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

Rodrigues, 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 Rodrigues surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Rodrigues in America

Rodrigues is the 115639th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Rodrigues surname appeared 151 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 Rodrigues.

The history of the last name Rodrigues

The surname Rodregues is of Portuguese origin, derived from the given name Rodrigo, which itself is derived from the Germanic name Roderick, meaning "famous power." The name Rodregues emerged in the 12th century in the northern regions of Portugal.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Rodregues can be found in the medieval Portuguese charters, where it appears as "Rodericus" or "Roderico." These documents, dating back to the 13th century, often mention individuals with the surname Rodregues, indicating its widespread use among the Portuguese nobility and commoners alike.

During the Age of Discovery in the 15th and 16th centuries, many Portuguese explorers and navigators bore the surname Rodregues. One notable figure was João Rodrigues Cabrilho, a Portuguese explorer who is credited with the discovery of California in 1542. Another prominent individual was Simão Rodrigues, a Portuguese Jesuit priest and co-founder of the Society of Jesus, who lived from 1510 to 1579.

The Rodregues surname is also associated with various place names in Portugal, such as Rodrigues de Cima and Rodrigues de Baixo, villages located in the northern region of the country. These place names likely originated from individuals with the surname Rodregues who settled in or owned land in those areas.

As the Portuguese Empire expanded, the surname Rodregues spread to various parts of the world, including Brazil, Africa, and Asia. One famous bearer of the name was Nuno Rodrigues, a Portuguese explorer and navigator who accompanied Vasco da Gama on his historic voyage to India in 1497-1499.

Another notable figure was José Rodrigues Miguéis, a Portuguese novelist and poet who lived from 1901 to 1980 and is considered one of the most influential writers of the 20th century in Portugal. His works, such as "A Escola do Paraíso" (The School of Paradise), explored themes of exile and the Portuguese diaspora.

Throughout history, the surname Rodregues has been associated with individuals from various walks of life, including explorers, clergymen, writers, and artists. Its enduring presence in Portugal and other Portuguese-speaking regions reflects the rich cultural heritage and global reach of the Portuguese people.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Rodrigues

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

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 Rodrigues 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 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.

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