Rodriguez History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

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

Early Origins of the Rodriguez family

The surname Rodriguez was first found in Castile, where the name originated in Visigothictimes.

Early History of the Rodriguez family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Rodriguez research.

Rodriguez 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 Rodriguez family (pre 1700)

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.

Rodriguez World Ranking

In the United States, the name Rodriguez is the 22^nd most popular surname with an estimated 569,523 people with that name. [1] However, in Canada, the name Rodriguez is ranked the 798^th most popular surname with an estimated 6,731 people with that name. [2] And in Quebec, Canada, the name Rodriguez is the 575^th popular surname. [3] France ranks Rodriguez as 102^nd with 28,759 people. [4] South America ranks Rodriguez as 2^nd with 483 people. [5]

 Rodriguez migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were: 

Rodriguez Settlers in United States in the 16th Century

• Juan Rodríguez Serrano voyaged with Magellan as far as the Philippines, and commanded the fleet after Magellan’s death in 1521
• Vicente Rodríguez, who immigrated to Peru in 1560
• Beatriz Rodríguez, settled in Puerto Rico in 1560
• Sebastian Rodríguez, settled in Colombia in 1561
• Pedro Rodríguez, who landed in Florida in 1563

Rodriguez Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

• Cipriano Rodriguez, who landed in Puerto Rico in 1802 [6]
• Cristobal Rodriguez, who arrived in America in 1812 [6]
• Catalina Rodriguez, who arrived in America in 1817 [6]
• Fernando Rodriguez, who landed in America in 1817 [6]
• Alexandro Rodriguez, aged 32, who landed in New Orleans, La in 1825 [6]

Rodriguez Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

• Celestino Rodriguez, who arrived in Alabama in 1919 [6]

 Rodriguez migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were: 

Rodriguez Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century

• Pierre Rodriguez married in Deschambault, Quebec in 1749

 Rodriguez 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. [7]

Rodriguez Settlers in West Indies in the 16th Century

• Juan Rodríguez, who landed in Cuba in 1563

Rodriguez Settlers in West Indies in the 19th Century

• Aparicio Rodriguez, who landed in Dominican Republic in 1836 [6]

Contemporary Notables of the name Rodriguez (post 1700) +

• Juan Antonio “Chi Chi” Rodriguez (b. 1935), Puerto Rican professional golfer, the first Puerto Rican to be inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame; during his career he had 37 professional wins
• Sixto Diaz Rodriguez (1942-2023), known professionally as Rodriguez, an American singer-songwriter from Detroit, Michigan; his music was extremely successful and influential in South Africa, where he is believed to have sold more records than Elvis Presley
• Michaela Antonia Jaé “MJ” Rodriguez (b. 1991), American Gold Globe Award winning and Emmy Award nominated actress and singer, born in Newark, New Jersey
• Gloria Rodríguez (1970-2022), better known by her stage name Hurricane G, an American rapper of Puerto Rican descent
• Diane Rodriguez (1951-2020), American OBIE Award winning theatre artist who directed, wrote and performed
• David Rodriguez (1952-2015), American folk music singer-songwriter, performer and poet
• Manuel Gómez Rodríguez Gómez (1928-2006), American neurologist
• Robert Anthony Rodriguez (b. 1968), American film director, screenwriter, producer, cinematographer, editor and musician
• Master Sergeant Cleto Rodriguez (1923-1990), American soldier awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor in 1945
• Dr. Juan G Rodríguez, American entomologist