viseu circa 1350, where he was appointed by the Bishop of Viseu as his Archdeacon
, a secular, administrative position of paramount political importance.
The Nogueira Ferrão family have been landed gentry throughout the past four hundred years during Portugal's monarchic period and its subsequent republican era. During these centuries the Nogueiras Ferrões joined the ranks of the educated classes with its first university graduate, Dr. João Ribeiro Nogueira (1668-1743), Surgeon to the Hospital Real de Todos os Santos
in Lisbon, later returning to his native city of Viseu as County Surgeon. His son, José António Ribeiro Nogueira, followed in his footsteps in pursuing higher education and became an attorney-at-law upon completing his education at the University of Coimbra.
It would not be until Major José António Ribeiro Nogueira Ferrão (1790-1830) of the 11th Royal Army Infantry Regiment that a member of this family would take part in world history. Major Nogueira Ferrão joined the Royal Army as a 17 year old Cadet officer at the onset of the Peninsular War
(1808-1814), shortly after the first of the three unsuccessful attempts by Napoleon to invade Portugal, and fought in six decisive battles (Roliça, Vimeiro
, Buçaco, Albuhera, Salamanca
, Vitoria and Pirinees) and in two major sieges (Ciudad Rodrigo
and Badajoz
) against the French forces both on his native soil and in Spanish territory.
From that point forward, this gentried family would carry on its tradition by perpetuating its duty and service to the Crown (and later to the Republic) as high ranking military officers, senior civil servants, literary authors, politicians, university professors, medical doctors, lawyers, engineers, architects and business owners, also to the Roman Catholic Church as members of the clergy. The family's service to their Country has been frequently rewarded by Heads of State.
The most noteworthy bearers of the Nogueira Ferrão surname are Captain Carlos Ribeiro Nogueira Ferrão, Colonel António Ribeiro Nogueira Ferrão, João Ribeiro Nogueira Ferrão (Mayor of Viseu) and Major José António Ribeiro Nogueira Ferrão.
Carlos Ribeiro Nogueira Ferrão published in Lisbon Estudos Sobre a Ilha de Santo Antão, Vol 1, Imprensa Nacional (1898), which is one of the first, fully comprehensive geographical books detailing a country's (in this case Cape Verde
) geography, topography, climatology, geology, anthropology, wildlife, etc.
In modern times the family has moved beyond its Portuguese borders, by having some of its members move to other European countries, the United States of America and Brazil.
The surnames of Nogueira and Ferrão were united through the marriage in the cathedral city of Viseu
Viseu
Viseu is both a city and a municipality in the Dão-Lafões Subregion of Centro Region, Portugal. The municipality, with an area of 507.1 km², has a population of 99,593 , and the city proper has 47,250...
of Dr. José António Ribeiro Nogueira (1716-1764) and Ana Joaquina Bernarda Ferrão Cardoso de Almeida (1723-1793) on February 26, 1743. Both families trace their roots to the city of Viseu
Viseu
Viseu is both a city and a municipality in the Dão-Lafões Subregion of Centro Region, Portugal. The municipality, with an area of 507.1 km², has a population of 99,593 , and the city proper has 47,250...
, with the Nogueiras having direct lineage to João Nogueira, "o Velho" ("the Older"), who was born on or about 1600 and died on September 12, 1661, and was laid to rest in Massorim, Viseu, whilst direct lineage on the Ferrões can be traced to Maria Ferrão (1655-1710). From there the Nogueira Ferrão family continued to flourish, and research is able to demonstrate direct lineage dating back to around 1600 through to our present day.
The family name Nogueira dates back as early as 1088, before Portugal became an independent country, and historical documents of the period refer to a noble Templar Knight, Dom ("Sir") Mendo Nogueira, who earned his noble title and coat of arms through his brave combat against the Moors during the country's mission to expel the infidels from the County of Portucale (later becoming the Kingdom of Portugal), and other historical documents reflect that his lineage was carried on by a nephew of his. Though no known records exist demonstrating a direct lineage of João Nogueira, the Older, to this knight, it is nonetheless striking that another nobleman, Filipe Nogueira, a direct descendant of the original Nogueiras, bearing the same coat of arms, established himself in Viseu circa 1350, where he was appointed by the Bishop of Viseu as his Archdeacon
Archdeacon
An archdeacon is a senior clergy position in Anglicanism, Syrian Malabar Nasrani, Chaldean Catholic, and some other Christian denominations, above that of most clergy and below a bishop. In the High Middle Ages it was the most senior diocesan position below a bishop in the Roman Catholic Church...
