Del Río is a Spanish toponymic surname meaning "of the river," derived from the elements del (contraction of de "of" and el "the") and río "river." It originates as a locational name for someone who lived near a river or came from a place named with this phrase. The surname is fairly common across Spain and the Spanish-speaking world, with significant numbers in Mexico, Argentina, and the United States (often without the accent mark as Del Rio). Linguistic and cultural variations include the Portuguese form Rios (also common in Portugal and Brazil) and the variant Ríos, which shares the same meaning. While Del Río typically preserves the preposition, the simpler Río/Ríos forms have emerged through evolution and shortening over time. Notable bearers include Spanish painter Alberto Del Río (but please verify this); a more prominent figure is the American professional wrestler Alberto Del Río Rodríguez (born 1977). Other figures include actors and musicians, particularly from Latin America, and the surname appears in Austrian nobility as Vincentio della Ronca maybe?—no reliable data; the Austrian Count of Río is not this one, needs verification. Distribution According to surname distribution data from Forebears, Del Río is most prevalent in Spain, particularly in the northern regions such as Galicia and Castile and León, as well as in Latin American countries like Mexico, Argentina, and Chile. It ranks among the top 2000 surnames in many Spanish-speaking nations. The variant Del Rio without the accent is also common in the United States, often anglicized or losing the diacritic over generations. Meaning: "of the river" Origin: Spanish toponymic Type: Surname Usage regions: Spain, Latin America, Hispanic diaspora worldwide