Rivière is a French surname that is the cognate of the English surname Rivers. Both surnames originate as a topographic name for someone who lived near a river, from Old French riviere (French rivière) meaning 'river', ultimately from Latin riparius meaning 'riverbank'. The surname Rivière is found predominantly in France, with notable concentration in the historical regions of Normandy and Île-de-France, according to distribution data. As a topographic surname, it belongs to a broad category of habitational names common throughout Europe, reflecting local geography. Related surnames in other Romance languages include Italian Riva, Portuguese Ribeiro, and Spanish Rivas, Rivera, and Rivero. Meaning: A person who lived near a river, from Latin riparius. Origin: French, from Old French riviere. Type: Topographic surname. Usage Region: Primarily France.