Skip to main content

Updated June 9, 2019

Family name origins & meanings

  • Spanish : of uncertain origin; possibly from a Visigothic personal name Fafila, or alternatively from a derivative of faba, a regional form of haba ‘broad bean’. Possibly in some instances, it could be based on Portuguese and Galician fabela ‘small plot’.
  • Southern Portuguese (also Brazilian) : topographic name from favela ‘slum’.

Join the Family

Your partner in parenting from baby name inspiration to college planning.

Subscribe