The name Xaviera is a feminine form of the masculine name Xavier, which has its origins in the Basque language spoken in the Pyrenees region of Spain and France. It is derived from the ancient Basque word "etxe-berri," meaning "new house" or "new homestead." The name Xavier was popularized by the Catholic Saint Francis Xavier, a Navarrese missionary and co-founder of the Jesuit order, who lived from 1506 to 1552.

The earliest recorded use of the name Xaviera dates back to the 16th century, likely influenced by the fame and veneration of St. Francis Xavier. One of the earliest known individuals with this name was Xaviera de Jesús, a Spanish nun and mystic who lived from 1592 to 1638.

In the 17th century, Xaviera de Guzmán (1619-1668) was a Spanish noblewoman and writer known for her literary works, including the novel "La Vida y Hechos de Estebanillo González." Another notable bearer of this name was Xaviera de Braganza (1637-1692), an Infanta of Portugal who married King Alfonso VI of Portugal.

During the 18th century, Xaviera María de Lara y Mendoza (1728-1806) was a Spanish aristocrat and the Countess of Lemos. She was known for her patronage of the arts and her influential role in the cultural life of Madrid.

In more recent times, one of the most famous individuals named Xaviera was Xaviera Hollander (born 1943), a Dutch writer and former call girl. She gained international attention with the publication of her autobiography, "The Happy Hooker: My Own Story," in 1971, which became a bestseller and was later adapted into a film.

Another notable Xaviera was Xaviera Batista (1919-2020), a Mexican-American aerospace engineer and pilot who worked for the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA), the predecessor of NASA. She was one of the first Mexican-American women to work in the field of aeronautical engineering and made significant contributions to aircraft design.