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Rodríguez is one of the most popular Spanish surnames in the world. Its origin dates back to the Middle Ages and means “son of Rodrigo”. Currently, it is the third most common surname in Spain. In addition, many people with the last name Rodríguez live in the United States and Latin America.
Meaning
The surname Rodríguez comes from the name Rodrigo. This, in turn, derives from the Latin version, from the Germanic name Roderici or Hruotricks. The meaning of him is “glorious”, “rich in glory”, “mighty because of his fame”. Rodríguez, therefore, is made up of the name Rodrigo plus the patronymic ” ez “, which means “son of” or “descendant of”.
Origin of the surname Rodriguez
It is believed that the surname Rodríguez arose around the 11th century, in the Kingdom of Castile, which is currently part of Spain. However, there are different versions regarding its specific origin. One version indicates that it could be a translation of the Basque surname Rodriguena, from other similar variants such as: Rodrigitz, Rodrigoena and Rodriguarena.
Another version suggests that it is possible that the surname was changed when the Kingdom of Navarre joined the Kingdom of Castile. At that time, Queen Isabel La Católica changed several surnames of Navarrese origin to more Spanishized versions.
According to different historians, there is evidence of the use of the surname Rodríguez in families of the Spanish nobility in the mid-15th century.
Fun facts
- The surname Rodríguez makes the number sixty of the most common surnames in the world.
- It is the most common first surname in Colombia, Cuba, Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic and Uruguay.
- In Argentina, Puerto Rico and Panama it is in the 3rd place of most popular surnames.
- It is the third most common surname in Spain.
- It is the most popular surname in the Spanish provinces of Orense, Huelva, Pontevedra and Las Palmas.
- In the United States, it is the ninth most common surname, preceded by another Spanish surname, Garcia.
- It can be found written in different ways. For example: Rodrigue, Roderick, Rhodriquez, Rodiger, or Rodrigues.
Celebrities with the last name Rodriguez
There are numerous famous people who carry the last name Rodríguez, both in the scientific world and in sports, arts and entertainment. Some of the best-known celebrities with the last name Rodríguez are:
- Michelle Rodríguez: American actress, famous for her performance in the Fast & Furious and Girlfight saga films.
- James Rodríguez: Colombian soccer player who excelled in the Spanish team Real Madrid, among others.
- Maxi Rodríguez: Argentine soccer player who played for the Atlético de Madrid team, among others.
- Alex Rodríguez: former American baseball player and boyfriend of singer Jennifer López.
- Luis J. Rodríguez: American poet and writer, author of Borrowed Bones: New Poems from the Poet Laureate of Los Angeles and América is her name .
- Georgina Rodríguez: Spanish model and celebrity and girlfriend of soccer player Cristiano Ronaldo.
- Sixto Rodríguez: Mexican-American singer-songwriter, known for his songs Inner City Blues and Sugar Man.
Genealogy and resources
Nowadays, there are numerous tools for those who want to know more about their roots, whether it is to complete a family tree or discover who their ancestors were. In the case of the surname Rodríguez, the following resources are available:
- Rodríguez Genealogy Forum – A platform where people with the last name Rodríguez can contact others with the same last name or ask questions.
- DNA Project : a database where genetic information of people with the last name Rodríguez is found, in order to identify and discover common ancestors.
- Websites like FamilySearch or Distantcousin are other alternatives to learn more about other people with the last name Rodriguez.
