Find out how popular the first name Rodrigues has been for the last 26 years (from 1975 to 2000) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Popularity of Rodrigues by gender

Based on the last 26 years of data, Rodrigues is exclusively a male name.

For the most recent data in 2000, there were 6 male babies and 0 female babies born with the name Rodrigues.

The history of the first name Rodrigues

The name Rodrigues has its origins in the Iberian Peninsula, specifically in the Galician-Portuguese and Spanish languages. It is derived from the Germanic name Roderick, which comes from the elements "hrod" meaning "fame" and "ric" meaning "power" or "ruler." The name Rodrigues is a patronymic form, indicating "son of Rodrigo."

The earliest known reference to the name Rodrigues dates back to the 8th century, during the Muslim conquest of the Iberian Peninsula. One of the last Visigothic kings of Spain was named Rodrigo, who ruled from 710 to 711 CE. His defeat at the hands of the Moors marked the end of Visigothic rule in the region.

In the 12th century, the name Rodrigues appeared in the famous Portuguese epic poem "Os Lusíadas" by Luís de Camões. The poem mentions Rodrigues de Bivar, better known as El Cid, a Castilian nobleman and military leader who played a significant role in the Reconquista (the Christian reconquest of the Iberian Peninsula from Muslim rule).

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the name Rodrigues was João Rodrigues Cabrilho, a Portuguese explorer who sailed for the Spanish Crown in the 16th century. Cabrilho is credited with the first exploration of the coast of present-day California in 1542-1543.

Another notable figure in history with the name Rodrigues was Gonçalo Rodrigues, a 15th-century Portuguese navigator and explorer. He is known for his exploration of the Cape Verde Islands and the African coast in the service of Prince Henry the Navigator.

In the field of literature, João Rodrigues de Sá e Meneses, a 17th-century Portuguese poet and playwright, is renowned for his works in the baroque style. His plays and poetry were influential in the development of Portuguese literature during the Golden Age.

Rodrigues has also been a prominent name in the world of sports. One example is Hélio Rodrigues, a Brazilian Formula One racing driver who competed in the 1970s and 1980s. He participated in 35 Grand Prix races and achieved his best result with a third-place finish at the 1978 Austrian Grand Prix.

Data source

The first name data used on this page comes from the Social Security Administration (SSA). They've been collecting data on baby names since 1880.

The history and meaning of the name Rodrigues was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Rodrigues, please contact us.

Reference this page

We spend a lot of resources downloading, cleaning, merging, and formatting the data that is shown on the site.

If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!