Zavaleta

Zavaleta (or Zabaleta) is a surname of Basque origin. The Basque are a people indigenous to areas of northern Spain and southern France, an historical region known as Basque Country.

Origin and Meaning

It is difficult to uncover the original meaning of a surname like Zavaleta because of its considerable antiquity. Still many believe, and as sources say, the last name means "the people who lived by the mountain place."

Zavaleta vs. Zabaleta

Although spelled with either a "v" or "b" the surnames Zavaleta and Zabaleta stem form the same origin and therefore have the same meaning. Indeed, the original spelling of the name is "Zabaleta," and those living in Spain continue to spell it this way. When people began to immigrate to the Americas, however, the name was changed to the Castilian spelling, "Zavaleta."

Notable Zavaleta's / Zabaleta's

*Cara Zavaleta: Model and Reality Star
*René Zavaleta Mercado: Bolivian politician, sociologist and philosopher
*Ruth Zavaleta: Mexican politician
*Mariano Zabaleta: Argentinian tennis player
*Pablo Zabaleta: Argentinian footballer (soccer player)
*Nicanor Zabaleta: Spanish harpist

External links

* [http://www.buber.net/Basque/Surname/Z/zabaleta.php Buber.net]