Rivera History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The distinguished surname Rivera is a proud sign of a rich and ancient ancestry. The name was originally derived from the Castilian word “rivera,” which means “riverbank.” Thus it is quite probable that the first families to take on Rivera as a surname lived near the banks of a river.

Early Origins of the Rivera family

The surname Rivera was first found in Castile, the kingdom that led the Reconquest of the peninsula from the Muslims, in medieval times.

Early History of the Rivera family

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

Rivera Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Rivera, Ribera, Ribeira, Rivero, Ribero, Ribeiro and others.

Early Notables of the Rivera family (pre 1700)

Prominent among members of the family were Ruy Páez de Ribera, 15th century lyric poet; Suero de Ribera, a contemporary of Ruy and also a poet; Diego de Rivera, one of the noblemen asked by Princess (later Queen) Isabella to announce to her brother King Henry her marriage to Ferdinand of Aragon.

Rivera Ranking

In the United States, the name Rivera is the 61^st most popular surname with an estimated 281,031 people with that name. [1] However, in France, the name Rivera is ranked the 5,474^thmost popular surname with an estimated 1,000 – 1,500 people with that name. [2]

 Rivera migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were: 

Rivera Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

• Jacob Rodrigues Rivera, who arrived in New York, NY in 1746 [3]

Rivera Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

• Hipolito Rivera, who arrived in Puerto Rico in 1803 [3]
• Carlos De Rivera, who landed in Puerto Rico in 1816 [3]
• Manuel Rivera, aged 21, who arrived in New Orleans, La in 1827 [3]
• Cosme De Rivera, who arrived in America in 1828 [3]
• Felipe Garisa Rivera, aged 50, who arrived in New Orleans, La in 1829 [3]

Contemporary Notables of the name Rivera (post 1700) +

• Chita Rivera (b. 1933), American actress, dancer, and singer, recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2009
• Naya Marie Rivera (1987-2020), American actress, singer and model who won two ALMA Awards as a music artist, two Grammy Award and one Brit Award nominations
• Carlos M. Rivera (1934-2020), American firefighter, the first Hispanic commissioner in the New York City Fire Department’s 127-year history
• Samuel Rivera (1946-2020), American politician, Mayor of Passaic, New Jersey, from 2001 until 2008
• Manuel Joseph “Jim” Rivera (1921-2017), American Major League Baseball outfielder who played from 1952 to 1961
• T. C. Rivera, American politician, Candidate for U.S. Senator from New Mexico, 1922 [4]
• Samuel Rivera, American politician, Mayor of Passaic, New Jersey, 2007 [4]
• Robert L. Rivera, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from New Mexico, 1996 [4]
• Richard G. Rivera, American politician, Representative from New Jersey 13th District, 1998 [4]
• Peter Rivera, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from New York, 2004 [4]