Arriola

Arriola is a Basque and Spanish surname with topographic origins. It is derived from Basque place names, themselves composed of the elements arri 'stone' and -ola 'place of, house'. As a Basque toponymic surname, it originally referred to a person who lived near a prominent stone or in a stone building.

Etymology

The Basque language, a linguistic isolate of southwestern Europe, has a long tradition of surnames based on landscape features. The root arri appears in numerous Basque place names and surnames such as Arrizabalaga ('wide stone'). The suffix -ola is also common, found in names like Aguirreola and Urreola.

Notable Bearers

Notable individuals with the surname include athletes like Paul Arriola (born 1995), an American professional soccer player who has represented the United States men's national soccer team, and Ezequiel Arriola (born 1982), an Argentine soccer player. Cultural figures include Gus Arriola (1917–2008), the Mexican-American cartoonist and animator best known for the comic strip Gordo. Mexican-born Manolita Arriola (1919–2004) was a singer and actress, while Mexican painter Fortunato Arriola (1827–1872) was known for his portraits and landscapes. In politics, Diego Manuel de Arriola (1784–1848) was a Spanish politician, and Iñaki Arriola is a present-day Spanish politician serving as Minister of Housing