Botelho
A Portuguese surname most often understood as a diminutive or nickname-based name, probably tied to a small vessel or container word in old Portuguese.
The #7,084 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 65,329 Americans shares it.
Etymology
Botelho is a Portuguese surname. It is generally explained as a diminutive formation related to Portuguese "botel"/"botelha"-type words, ultimately from Latin roots connected with a flask, bottle, or small container. In that sense, the name likely began as a nickname for someone associated with such an object or perhaps with a stocky, rounded shape metaphorically likened to it.
History
The surname is found in Portugal and in Portuguese-speaking communities, especially in former Portuguese Atlantic and colonial settings such as Brazil. Like many Portuguese surnames, it spread through migration and colonial-era movement rather than originating from a single famous family line.
Origin
Regions
Variant spellings
Fun fact
Botelho is a good example of how many Portuguese surnames preserve everyday medieval nicknames that no longer feel transparent today.