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

Rizo, 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 Rizo surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Rizo in America

Rizo is the 5547th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Rizo surname appeared 6,266 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 Rizo.

We can also compare 2010 data for Rizo 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 Rizo

The surname Rizo is believed to have originated in Spain, with its roots tracing back to the medieval period. It is derived from the Spanish word "rizo," which means "curly" or "curled." This suggests that the name may have initially been a descriptive nickname given to someone with curly hair.

One of the earliest known references to the surname Rizo can be found in the historical records of Castile, a region in central Spain, dating back to the 13th century. These records mention individuals bearing the name Rizo, suggesting that the surname had already established itself in certain parts of the Iberian Peninsula by that time.

In the 15th century, during the height of the Spanish Empire, the Rizo surname began to spread across various territories under Spanish control. Historical records from this era show the presence of Rizo families in regions such as the Canary Islands, the Caribbean, and parts of South America.

One notable individual with the surname Rizo was Juan Rizo, a Spanish explorer and navigator who participated in the conquest of Mexico alongside Hernán Cortés in the early 16th century. Juan Rizo played a significant role in the exploration and settlement of the Gulf of Mexico region.

Another prominent figure was Pedro Rizo, a Spanish military officer and governor who served in the Spanish colonies in the Americas during the late 16th century. He was appointed as the governor of Cartagena de Indias, a strategically important port city in modern-day Colombia, and held this position from 1597 to 1600.

In the 17th century, the Rizo surname gained further recognition with the birth of Juan Bautista Rizo y Guzmán (1612-1688), a Spanish poet and playwright from Seville. His literary works, including plays and poetry collections, were highly regarded during his lifetime and contributed to the cultural heritage of the Golden Age of Spanish literature.

Another prominent individual with the Rizo surname was Antonio Rizo y López (1790-1868), a Spanish military officer and politician who played a significant role in the Carlist Wars of the 19th century. He served as a general in the Carlist forces and was instrumental in several military campaigns during the conflicts.

In more recent times, the Rizo surname has continued to be present in various parts of the world, particularly in Spain, Latin America, and regions with significant Spanish influence. However, as mentioned earlier, this detailed report focuses on the historical origins and notable figures associated with the surname Rizo, rather than modern census data or recent records.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Rizo

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

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

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

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