Question about surname?

Question

my surname is "dos santos" is that authentic portuguese? i dont speak portuguese but my father is.

Answer 1

If your father is authentic Portuguese (his ancestors are known to come from there), then he is authentic.  The name *might* have originated elsewhere, but his ancestry is the provable fact.

Answer 2

Dos Santos would mean "two Saints'  in Portuguese and Spanish...........  However, it seems in Portuguese naming tradition that the Dos would be for "from or of" and the name would mean "From Santos" perhaps or "Of Santos" denoting a mother or father's surname...  

you can read more about Portuguese naming here:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portuguese_...

typical Portuguese name is composed of one or two given names, and two family names. There is a division between given names and family names. The first surname is the same as the last surname in the mother's maiden name, and the second surname is the same as the last surname of the father. Married women may add their husband's surname to the end of their own name (without replacing any other name), but this is not mandatory. The same may happen with men, though the adoption of his wife's surname by the husband is extremely rare. In theory a person can choose to use any of their names in their personal or professional life.