Inhabitants of the Philippines began to adopt surnames during the 16th century, at the time of Spanish colonisation. Filipinos began using their native names along with the Christian names that were assigned by the Catholic Church, and subsequently, the government standardised their naming practices. This post has 100 Filipino last names for those who are searching for some to familiarise themselves with their meanings.
100 Filipino Surnames or Family Names With Meanings
Filipino surnames may be from Spanish, