Carneiro is a common Portuguese and Galician surname, meaning "sheep". It was very likely either a metonymic occupational name for a shepherd, or a habitational name derived from any of the several places called Carneiro in the North of Portugal.
Notable people with the surname include:
Alberto Carneiro, Portuguese artist António Carneiro, Portuguese Expressionist painter, illustrator, poet and art professor Antônio Ernesto Gomes Carneiro, Brazilian military officer who fought in the Paraguayan War António de Mariz Carneiro, Portuguese nobleman who served as the official cosmographer to the Portuguese crown Antonio dos Reis Carneiro, Brazilian basketball administrator António Soares Carneiro, Portuguese military officer and politician Carlos Carneiro, Portuguese footballer Carlos Carneiro, Portuguese handballer Enéas Carneiro, Brazilian physician and politician Eva Carneiro, British sports medicine specialist Flávio Carneiro, Brazilian writer Francisco Sá Carneiro, Portuguese politician and former Prime Minister of Portugal Higino Carneiro, Angolan military officer and politician Honório Hermeto Carneiro Leão, Brazilian politician, diplomat, judge and monarchist of the Empire of Brazil Hugo Carneiro (born 1982), Portuguese politician Jessel Carneiro, Indian footballer Joana Carneiro, Portuguese conductor João Emanuel Carneiro. Brazilian screenwriter Jorge García Carneiro, Venezuelan politician José da Gama Carneiro e Sousa, Portuguese count who served as the sixth Prime Minister of Portugal Juliana Carneiro da Cunha, Brazilian actress Keirrison de Souza Carneiro, Brazilian footballer Lucas Carneiro (born 2004), American football player Luís Carlos Pereira Carneiro, Portuguese footballer Marcos Carneiro de Mendonça, Brazilian footballer Mário de Sá-Carneiro, Portuguese poet and writer Melchior Carneiro, Portuguese Jesuit missionary bishop Newton Carneiro Affonso da Costa, Brazilian mathematician, logician, and philosopher Paulo Henrique Carneiro Filho, Brazilian footballer Pedro Carneiro, Portuguese musician Roan Carneiro, Brazilian mixed martial artist Robert L. Carneiro, American anthropologist and curator of the American Museum of Natural History Ruan Carneiro (born 1990), Brazilian footballer Samara Venceslau Carneiro (born 2006), Brazilian footballer Tiago Carneiro, Portuguese footballer Tiago Carneiro da Cunha, Brazilian artist