Maria Ana was born at Schloss Fischhorn in Zell am See, Austria-Hungary (now in Austria), the fourth daughter of the Miguelist pretender to the Portuguese throne Miguel Januário, Duke of Braganza and his second wife Princess Maria Theresa of Löwenstein. Maria Ana's father was the head of the non reigning branch of the Portuguese Royal House that had been exiled from Portugal. The exile was the result of the Portuguese law of banishment of 1834 and the constitution of 1838 which was brought about because his grandfather Miguel I of Portugal had in 1828 usurped the throne of Portugal from Queen Maria II. Her grandfather reigned as king until 1834 when Maria II was restored. Those Portuguese who recognised Maria Ana's father as rightful king of Portugal acknowledged Maria Ana as an Infanta of Portugal.
* also an infanta of Spain and an archduchess of Austria,** also an imperial princess of Brazil,*** also a princess of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, Duchess in Saxony,◙ Also a princess of Braganza,ƒ title of pretense
