Origin of the surname Rodrigues

This is an ancient and noble surname recorded in many forms. These include Roderick (English), Rodiger (German), Rodriguez (Spanish), and Rodrigues (Portugese), as examples of popular surnames. There are apparently two quite separate origins, although with curious similarities which suggest a possible common source in pre-history. The first is from the ancient Gaelic-Breton compound "Rhyd-derch" which translates as "famous chief", a meaning which no doubt contributed to its early popularity. In the Middle Ages a secondary meaning was "the red haired one", although this in itself may also have harked back to the original meaning.

The second origin is Germanic, from the pre 5th century, when German tribes, particularly the Vizigoths sweptd down into Spain and Portugal. They left behind many examples of their names, of which this is one of the most popular. The derivation is from 'hrod' meaning renown and 'ric' - power, a not dissimilar translation to the Gaelic.The name was at first baptismal and pagan, although at later times after the 7th century it became closely associated with the early Christians. The first authenticated recording is believed to be that of Rhodri Mawr, or Roderic the Great, King of Wales, who died in 877 a.d., however this was not a surname. Early examples of these taken from church and civil registers include Christobal Rodriguez de Leon in 1536, and Juan Rodriguez de Santos, in 1662, at Valladolid, Spain. The coat of arms has the bl;azon of quarterly, red and gold, in one and four an eagle displayed in gold, in two and three, three fleur de lis in blue. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Heinrich Rodigerus, which was dated 1260, in the charters of the city of Lubeck, Germany, during the reign of Emperor Alonso X of the German Empire, 1257 - 1273. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was known as Poll Tax. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.

The surname Rodrigues. Genealogy, origin, history, meaning, and significance

Research into the possible origins of rodrigues leads us to learn more about those who bear this surname. The origin, the coat of arms or the different heraldic shields, and the bibliography in which the surname rodrigues is mentioned are part of this exciting investigation.

The surname Rodrigues around the world

There is a considerable probability that rodrigues has crossed the borders of its place of origin to establish itself, to a greater or lesser extent, in other parts of the world. With all the information we have today, it can be said that the countries where rodrigues is most abundant are the following. The list of countries with a higher presence of people with the surname rodrigues provides us with a perspective on the history of the surname, beyond its origins, focusing on its migrations.

History of Rodrigues

The deeds, the way of life, the places they lived, the family relationships they had, the jobs they held by those who were the first to be named rodrigues are found in every look back in the history of this lineage. For those like you, who are interested in the history hidden behind the surname rodrigues, it is essential to find all kinds of information, both direct and tangential, that helps to construct a solid narrative of how the birth and expansion of rodrigues developed.

It is common for genealogy and surname enthusiasts to provide us with information of special value, so the data we offer about the origins of rodrigues could be modified. We keep our website updated through our own research and also thanks to contributions from people like you, after verification; so if you have information about rodrigues and send it to us, we will update it on this website.

Notable Figures Named Rodrigues

We assume that there have been significant contributions to humanity made by individuals with the surname rodrigues, even though not all have been documented to our present day. Sadly, not all the contributions of those who bore the surname rodrigues were recorded by the chroniclers of the time.

The surname Rodrigues and its bibliographic sources

The bibliography collects information related to the surname rodrigues, which allows us to learn more about its meaning. The origin, history, coat of arms or different coats of arms, and the heraldry of rodrigues are recorded in a wide variety of sources and documents that are essential to know for better compilation.

SOURCES

These sources are essential for initiating the understanding of rodrigues, and at the same time, of surnames in general.

Origin of Rodrigues