Meaning & History
Zeferino is the Portuguese form of the Late Roman name Zephyrinus, which derives from the Greek Zephyros, the name of the god of the west wind (see Zephyr). The name ultimately comes from the Greek Ζέφυρος (Zephyros).
Religious and Historical Significance
The name Zephyrinus was borne by Saint Zephyrinus, who served as pope from 199 to 217 AD. His pontificate occurred during a period of persecution under Emperor Septimius Severus and later under Caracalla. As pope, Zephyrinus defended the Church against doctrinal challenges, notably confronting the heresy of Modalism. His feast day is celebrated on August 26 in the Catholic Church. The Portuguese form Zeferino honors this early Christian martyr and saint.
Notable Bearers
Several notable individuals share the name Zeferino. In Portugal, Zeferino (born 1978) is a retired footballer who played as a midfielder. In Brazil, João Zeferino da Costa (1840–1915) was a painter and designer known for works in the Imperial Museum of Rio de Janeiro. From East Timor, Zeferino Martins (born 1985) is a footballer. The Mexican folk musician Zeferino Nandayapa (1931–2010) was a renowned marimba player. Armando Zeferino Soares (1920–2007) was a Cape Verdean composer. In Mexican politics, Zeferino Torreblanca (born 1954) served as Governor of Guerrero from 2005 to 2011. The Spanish theologian and cardinal Zeferino González y Díaz Tuñón (1831–1894) was Archbishop of Seville. Also in Mexico, Zeferino Peña Cuéllar (alias "Don Zefe") was a suspected drug lord. Zeferino Vaz (1908–1981) was the founder and first rector of the University of Campinas (UNICAMP) in São Paulo, Brazil.
- Meaning: West wind
- Origin: Greek (Zephyros), via Latin Zephyrinus
- Type: Given name and surname
- Usage: Primarily Portuguese-speaking countries (Portugal, Brazil, etc.)
Related Names
Sources: Wikipedia — Zeferino