Zavaleta or Zabaleta is a surname of

Basque Basque may refer to: * Basques, an ethnic group of Spain and France * Basque language, their language Places * Basque Country (greater region), the homeland of the Basque people with parts in both Spain and France * Basque Country (autonomous co ...

origin. The Basques are a people indigenous to areas of northern Spain and southern France, an historical region known as the

Basque Country Basque Country may refer to: * Basque Country (autonomous community), as used in Spain ( es, País Vasco, link=no), also called , an Autonomous communities of Spain, autonomous community of Spain (shown in pink on the map) * French Basque Country o ...

Origin and meaning

Zavaleta (Zabaleta) includes a lexeme ("zabal", 'small square / courtyard' as a noun, according to linguist specialist

Koldo Mitxelena Koldo Mitxelena Elissalt () (also known as ''Luis Michelena''; 1915, Errenteria, Gipuzkoa – 11 October 1987, San Sebastián) was an eminent Basque linguist. He taught in the Department of Philology at the University of the Basque Country, a ...

) and a suffix ("eta", suffix expressing 'abundance').

Zavaleta vs. Zabaleta

The surname Zabaleta is created in the Basque language by combining the root, Zabal, with the suffix, eta, hence Zabal-eta. The surname Zabaleta was changed in the

Spanish Empire The Spanish Empire ( es, link=no, Imperio español), also known as the Hispanic Monarchy ( es, link=no, Monarquía Hispánica) or the Catholic Monarchy ( es, link=no, Monarquía Católica) was a colonial empire governed by Spain and its prede ...

in the Americas to the Spanish or

Castellano Castellano may refer to: * Castilian (disambiguation) (Spanish: ''castellano'') ** Castile (historical region) * Spanish language, or Castilian (Spanish: ''castellano'') **Castilian Spanish * Castellano (surname), including a list of people with ...

variant, where the "b" is changed to a "v", hence Zavaleta. The two spellings are interchangeable and represent one single family worldwide. Today, Zavaleta families have usually lived in the Americas for generations, while Zabaletas are in Spain (or more recent arrivals in the Americas).

Notable people

* Brian Zabaleta, Argentine footballer *

Cara Zavaleta Cara Zavaleta (born June 15, 1980, in Bowling Green, Ohio) is an American model, actress, and television personality, known for her appearances on the MTV reality series '' Road Rules: South Pacific'', and as the November 2004 Playboy Playmate. ...

, Model and Reality Star * Erika Zavaleta, American ecologist and evolutionary biologist *

Eriq Zavaleta Eriq Anthony Zavaleta (born August 2, 1992) is a professional footballer who plays as a center-back for Major League Soccer club LA Galaxy. Born in the United States, he represents the El Salvador national team. Youth and college Zavaleta p ...

, American footballer *

Jorge Zabaleta Jorge Antonio Zabaleta Briceño (born April 18, 1970 in Santiago) is a Chilean actor. He is the son of the musician Antonio Zabaleta and the nephew of Miguel Zabaleta, both members of the duo Red Juniors. Jorge worked in Canal 13 until 20 ...

, Chilean actor * La Zavaleta, Mexican drag queen *

Mariano Zabaleta Mariano Zabaleta (born 28 February 1978) is a retired professional male tennis player from Argentina. He had an unusual but effective service motion. His best shot was his forehand and his favourite surface was clay. Zabaleta's career highlights ...

, Argentine tennis player * Marta Zabaleta, Argentine-British author *

Miguel Zavaleta Miguel Zavaleta (Buenos Aires, Argentina, February 16, 1955) is a musician, singer and composer Argentinian rock. He led the group of new wave and rock, Suéter, call between 1981 and 2007. He is the author of most of the successes of Suéte ...

, Argentinian rock musician *

Nicanor Zabaleta Nicanor Zabaleta (January 7, 1907 – April 1, 1993) was a Spanish harpist. Zabaleta was born in San Sebastián, Spain, on January 7, 1907. In 1914 his father, an amateur musician, bought him a harp in an antique shop. He soon began taking ...

, Spanish harpist *

Pablo Zabaleta Pablo Javier Zabaleta Girod (; born 16 January 1985) is an Argentine former professional footballer who played as a right back. Zabaleta could operate on both sides of the pitch as a full-back and was known for his tenacious style of play, an ...

, Argentine footballer * Ramón Zavaleta, Peruvian cyclist * René Zavaleta Mercado, Bolivian politician, sociologist and philosopher *

Susana Zabaleta Susana Zabaleta Ramos (; born September 30, 1964) is a Mexican soprano singer and actress. Early life Born in Monclova, Coahuila, she moved to Mexico City in 1985. In 1986 she performed in the Sala Ollín Yoliztli and interpreted opera perform ...

, Mexican singer and actress * Ruth Zavaleta, Mexican politician

References

{{surname Basque-language surnames