First found in Brittany.

France finally gave land incentives for 2,000 migrants during the 1700s. Early marriage was encouraged in New France, and youths of 18 took fourteen-year-old girls for their wives. The fur trade was developed and attracted migrants, both noble and commoner from France. 15,000 explorers left Montreal in the late 17th and 18th centuries, leaving French names scattered across the continent. The search for the Northwest passage continued. Migration from France to New France or Quebec, as it was now more popularly called, continued until 1759. By 1675, there were 7000 French in Quebec. By the same year the Acadian presence in Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island had reached 500. In the treaty of Utrecht, the Acadians were ceded by France to Britain in 1713. In 1755, 10,000 French Acadians refused to take an oath of allegiance to England and were deported. They found refuge in Louisiana. Meanwhile, in Quebec, the French race flourished, founding in Lower Canada, one of the two great solitudes which became Canada. Many of this distinguished family name Rodriguez were prominent in social, cultural, religious and political affairs in France and New France. Amongst the settlers in North America with this distinguished name Rodriguez were 160 individuals who arrived from France onto Canadian shores between 1600 and 1900. Most came during the nineteenth century, but some immigrated earlier, such as Jean Rodrigue, who married in Quebec in 1671.

For more information on the last name Rodriguez, the PDF Surname History is available for purchase as well as other products.