Zavaleta

Zavaleta is a surname of Basque origin. It is common in Spain, particularly in the Basque Country and Navarre, as well as in Latin America, reflecting historical Spanish migration. The name is topographical, derived from the Basque word zabaleta, which means "place of the wide plain" or "broad field." The zabal element signifies "wide" or "broad," and the suffix -eta is a common locative suffix in Basque.

Individuals with the surname Zavaleta may have ancestors who originally resided near a prominent wide plain or field in a Basque-speaking region. Over time, the name spread geographically as families migrated.

The surname Zavaleta, like many surnames, exists in variant spellings and may be combined with other surnames in compound forms, reflecting regional naming customs and genealogical history.