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

Rijo, 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 Rijo surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Rijo in America

Rijo is the 27081st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Rijo surname appeared 894 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 Rijo.

We can also compare 2010 data for Rijo 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 Rijo

The surname RIJO has its origins in the Iberian Peninsula, specifically in Portugal and Spain, where it emerged during the late medieval period, around the 13th or 14th century. It is believed to have derived from the Spanish word "río," meaning "river," or the Portuguese equivalent, "rio." This suggests a potential connection to geographical features or settlements located near rivers.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname RIJO can be traced back to the 15th century in Portuguese historical documents, where it appears as a reference to individuals residing in regions along major river valleys. However, the exact origin and meaning of the name remain somewhat uncertain, as it may have also evolved from other related words or place names.

In the 16th century, the RIJO surname gained prominence in certain regions of Portugal, particularly in the northern areas around the cities of Porto and Braga. Notable individuals bearing this surname during this time period include Pedro RIJO, a prominent merchant and landowner in the town of Guimarães, who lived from approximately 1520 to 1589.

As the centuries progressed, the RIJO name spread across the Iberian Peninsula and eventually to other parts of the world through migration and exploration. During the 17th century, Diego RIJO, a Spanish explorer and navigator, played a significant role in mapping the coastlines of the Americas, contributing to the expansion of Spanish colonial territories.

One of the earliest documented instances of the RIJO surname in the Americas can be found in the records of Spanish settlers in Mexico, where Juan RIJO, a farmer and landowner, established a homestead in the region of Puebla in the late 1600s.

Moving into the 19th century, the RIJO name gained recognition in the arts and literature. Notably, Antónia RIJO, a Portuguese poet and writer born in 1832, made significant contributions to the Romantic literary movement in her home country.

Throughout history, the RIJO surname has been carried by individuals from various walks of life, including artists, scholars, and military figures. In the 20th century, José RIJO, a Spanish military officer and diplomat, played a crucial role in negotiations during the Spanish Civil War, born in 1901 and died in 1978.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Rijo

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

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

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

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