Favela Family History

Hispanic (Mexico): possibly from the old personal name Fafila of ancient Germanic (Visigothic) origin but of unexplained etymology. The name was borne by a medieval king of Asturias (8th century).

Alternatively, a topographic name from a derivative of Spanish faba, a regional form of haba ‘broad bean’ (compare Brazilian Portuguese topographic term favela ‘slum shantytown’, a word which originally meant ‘bean patch; plot of land’).

Compare Fabela, Fabila, and Favila.