Find out how popular the last name Rigau is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Rigau.

Rigau, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Rigau surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Rigau in America

Rigau is the 147253rd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Rigau surname appeared 112 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Rigau.

The history of the last name Rigau

The surname RIGAU is believed to have originated from the Catalonia region of Spain. It is derived from the Catalan word "riu," meaning river, and is thought to have been initially used as a topographic name for someone living near a river or stream.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the RIGAU surname dates back to the late 13th century in the town of Ripoll, located in the Pyrenees mountains of Catalonia. The name appears in a historical document from 1287, which mentions a landowner named Pere Rigau.

During the medieval period, the RIGAU name can be found in various records and manuscripts throughout Catalonia and the surrounding regions. For example, in the 14th century, a nobleman named Bernat Rigau was listed as a signatory on a treaty between the Kingdom of Aragon and the County of Empúries.

In the 16th century, a notable figure named Joan Rigau was a respected painter and sculptor from the city of Girona. His works can still be seen in several churches and museums in the region.

Another prominent individual with the RIGAU surname was Miquel Rigau, a Catalan writer and philosopher who lived from 1615 to 1683. He was known for his works on ethics and moral philosophy, which were influential during the Baroque period.

In the 19th century, a businessman named Josep Rigau played a significant role in the development of the textile industry in Catalonia. He founded a successful textile factory in Barcelona, which employed hundreds of workers and contributed to the region's economic growth.

As the RIGAU surname spread beyond Catalonia, it can be found in various spellings and variations, such as Rigaud, Rigault, and Rigal, reflecting the linguistic and cultural influences of different regions.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Rigau

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Rigau.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Rigau was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

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

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

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