NameCensus.

UK surname

Rodrigues

A patronymic surname of Spanish and Portuguese origin, meaning "son of Rodrigo" or "son of Rui."

In the 1881 census there were 45 people recorded with the Rodrigues surname, ranking it #27,314 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 5,157, ranked #1,314, up from #27,314 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Swindon, Brent and Ealing.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Rodrigues is 5,157 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 11360.0%.

1881 census count

45

Ranked #27,314

Modern count

5,157

2016, ranked #1,314

Peak year

2016

5,157 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • Rodrigues had 45 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #27,314 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 5,157 in 2016, ranked #1,314.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 73 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established Multi-Ethnic Communities.

Rodrigues surname distribution map

The map shows where the Rodrigues surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.

Distribution map

Rodrigues surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Rodrigues over time

The table below tracks recorded surname counts and rank from the 19th-century census years through the modern adult-register period.

Year Period Count Rank
1851 historical 40 #26,118
1861 historical 27 #30,543
1881 historical 45 #27,314
1891 historical 53 #29,946
1901 historical 43 #29,380
1911 historical 73 #25,541
1997 modern 1,697 #3,518
1998 modern 1,863 #3,357
1999 modern 1,987 #3,190
2000 modern 2,121 #3,014
2001 modern 2,090 #2,995
2002 modern 2,267 #2,851
2003 modern 2,341 #2,714
2004 modern 2,596 #2,490
2005 modern 2,804 #2,317
2006 modern 3,108 #2,083
2007 modern 3,333 #1,983
2008 modern 3,557 #1,864
2009 modern 3,792 #1,793
2010 modern 4,060 #1,708
2011 modern 4,070 #1,683
2012 modern 4,410 #1,525
2013 modern 4,696 #1,462
2014 modern 4,915 #1,399
2015 modern 4,976 #1,363
2016 modern 5,157 #1,314

Geography

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Where Rodrigues' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around No data. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Swindon, Brent, Ealing and Hounslow. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Some modern areas include a three-digit suffix, such as Leeds 110. The suffix is a small-area code, so it stays in the table while the prose uses the plain place name.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 No data No data

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Swindon 015 Swindon
2 Brent 020 Brent
3 Ealing 037 Ealing
4 Hounslow 017 Hounslow
5 Swindon 017 Swindon

Forenames

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First names often paired with Rodrigues

These lists show first names that appear often with the Rodrigues surname in historical and recent records.

Historical female names

No Forenames Found

Historical male names

No Forenames Found

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Rodrigues

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Rodrigues, this points to the kinds of places where the surname is most concentrated today.

These neighbourhood labels describe areas, not individual people. They are useful because surnames often cluster through family history, migration, housing patterns and local work. A surname can be strongest in one type of neighbourhood even when people with that name live across the country.

The UK classification gives the national picture. The London classification is more specific to the capital, where housing, age profile, tenure and population mix can look quite different from the rest of the UK.

UK neighbourhood type

UK Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities

Group

Established Multi-Ethnic Communities

Nationally, the Rodrigues surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established Multi-Ethnic Communities, within Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities. This does not mean every Rodrigues household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Parents and young children in this Group are drawn from diverse ethnic backgrounds in broadly similar proportions. Employment is typically in elementary occupations, though workers in professional, intermediate or skilled trades occupations are also present. The residential landscape is dominated by terraced housing, although semi-detached houses and flats are also present. This Group is found in London and in many provincial towns and cities throughout the U.K.

Wider pattern

Young adults, many of whom are students, predominate in these high-density and overcrowded neighbourhoods of rented terrace houses or flats. Most ethnic minorities are present in these communities, as are people born in European countries that are not part of the EU. Students aside, low skilled occupations predominate, and unemployment rates are above average. Overall, the mix of students and more sedentary households means that neighbourhood average numbers of children are not very high. The Mixed or Multiple ethnic group composition of neighbourhoods is often associated with low rates of affiliation to Christian religions. This Supergroup predominates in non-central urban locations the UK, particularly within England in the Midlands and the outskirts of west, south and north-east London.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Suburban Asian Communities

Group

Settled Semi-Detached Asians

Within London, Rodrigues is most associated with areas classed as Settled Semi-Detached Asians, part of Suburban Asian Communities. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These residents share Supergroup characteristics of large (non-Chinese) Asian populations but those identifying as Bangladeshi are notably absent. Many residents were born in the UK, while other more recent migrants have African birthplaces. Semi-detached housing, much of it owner occupied, prevails in these suburban residential locations.

