Rivera: meaning of the surname and family history

There are also records from the 18th century that mention Juan de Ribera as inquisitor of Catalonia, as well as the house of Ribera in Majorca. Later, the surname spread to other regions of Spain.

Fun facts

Here are some fun facts about the Rivera surname, including its popularity.

• It ranks number 243 on the list of most common surnames in the world.
• It is the ninth most popular Hispanic surname.
• In Spain, the surname Rivera appears frequently in Galicia and Extremadura.
• It is the most common surname in Mexico.
• It is considered the last name with the highest density in Puerto Rico.
• It is the eighth most common surname in Honduras and El Salvador.
• It is popular in Nicaragua, Panama and Guatemala.
• It is also a common surname in the United States, Chile, Peru, Colombia, and the Philippines.
• It is believed that there are more than two million people around the world with the last name Rivera.
• Other variants of the Rivera surname can also be found, including: Ribera,2222 Riva, Rivero, Riviere, and Riba.

Celebrities with the last name Rivera

There are many famous people with the last name Rivera, especially in the artistic world. Some of them are:

• Diego Rivera: Mexican painter.
• José de Ribera: Spanish painter.
• Carlos Rivera: Mexican singer.
• Geraldo Rivera: American journalist.
• Jenni Rivera: Mexican singer.
• Chiquis Rivera: Mexican actress and singer.
• Fabio Riva: Italian entrepreneur.

Genealogy and resources

There are numerous resources on the web to learn more interesting facts about the Rivera surname. Some of the most used tools to find information about this surname are:

• The Rivera family genealogy forum at Xenealogy.org : here you can get data on common ancestors, make inquiries or contact people with the same last name.
• FamilySearch – This website includes over four million freely accessible historical records and family trees for the Rivera surname.
• GeneaNet : On this page it is possible to find archival records and family trees of surnames from European countries.
• DistantCousin.com : is a free database that allows you to find information about the Rivera surname.

Bibliography

• Faure, R.; Ribes, MA (2001). Dictionary of Spanish surnames . Spain. Espasa Books.
• Various authors. Genealogy and heraldry . (2011, pdf version). Spain. National Library of Spain.
• Vilches Y de Marín, E. Golden book of Spanish surnames: Its etymology, genealogy and heraldry: First series . (2018). Spain. Wentworth Press.