Show ContentsRodrígues History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Etymology of Rodrígues

What does the name Rodrígues mean?

The prestigious surname Rodrígues 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. Rodrígues is derived from the Germanic personal name "Hrodric," which is composed of the elements "hrod," meaning "renown," and "ric," meaning "power." Thus, the name Rodrígues combines this personal name with the patronymic suffix "-ez," and refers to "a famous ruler."

Early Origins of the Rodrígues family

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

Early History of the Rodrígues family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Rodrígues 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 Rodrígues History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Rodrígues 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 Rodrígues 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 Rodrígues Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Rodrígues Ranking

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


Rodrígues migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Rodrígues Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Emanuel Rodrigues, aged 30, who landed in New Jersey in 1776 3
Rodrígues 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.)

Rodrígues 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
Rodrígues Settlers in West Indies in the 18th Century
  • Moses Rodrigues, who arrived in Jamaica in 1740 3

Contemporary Notables of the name Rodrígues (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
  • José Adílson Rodrigues dos Santos (1958-2024), Brazilian professional boxer
  • António Rodrigues Sampaio (1806-1882), Portuguese politician and the President of the Council of Ministers (1881)
  • Rebeca Rodrigues de Andrade (b. 1999), Brazilian artistic gymnast, who competed at the 2020 and 2024 Summer Olympics
  • Francisco Rodrigues da Cruz SJ (1859-1948), more commonly known as Father Cruz, a Portuguese Catholic priest, some called him "Blessed Father Cruz" and "Apostle of Charity"
  • Washington Carlos Nunes Rodrigues (1936-2024), also known as Apolinho, a Brazilian radio football color commentator, best known for his work with Super Rádio Tupi
  • Rui de Gouveia Pinto Rodrigues (1943-2024), Portuguese football player
  • ... (Another 13 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)


  1. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  2. http://www.journaldesfemmes.com/nom-de-famille/nom/
  3. 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)
  4. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_West_Indies
  5. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, November 5) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html


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