Rodrigues History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
France
Spain

The prestigious surname Rodrigues originated in Spain, a country which has figured prominently in world affairs for hundreds of years. The name is patronymic in origin, deriving from the name of the father of the initial bearer, and its roots can be traced back to the Visigoths, the Germanic tribe who ruled Spain between the mid-5th and early 8th centuries. Rodrigues is derived from the Germanic personal name "Hrodric," which is composed of the elements "hrod," meaning "renown," and "ric," meaning "power." Thus, the name Rodrigues combines this personal name with the patronymic suffix "-ez," and refers to "a famous ruler."

Early Origins of the Rodrigues family

The surname Rodrigues was first found in Castile, where the name originated in Visigothic times.

Early History of the Rodrigues family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Rodrigues research. Another 151 words (11 lines of text) covering the years 1194, 1199, 1228, 1300, 1380, 1410, 1440 and 1581 are included under the topic Early Rodrigues History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Rodrigues Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Rodríguez, Rodriguez, Rhodriquez, Rhodriguez, Rodriz, Rodríguiz, Rodriguiz, Rodrigo, Roderiz, Ruderiz, Roiz and many more.

Early Notables of the Rodrigues family

Prominent among members of the family were Pedro Ruiz de Guzmán, majordomo of King Alfonso IX in 1194; Gonzalo Ruiz, who took over the same post in 1199; Rodrigo Rodríguez, Count of Castile in 1228; Gonzalo Ruiz de Cieza, a fourteenth century nobleman; Gonzalo Ruiz de Toledo, Count of Orgaz and Chancellor of Castile in the early 1300s; Juan Ruiz, Archpriest of Hita and author of the medieval Spanish masterpiece, "Libro de buen amor"; Gonzalo Rodríguez, poet and...
Another 78 words (6 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Rodrigues Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Rodrigues Ranking

In the United States, the name Rodrigues is the 1,389^th most popular surname with an estimated 22,383 people with that name. 1 However, in France, the name Rodrigues is ranked the 189^th most popular surname with an estimated 17,475 people with that name. 2

Rodrigues migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Rodrigues Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Emanuel Rodrigues, aged 30, who landed in New Jersey in 1776 3

Rodrigues Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Josefa Rodrigues, aged 50, who arrived in New Orleans, La in 1826 3
Charles Rodrigues, aged 33, who landed in New Orleans, La in 1827 3
Domingo Rodrigues, aged 50, who landed in New Orleans, La in 1829 3
Jose Rodrigues, aged 30, who landed in New Orleans, La in 1829 3
Vaxcisco Rodrigues, aged 21, who landed in New Orleans, La in 1829 3
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Rodrigues migration to West Indies +

The British first settled the British West Indies around 1604. They made many attempts but failed in some to establish settlements on the Islands including Saint Lucia and Grenada. By 1627 they had managed to establish settlements on St. Kitts (St. Christopher) and Barbados, but by 1641 the Spanish had moved in and destroyed some of these including those at Providence Island. The British continued to expand the settlements including setting the First Federation in the British West Indies by 1674; some of the islands include Barbados, Bermuda, Cayman Island, Turks and Caicos, Jamaica and Belize then known as British Honduras. By the 1960's many of the islands became independent after the West Indies Federation which existed from 1958 to 1962 failed due to internal political conflicts. After this a number of Eastern Caribbean islands formed a free association. 4

Rodrigues Settlers in West Indies in the 18th Century

Moses Rodrigues, who arrived in Jamaica in 1740 3

Contemporary Notables of the name Rodrigues (post 1700) +

Nancy Rodrigues, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Virginia, 1996 5
Michael J. Rodrigues, American Democratic Party politician, Elected Massachusetts State House of Representatives Eighth Bristol District 2002 5
J. J. Rodrigues, American Democratic Party politician, Alternate Delegate to Democratic National Convention from California, 1960 5
Annette T. Rodrigues, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from California, 2008 5
Rui de Gouveia Pinto Rodrigues (1943-2024), Portuguese football player
Sylvia Gonçalves Rodrigues Leite (1929-2023), known professionally as Lolita Rodrigues, a Brazilian actress, singer, radio personality and television presenter
Christina Rodrigues (1973-2020), Brazilian actress and humorist who died from CIVID-19
Arquimínio Rodrigues da Costa (1924-2016), Portuguese prelate, Bishop of Macau (1976–1988)
Hermes Rodrigues da Fonseca (1855-1923), Brazilian soldier and politician
Dom Diego "Roiz" Rodrigues (1500-1577), Portuguese explorer of the Indian Ocean
... (Another 8 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Citations +

"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
http://www.journaldesfemmes.com/nom-de-famille/nom/
Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_West_Indies
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, November 5) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html