Wider London pattern

Many residents of these neighbourhoods are of (non-Chinese) Asian descent, with many identifying as Indian, Pakistani or Bangladeshi. Neighbourhoods are located across large areas of suburban west, north-east and south London. Detached, semi-detached and terraced houses are more prevalent than flats and socially rented housing is uncommon. Few residents live in communal establishments. Many families have dependent children, sometimes in overcrowded accommodation, and few households are ethnically mixed. Marriage rates are above the London average. The even age distribution, relative absence of individuals living alone and frequent incidence of households with children suggests that multi-generation households may be relatively common. Employment is often in skilled trades, elementary, sales and customer service occupations, and roles as process, plant, and machine operatives. Manufacturing and construction are well represented, along with employment in distribution, hotels, and restaurants. Many adults have only level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. English is not used at home by some residents. Religious affiliation is above average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Rodrigues is most concentrated in decile 10 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier end of the index.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Rodrigues falls in decile 3 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

3
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Rodrigues is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - Other

This describes the area pattern most associated with Rodrigues, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Rodrigues

The surname RODRIGUES is of Portuguese origin, derived from the personal name Rodrigo, which itself is derived from the Germanic name Roderick, meaning "famous power" or "famous ruler." The name can be traced back to the Middle Ages in Portugal and Spain.

The earliest recorded instances of the surname RODRIGUES date back to the 13th century in medieval Portugal. It is believed to have originated from the northwestern region of Portugal, particularly in the provinces of Minho and Douro Litoral, where many bearers of the name can be found in historical records.

In the 14th century, there are records of a nobleman named João Rodrigues, who served as a royal advisor and diplomat during the reign of King Afonso IV of Portugal (1325-1357). Another notable figure from this period was Pedro Rodrigues, a scholar and clergyman who wrote extensively on Portuguese history and geography.

During the Age of Discovery in the 15th and 16th centuries, several individuals with the surname RODRIGUES played significant roles in the Portuguese explorations and conquests. One such individual was João Rodrigues Cabrilho, a Portuguese explorer who is credited with the first European exploration of the West Coast of North America in 1542-1543.

Another prominent figure was Simão Rodrigues, a Portuguese priest and one of the founding members of the Society of Jesus (Jesuits) alongside St. Ignatius of Loyola. He was born in 1510 and played a crucial role in the early expansion of the Jesuit order.

In the realm of literature, Sóror Violante do Céu (1602-1693), a Portuguese nun and writer, is considered one of the most important figures of the Portuguese Baroque period. Her surname RODRIGUES was derived from her father's name.

During the colonial era, the surname RODRIGUES spread to various parts of the Portuguese Empire, including Brazil, Africa, and Asia. In Brazil, for example, there are numerous records of individuals with the surname RODRIGUES, including José Honório Rodrigues (1913-1987), a renowned Brazilian historian and scholar.

Throughout history, the surname RODRIGUES has been associated with various professionals, including scientists, artists, politicians, and military figures, reflecting the widespread distribution of this name across Portuguese-speaking regions and beyond.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Rodrigues families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Rodrigues surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.

Top counties

Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Middlesex leads with 32 Rodrigues' recorded in 1881 and an index of 7.13x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 32 7.13x
Lancashire 4 0.75x
Sussex 4 5.29x
Essex 3 3.39x
Hertfordshire 1 3.23x
Royal Navy 1 18.69x
Surrey 1 0.46x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Spitalfields London in Middlesex leads with 7 Rodrigues' recorded in 1881 and an index of 207.10x.

Place Total Index
Spitalfields London 7 207.10x
Kensington London 6 24.05x
Old Artillery Ground 5 1282.05x
Westminster St James 5 108.46x
Liverpool 4 12.37x
Hastings St Mary 2 106.38x
Hove 2 60.24x
Isleworth 2 100.50x
Shoreditch London 2 10.28x
St George Hanover 2 34.13x
West Ham 2 10.22x
East Ham 1 60.98x
Islington London 1 2.30x
Mile End Old Town 1 14.12x
Newington 1 6.03x
Poplar London 1 11.81x
Watford 1 41.67x

Top female names

These are the female first names most often recorded with the Rodrigues surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
Mary 5
Sarah 3
Clara 2
Emily 2
Emma 2
Leah 2
Alayna 1
Amelia 1
Annie 1
E. 1
Florence 1
Hannah 1
Phoebe 1
Rachel 1
Urani 1

Top male names

These are the male first names most often recorded with the Rodrigues surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
Abraham 2
Alexander 1
Alfred 1
Anastacio 1
Anastasio 1
Francis 1
G. 1
George 1
Henry 1
Hyam 1
Isaac 1
Jacob 1
John 1
Manuel 1
Mark 1
Romulics 1
Solomon 1

Top occupations

Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Rodrigues households.

FAQ

Rodrigues surname: questions and answers

How common was the Rodrigues surname in 1881?

In 1881, 45 people were recorded with the Rodrigues surname. That placed it at #27,314 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Rodrigues surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 5,157 in 2016. That gives Rodrigues a modern rank of #1,314.

What does the Rodrigues surname mean?

A patronymic surname of Spanish and Portuguese origin, meaning "son of Rodrigo" or "son of Rui."

What does the Rodrigues map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Rodrigues bearers relative to the surrounding population.

What records is this surname page based on?

The historical counts come from census surname records. The modern counts and neighbourhood summaries come from later surname distribution records. Counts are recorded bearers in those records, not a live estimate of everyone with the name today.