The Azores

What does the name Azores mean? Does it come from the bird called açor?

Answer updated 18 October 2026Independent guide
Short answer

The name Azores likely comes from the Portuguese word 'açor', meaning goshawk, a bird of prey. Early explorers may have mistaken local buzzards for goshawks when naming the islands. However, there is no evidence that goshawks ever lived there. The exact origin remains debated among historians.

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