Costa (, ,, is an Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, French, and Maltese mostly toponymic surname. The surname spread throughout the world through colonization. It was also a surname chosen by former Jews due to Roman Catholic and other Christian (often forced) conversions.
In Italy, Portugal, Galicia and Catalonia, it is derived from the Latin word costa, "rib", which has come to mean slope, coast (close to the sea, or coastline locations) in Romance languages. In Spain, it originates from Catalonia or Galicia, with the Spanish (Castilian) equivalent being Cuesta.
Geographical distribution As of 2014, 71.0% of all known bearers of the surname Costa were residents of Brazil (frequency 1:141), 7.6% of Portugal (1:67), 5.2% of Mozambique (1:255), 3.7% of Italy (1:801), 2.4% of the United States (1:7,460), 1.9% of Guinea-Bissau (1:44), 1.5% of Spain (1:1,531), 1.2% of East Timor (1:49) and 1.2% of Argentina (1:1,809).
In Brazil, the frequency of the surname was higher than the national average (1:141) in the following states: Maranhão (1:46) Amapá (1:60) Pará (1:74) Roraima (1:77) Acre (1:93) Rio Grande do Norte (1:97) Amazonas (1:98) Ceará (1:112) Bahia (1:112) Tocantins (1:113) Sergipe (1:117) Piauí (1:119) Paraíba (1:120) Alagoas (1:131) Federal District (1:131) Minas Gerais (1:140)
In Italy, the frequency of the surname was higher than the national average (1:801) in the following regions: Liguria (1:214) Sicily (1:374) Piedmont (1:458) Veneto (1:489) Emilia-Romagna (1:676) Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol (1:763) Lombardy (1:784)
In Spain, the frequency of the surname was higher than the national average (1:1,531) in the following autonomous communities:Costa surname distribution Balearic Islands (1:399) Catalonia (1:667) Galicia (1:672) Region of Murcia (1:845) Valencian Community (1:1,001)
People
Angola
Desidério Costa (born 1934), politician Hélder Costa (born 1994), footballer
Australia
Frank Costa (1938–2021), businessman Joseph Costa (born 1992), footballer Marcello Costa (1940–2024), Italian-born medical researcher and public health advocate Michael Costa (born 1956), politician Phil Costa (born 1949), politician
Brazil
Angelo da Costa (born 1983), footballer Antônio da Costa Santos (1952–2001), architect and politician Carlos Duarte Costa (1888–1961), religious figure Celso Costa (born 1949), mathematician Delfim Moreira da Costa Ribeiro (1868–1920), president of Brazil from 1918 to 1919 Douglas Costa (born 1990), footballer Fábio Costa (born 1977), footballer Gal Costa (1945–2022), singer Haroldo Costa (1930–2025), actor Jair da Costa (1940–2025), footballer Larissa Costa (born 1984), model Ligia Maura Costa, professor Lúcio Costa (1902–1998), architect and urban planner Marcos Costa (born 1979), boxer Mariana Bridi da Costa (1988–2009), also known as Mari, model Newton da Costa (1929–2024), mathematician Renata Costa (born 1986), footballer
Paulo Costa (born 1991), mixed martial artist Petra Costa (born 1984), actress and filmmaker Rebecca da Costa (born 1984), actress and model Ronaldo da Costa (born 1970), long-distance runner Viviane Costa (born 1980), water polo player Yamandu Costa (born 1980), guitarist and composer
East Timor
Maria do Céu Sarmento Pina da Costa (born 1968), politician Martinho da Costa Lopes (1918–1991), religious and political leader
France
Emmanuel Da Costa (born 1977), French football player and manager
Jean-Paul Costa (1941–2023), jurist Mélissa Da Costa (born 1990), French novelist Philippe Da Costa (born 1962), executive Stéphane Da Costa (born 1989), ice hockey player
Italy
Aldo Costa (born 1961), Formula One engineer Alfredo Costa (1874–1913), opera singer Andrea Costa (1851–1910), politician Andrea Dalla Costa (born 1974), visual artist and filmmaker Beppe Costa (1941–2026), poet, writer, and publisher Elia Dalla Costa (1872–1961), cardinal Erminio Costa (1924–2009), neuroscientist Francesco Costa (1672–1740), painter Giovanni Costa (1826–1903), painter Lamberto Dalla Costa (1920–1982), bobsledder Lorenzo Costa (1460–1535), painter Marco Dalla Costa (born 1988), footballer Mariarosa Dalla Costa (born 1943), writer Nuccio Costa (1925–1991), television presenter Orazio Costa (1911–1999), theatre pedagogist and director Oronzio Gabriele Costa (1787–1867), zoologist Paolo Costa (born 1943), politician Silvia Costa (born 1949), politician
Portugal
