Pimentel (surname)

Pimentel is a Portuguese and Spanish surname of Portuguese origin, whose nobles initially belonged to the illustrious Portuguese Benavente family. Another branch was established in Spain, in which its members comprised the House of Pimentel, a Spanish noble family of Portuguese origin, who also became established and distinguished in the Kingdom of Castile. Pimentel denotes pepper plants and spices, suggesting an occupation (pepper farmer) or a location (where pepper grows) as the origin of the name. Furthermore, archival inquisition files in Lisbon, Portugal, affirm that many Sephardic Jewish (New Christian) Pimentels, were prominent spice traders during Portugal's monopoly of the spice trade, throughout the 16th & early 17th centuries.