Corte-Real family

Corte-Real Côrte-Real, Corte Real
Armorial of Marquis of Castelo Rodrigo; (quarterly: Moura & Corte-Real "Gules, six ribs argent; chief Saint George's cross")
Country	Azores, Portugal
Estates	Santa Catarina Palace
Titles	Marquis of Castelo Rodrigo Marquis of Vagos Count of Aveiras Count of Subserra Count of Lumiares Count of Fijó Viscount of Bucelas Viscount of Fijó Baron of Ponte da Quarteira Majorat of Eça Majorat of Vale de Palma Majorat of Silves Lord of Mira
Founded	14th century
Founder	Vasco Anes da Costa Corte-Real
Ethnicity	Portuguese

The Corte-Real (also Côrte-Real and Corte Real) are a Portuguese family of noble origins in the 14th century. The family is famous for its involvement in the Portuguese discoveries during the Age of Exploration, in the 16th century. During this time, João Vaz Corte-Real and his sons Gaspar Corte-Real and Miguel Corte-Real, notably participated in exploratory voyages to Newfoundland, in Canada.

For their discoveries in service of the Portuguese Crown, the family was given the islands of Terceira and São Jorge, in the Azores, and charged with their development and colonization. The family integrated itself well into the Portuguese nobility in the 17th century through a series of successful marriages and acquisition of several titles, notably Marquis of Castelo Rodrigo.

The origins of the Corte-Real family lie in the 14th century, when Vasco Anes da Costa, a Portuguese knight, was honoured by the House of Aviz, when King John I of Portugal granted him the use of the designation Corte-Real (Portuguese for Royal Court) for his descendants. From him and his brother, Gil Vaz da Costa, the first members of the Corte-Real family descend.

João Vaz Corte-Real (c. 1420-1496) was Vasco Anes da Costa's first son and the first user of the surname Corte-Real. He, alongside his two of his four sons (Miguel and Gaspar), participated in various exploratory voyages sponsored jointly by the Portuguese and Danish Crowns. These voyages are said to have been some of the first to reach Newfoundland and possibly other parts of northeastern Canada. For the family's service to the crown, João Vaz was made Captain-Donatário (proprietor and governor) of the islands of Terceira and São Jorge, in the Azores.