Vasco Fernandes Coutinho (1490–1561) was a Portuguese fidalgo and the first donatary of the Captaincy of Espírito Santo, a colonial territory in what is now Brazil.

In order to finance the crew and provisions needed to sail a single ship to Brazil, Coutinho sold everything he owned and took out loans.

[1] He was presented the area which became Espírito Santo and administered the colony for 25 years, despite being a military man by trade.

During his administration Espírito Santo's first two churches – São João and Rosário, both in Vila Velha – were founded in 1551.

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