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

Rodríguez, 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 Rodríguez surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Rodríguez in America

Rodríguez is the 93513th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Rodríguez surname appeared 196 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 Rodríguez.

The history of the last name Rodríguez

The surname RODRIGUEZM has its origins in the Iberian Peninsula, specifically in Spain and Portugal, during the Middle Ages. It is derived from the Germanic name "Roderick," which is composed of the elements "hrod" meaning "fame" and "ric" meaning "powerful." This name was later Hispanicized to "Rodrigo" and eventually evolved into the patronymic surname RODRIGUEZM.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname RODRIGUEZM can be found in the Codex Calixtinus, a 12th-century manuscript from the Santiago de Compostela Cathedral in Galicia, Spain. This document mentions a certain "Petrus Roderici," suggesting the use of the patronymic form of the name during that time.

The surname RODRIGUEZM gained prominence in the 13th century, when it was borne by several notable figures. One of them was Rodrigo Díaz de Vivar, better known as El Cid Campeador (c. 1043-1099), a Castilian nobleman and military leader renowned for his exploits during the Reconquista against the Moors.

Another historical figure was Rodrigo Jufré de Loaysa (c. 1235-1286), a Spanish nobleman and military leader who participated in the conquest of the Canary Islands and served as the first Lord of Lanzarote and Fuerteventura.

In the 15th century, the surname RODRIGUEZM was associated with the explorer and conquistador Rodrigo de Bastidas (c. 1460-1527), who led several expeditions along the Caribbean coast of Central and South America and is credited with being the first European to explore the Isthmus of Panama.

Another notable bearer of the surname was Rodrigo de Arévalo (c. 1468-1522), a Spanish scholar, historian, and clergyman who served as the Bishop of Calahorra and wrote several important works on theology and history.

During the 16th century, the RODRIGUEZM surname was carried by Rodrigo de Valdés (c. 1495-1582), a Spanish humanist, diplomat, and theologian who played a significant role in the Counter-Reformation and served as the Archbishop of Seville.

These are just a few examples of the many notable individuals who have borne the surname RODRIGUEZM throughout history, reflecting its deep roots in the Iberian Peninsula and its enduring legacy across various fields.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Rodríguez

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

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

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

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