Adelino Amaro da Costa (1943–1980), politician Afonso Costa (1871–1937), prime minister of Portugal between 1913 and 1917 Alberto Costa (born 1947), politician Alfredo Bruto da Costa, (1938–2016), politician Alfredo Luís da Costa (1883–1908), one of the perpetrators of the 1908 Lisbon Regicide Alfredo Nobre da Costa, (1923–1996), prime minister of Portugal in 1978 António Costa (born 1961), current President of the European Council, prime minister of Portugal from 2015 to 2024 António Costa Silva (born 1952), economist António Félix da Costa (born 1991), racing driver António Luís Costa (born 1953), serial killer Beatriz Costa (1907–1996), actress Cândido Costa (born 1981), footballer Carlos da Silva Costa (born 1949), economist Carole Costa (born 1990), footballer Catarina Costa (born 1996), judoka Diogo Costa (born 1999), footballer Francisco da Costa Gomes (1914–2001), president of Portugal from 1974 to 1976 Francisco Fernandes Costa (1867–1925), politician Helena Costa (born 1978), football manager José Fonseca e Costa (1933–2015), film director Jorge Costa (1971–2025), football player and manager Jorge da Costa (1406–1508), cardinal Jorge Nuno Pinto da Costa (1937–2025), businessman, president of FC Porto from 1982 to 2024 José Costa (born 1953), football player and manager Manuel da Costa (1541–1604), Jesuit missionary Manuel Gomes da Costa (1863–1929), president of Portugal in 1926 Pedro Costa (born 1958), film director Ricardo Costa (born 1981), footballer Rui Costa (born 1972), footballer and sports executive Rui Costa (born 1986), cyclist Samú Costa (born 2000), footballer Susana Costa (born 1984), triple jumper Uriel da Costa (1585–1640), Sephardic Jew philosopher
Spain
Albert Costa (born 1975), Catalan tennis player Albert Costa (born 1990), Catalan racing driver Carlos Costa (born 1968), Catalan tennis player Diego Costa (born 1988), Brazilian-born footballer Jaume Costa (born 1988), Valencian footballer Quim Costa (born 1957), Catalan basketball player Robert Costa (born 1994), Catalan footballer
Sri Lanka
Asitha Costa (born 1970), cricketer Rex De Costa (1920–1971), medical doctor and army officer Wimal Kumara de Costa (1948–2016), actor
United States Catherine A. Costa (1926–2025), politician Dave Costa (1941–2013), American football player Dave Costa (born 1978), American football player (offensive lineman) Dino Costa, radio personality Don Costa (1925–1983), pop music arranger and record producer Jason Costa (born 1972), drummer Jay Costa (born 1957), politician Jeralita Costa (born 1959), politician Jim Costa (born 1952), politician Johnny Costa (1922–1996), jazz pianist Joseph Costa (1909–1998), Portuguese-born aviator Mary Costa (born 1930), actress and singer Matt Costa (born 1982), singer-songwriter Nikka Costa (born 1972), singer Robert Costa (born 1985), journalist Robert A. Costa (born 1958), politician Tony Costa (1944–1974), American serial killer John Costa (born 2009), Basketball player
United Kingdom
Alberto Costa (born 1971), English politician Antony Costa (born 1981), English singer Benjamin Mendes da Costa (1803–1968), English merchant and philanthropist Catherine da Costa (1679–1756), English miniaturist
Emanuel Mendes da Costa (1717–1791), English botanist, naturalist and philosopher Kitty da Costa (1710–1747), English Sephardic Jew Margaret Costa (1917–1999), food writer Michael Costa (1808–1884), Italian-born composer and conductor Sam Costa (1910–1981), English singer and entertainer
Other countries
Alberto "Tino" Costa (born 1985), Argentinian footballer Alberto Zalamea Costa (1929–2011), Colombian journalist and diplomat Beatriz da Costa (1974–2012), German artist Gaspar da Costa (born 1749), Tenente geral (lieutenant general) of the Portuguese-speaking Topasses George Da Costa (1853–1929), Nigerian photographer Isaac da Costa (1798–1860), Dutch Jewish writer Jean-Luc Costa (born 1965), Swiss chess player Leonardo Costa (born 2008), German chess player Manuel da Costa (born 1984), French-born Moroccan footballer Manuel Pinto da Costa, president of São Tomé and Príncipe from 1975 to 1991 Moses Costa (1950–2020), Bangladeshi Roman Catholic prelate Seiya Da Costa Lay (born 2001), Indonesian footballer Silvia Costa (born 1964), Cuban high jumper Troy Costa (born 1975), Indian fashion designer
Fictional characters Manassseh da Costa, The King of Schnorrers Beatriz Da Costa, DC Comics character also known as Fire Roberto da Costa, Marvel Comics character also known as Sunspot Emmanuel da Costa, Marvel Comics character
See also Costa (disambiguation) Kosta (surname)
References