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

Rigdon, 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 Rigdon surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Rigdon in America

Rigdon is the 6586th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Rigdon surname appeared 5,145 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 2 people would have the surname Rigdon.

We can also compare 2010 data for Rigdon to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name Rigdon

The surname Rigdon has its origins in England, where it can be traced back to the medieval period. It is believed to have derived from the Old English words "ricg" and "dun," which together mean "ridge hill." This suggests that the name may have initially referred to someone who lived on or near a prominent ridge or hilltop.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Rigdun." This entry refers to a place name, likely a village or hamlet, located in one of the counties surveyed during the great census commissioned by William the Conqueror.

In the 13th century, the name appeared in various forms, such as "Riggedun" and "Riggedon," reflecting the evolution of the English language and the variations in local dialects. During this time, many individuals began adopting surnames based on their place of origin or residence, which may have contributed to the widespread use of the Rigdon name.

One notable figure bearing this surname was Sir John Rigdon, a prominent landowner and military commander who lived during the reign of Edward III in the 14th century. He is recorded as having participated in several campaigns against the Scottish and French forces during the Hundred Years' War.

Another historical figure of note was William Rigdon, a merchant and alderman from the city of Bristol in the 16th century. He was known for his philanthropic efforts, having contributed to the construction of several churches and charitable institutions in the area.

In the 17th century, the Rigdon family had established a presence in various parts of England, with members recorded in counties such as Gloucestershire, Wiltshire, and Somerset. One significant individual from this period was Richard Rigdon, a Puritan minister who emigrated to the Massachusetts Bay Colony in the 1630s and played a role in the early development of the town of Watertown.

During the 18th and 19th centuries, the Rigdon name continued to spread across the English-speaking world, with individuals bearing this surname making their mark in various fields. For example, Sidney Rigdon, born in 1793, was a prominent figure in the early history of the Latter Day Saint movement, serving as a close associate of Joseph Smith and playing a key role in the Church's development.

Throughout its long history, the surname Rigdon has maintained its connection to its geographic roots, reflecting the influence of place names and the migration patterns of families across different regions.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Rigdon

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

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 Rigdon 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.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Rigdon has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

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 Rigdon was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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