This study analyzed the anthroponymic transmission of eight noble families from the land of the captaincy of Pernambuco to understand how the reproduction of surnames contributed to the survival of these families and the perpetuation of their memory throughout the 16th and 18th centuries. This research provides information on 497 members of eight noble families, making it possible to analyze the origin and frequency of the surnames transmitted, focusing on the anthroponymic logic and its changes over the centuries. The information was obtained by cross-referencing sources of various natures, such as genealogies and manuscripts from different collections, such as the National Archive of Torre do Tombo (ANTT), the Overseas Historical Archive (AHU), among others. This research provides some clarifications about the practice of surname transmission in the colonial period of Brazil, and is therefore relevant for the analysis of family perpetuation strategies.