Riojas
A Spanish surname most likely tied to the place name Rioja, the famous region in northern Spain.
The #6,030 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 54,175 Americans shares it.
Etymology
Riojas is best understood as a Spanish habitational surname linked to Rioja, the well-known region and former kingdom in northern Spain. The name of Rioja itself is usually explained as referring to the Oja River or the Rioja valley area, so the surname originally marked someone who came from that place. In Spanish usage, a final -s can sometimes appear in surnames as a regional or family-form variant, without changing the basic place-based meaning.
History
The surname would have arisen when people were identified by their origin, especially after leaving Rioja for another town or district. It is found in Spanish-speaking communities and later spread to the Americas through migration and colonial-era movement. In modern records, Riojas is especially associated with Hispanic populations in the United States.
Origin
Regions
Variant spellings
Fun fact
Rioja is also famous worldwide as a wine region, so the surname instantly evokes one of Spain's best-known place names.