Rivera is a surname of Spanish and Italian origin which was the old spelling of ribera, the Spanish word for "riverbank".
People with the surname
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- Adrienne Rivera, American para-alpine skier
- Albert Rivera (born 1979), Catalan politician
- Alberto Rivera (activist) (1935–1997), anti-Catholic religious activist
- Alexis Marie Rivera (1977–2012), American transgender advocate
- Alicia Herrera Rivera (1928-2013), Chilean feminist lawyer
- Andy Rivera (born 1994), Colombian urbano singer
- Angélica Rivera (born 1969), Mexican actress
- Aníbal Meléndez Rivera (1948–2021), Puerto Rican politician
- Antonio Rivera (1963–2005), Puerto Rican boxer
- Ariel Rivera (born 1966), Filipino actor and singer
- Arturo Rivera (1945–2020), Mexican artist
- Belarmino Rivera (born 1956), retired Honduran football player
- Brent Rivera (born 1998), American social media personality
- Carlos Rivera (born 1986), Mexican singer
- Carlos Rivera (disambiguation), multiple people
- Chiquis Rivera (born 1985), American singer
- Chita Rivera (1933–2024), American actress and dancer
- Coryn Rivera (born 1992), American racing cyclist
- Danny Rivera (born 1945), Puerto Rican singer
- David Rivera (born 1965), US Representative, Florida
- Diego Rivera (1886–1957), Mexican muralist
- Doriana Rivera (born 1977), Badminton player
- Eliu Rivera (1943–2017), former Deputy Mayor
- Emilio Rivera (born 1961), American film and television actor
- Emmanuel Rivera (born 1996), Puerto Rican baseball player
- Erica Rivera (born 1988), American actress and singer
- Fernando Rivera y Moncada (1725–1781), Spanish colonial soldier and official in New Spain
- Filiberto Rivera (born 1982), basketball player
- Frances Rivera (born 1970), news anchor at WHDH-TV
- Francisco Rivera Pérez (1948–1984), Spanish bullfighter
- Fructuoso Rivera (1784–1854), Uruguayan politician and general, President of the Republic at the beginning of the 19th century
- Gabriel Rivera (1961–2018), American football player
- Geraldo Rivera (born 1943), journalist
- Gianni Rivera (born 1943), Italian football player
- Graciela Rivera (1921–2011), singer
- Guillermo Rivera (born 1971), soccer player, former El Salvador international
- Ismael Rivera (1931–1987), composer and singer of salsa music
- James Rivera (born 1960), singer
- Jamie Rivera (born 1966), Filipino musician
- Jenni Rivera (1969–2012), Mexican musician
- Jerry Rivera (born 1973), salsa singer
- Jim Rivera (1921–2017), American baseball player
- Jimmie Rivera (born 1989), American MMA fighter
- Joel Rivera (born 1978), American politician
- John Rivera (Rocky Romero; born 1982), Cuban-born American professional wrestler
- John Mar Rivera ( born 2002), Basketball player
- Jorge Rivera (fighter) (born 1972), retired American MMA fighter
- Jorge Rivera (basketball) (born 1973), basketball player
- Jose Rivera (politician) (born 1936), politician
- José Rivera (playwright) (born 1955), playwright
- José Antonio Rivera (born 1973), boxer
- José Eustasio Rivera (1888–1928), Colombian writer
- José Rivera (volleyball) (born 1977), Puerto Rican volleyball player
- Jose Luis Rivera (born 1960), Puerto Rican wrestler
- Jovette Rivera (born 1982), American Musician and Artist
- Juan Rivera (baseball) (born 1978), baseball player
- Juan Rivera (explorer), 18th-century Spanish explorer
- Leonor Rivera, lover of the Philippine national hero Jose Rizal
- Lionel Rivera (born 1956), American politician
- Luis Antonio Rivera (born 1930), Puerto Rican television personality and comedian
- Luis Rivera (infielder) (born 1964), Puerto Rican baseball coach and player
- Lupillo Rivera (born 1972), Mexican banda singer
- Mailon Rivera, actor
- Marco Rivera (born 1972), professional football player
- María Antonia Rivera (born 1966), Honduran politician
- Marian Rivera (born 1984), Filipino actress and commercial model
- Mariano Rivera (born 1969), Panamanian baseball player
- Marika Rivera (1919–2010), actress
- Mark Rivera (born 1952), musician
- Maura Rivera (born 1984), Chilean ballerina
- Mike Rivera (baseball) (born 1976), baseball player
- Mychal Rivera (born 1990), NFL player
- Naomi Rivera, politician
- Naya Rivera (1987–2020), actress
- Oscar López Rivera (born 1943), political prisoner
- Pedro Ignacio Rivera (1759–1833), Bolivian revolutionary
- Peter M. Rivera (born 1946), American politician
- Prisilla Rivera (born 1984), Dominican Republic volleyball player
- Reinaldo Rivera (born 1963), Spanish-born American serial killer
- René Rivera (born 1983), baseball player
- Robbie Rivera (born 1973), Puerto Rican house music producer and DJ
- Ron Rivera (born 1962), American football player and coach
- Ron Rivera (public health) (1948–2008), American relief worker
- Rubén Rivera (born 1973), baseball player
- Salvador Guerra Rivera (born 2002), Spanish chess player
- Sandy Rivera, American record producer, house music DJ and label owner
- Saúl Rivera (born 1977), baseball player
- Scarlet Rivera (born 1950), American violinist
- Sophie Rivera (1938–2021), Puerto Rican-American artist and photographer
- Susana Rivera-Mills, Salvadoran sociolinguist and academic administrator
- Sylvia Rivera (1951–2002), American transgender activist
- Tammy Rivera (born 1986), American television personality, singer, fashion designer, and businesswoman
- Temario Rivera, political science professor
- Teresa Rivera (born 1966), Mexican swimmer
- Tomás Rivera (1935–1984), Chicano author, poet, and educator
- Víctor Rivera (volleyball) (born 1976), Puerto Rican volleyball player
- Víctor Rivera (professional wrestler) (born 1944), Puerto Rican wrestler
- Cayetano Rivera Ordóñez (born 1977), Spanish bullfighter
- Mon Rivera, two musicians
- Norberto Rivera Carrera (born 1942), Mexican cardinal
- Zuleyka Rivera (born 1987), Miss Universe 2006 from Puerto Rico
- Francisco Rivera Ordóñez (born 1974), Spanish bullfighter
- Alberto Rivera Pizarro (born 1978), Spanish footballer
- Ingrid Marie Rivera (born 1983), 2nd runner-up of Miss World 2005 and Miss Universe Puerto Rico 2008
- Nick Rivera Caminero (stage name Nicky Jam), reggaeton artist
Variants of the surname
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Variants of the surname include "de Rivera" and "D'Rivera".
Fictional characters
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People with the given name
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Rivera is uncommon as a given name or middle name.