Macanese (and their spouses and ancestors) have made numerous and varied contributions to their communities. There are two lists here of prominent people: (a) ancestors of Macanese who were nobles and (b) people who have been honoured by appointment to a National Order.

The lists are long and impressing: there are many nobles and over 100 members of the National Orders of Portugal and of 24 other countries. Many people have received multiple awards.

National Honours

Here we list Macanese (and their spouses and ancestors) who have received a National Honour by appointment to one or more National Orders at the level of Member of the British Empire or higher. (The list is incomplete: it has yet to include many military medals and Papal Honours.)

There are grades within each Order; for example, the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire has 5 grades. In Portugal's Order of Christ (and several other orders) the grades, in descending order of rank, are:

• Grand Cross
• Grand Officer
• Commander
• Officer
• Knight

Each country has its various Orders and medals listed in an order of precedence; for example, in the British system, a Commander of the Bath (CB) is higher than a Commander of the British Empire (CBE).

The following is the order of precedence for the ancient military Orders of Portugal:

• Ordem Militar da Torre e Espada, de Valor e Mérito
• Ordem Militar de Avis
• Ordem Militar de Cristo
• Ordem Militar de Sant'Iago da Espada