For 30 years investigating the origins of the surname Sodré, having published several articles about this family based on old Portuguese archives. The earliest documentation proves the existence of two Sodrés in 1414-1419: the squire and knight Fernão Sodré John Sodré and also proves that for these same years Agnes was born Sodré, mother of Duarte Sodré, Captain-General and Commander of the Order Taking of Christ, who died on August 25, 1500, my 14th grandmother whose grave is in the church of Nossa Senhora do Monte in Santarém. Despite the tradition, there is no indisputable evidence that they were of English origin, it is possible that this is a legend built in XVI century to give relief to Sodrés and allow them to better marriages, but not impossible and his coat is much to like the English. The most likely is that John (eldest) and Jonathan (youngest) were brothers and sons of a first Sodré, born in the second half of the fourteenth century, whose nickname was merely an obscure sense of NICKNAME assigned to it and that was as last name, as was common then happen. In his will, dated 29 February 1496, Duarte says Sodré is his nickname and surname. The Sodré should have risen socially under King John I, who were servers but is Sodré Duarte family who raises the nobility of lineage land to receive the king and become morgado big picture and the Order of Christ, successor of the Templars in Portugal. For complete information see my blog http://sodre.blogs.sapo.pt