, a secular, administrative position of paramount political importance.
The Nogueira Ferrão family have been landed gentry throughout the past four hundred years during Portugal's monarchic period and its subsequent republican era. During these centuries the Nogueiras Ferrões joined the ranks of the educated classes with its first university graduate, Dr. João Ribeiro Nogueira (1668-1743), Surgeon to the Hospital Real de Todos os Santos
Hospital Real de Todos os Santos
The Hospital Real de Todos os Santos was a major hospital in Lisbon, Portugal. The hospital was built between 1492 and 1504 and was destroyed in the 1755 Lisbon earthquake, along with most of the city.-Foundation:...
in Lisbon, later returning to his native city of Viseu as County Surgeon. His son, José António Ribeiro Nogueira, followed in his footsteps in pursuing higher education and became an attorney-at-law upon completing his education at the University of Coimbra.
It would not be until Major José António Ribeiro Nogueira Ferrão (1790-1830) of the 11th Royal Army Infantry Regiment that a member of this family would take part in world history. Major Nogueira Ferrão joined the Royal Army as a 17 year old Cadet officer at the onset of the Peninsular War
Peninsular War
The Peninsular War was a war between France and the allied powers of Spain, the United Kingdom, and Portugal for control of the Iberian Peninsula during the Napoleonic Wars. The war began when French and Spanish armies crossed Spain and invaded Portugal in 1807. Then, in 1808, France turned on its...
(1808-1814), shortly after the first of the three unsuccessful attempts by Napoleon to invade Portugal, and fought in six decisive battles (Roliça, Vimeiro
Vimeiro
Vimeiro is a freguesia in the municipality of Lourinhã in west-central Portugal. It is in the District of Lisboa. It has an area of approximately 7 km2 and a population of 1,443 as of 2001....
, Buçaco, Albuhera, Salamanca
Salamanca
Salamanca is a city in western Spain, in the community of Castile and León. Because it is known for its beautiful buildings and urban environment, the Old City was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1988. It is the most important university city in Spain and is known for its contributions to...
, Vitoria and Pirinees) and in two major sieges (Ciudad Rodrigo
Ciudad Rodrigo
Ciudad Rodrigo is a small cathedral city in the province of Salamanca, in western Spain, with a population of about 14,000. It is the seat of a judicial district as well....
and Badajoz
Badajoz
Badajoz is the capital of the Province of Badajoz in the autonomous community of Extremadura, Spain, situated close to the Portuguese border, on the left bank of the river Guadiana, and the Madrid–Lisbon railway. The population in 2007 was 145,257....
) against the French forces both on his native soil and in Spanish territory.
From that point forward, this gentried family would carry on its tradition by perpetuating its duty and service to the Crown (and later to the Republic) as high ranking military officers, senior civil servants, literary authors, politicians, university professors, medical doctors, lawyers, engineers, architects and business owners, also to the Roman Catholic Church as members of the clergy. The family's service to their Country has been frequently rewarded by Heads of State.
The most noteworthy bearers of the Nogueira Ferrão surname are Captain Carlos Ribeiro Nogueira Ferrão, Colonel António Ribeiro Nogueira Ferrão, João Ribeiro Nogueira Ferrão (Mayor of Viseu) and Major José António Ribeiro Nogueira Ferrão.
Carlos Ribeiro Nogueira Ferrão published in Lisbon Estudos Sobre a Ilha de Santo Antão, Vol 1, Imprensa Nacional (1898), which is one of the first, fully comprehensive geographical books detailing a country's (in this case Cape Verde
Cape Verde
The Republic of Cape Verde is an island country, spanning an archipelago of 10 islands located in the central Atlantic Ocean, 570 kilometres off the coast of Western Africa...
) geography, topography, climatology, geology, anthropology, wildlife, etc.
In modern times the family has moved beyond its Portuguese borders, by having some of its members move to other European countries, the United States of America and Brazil.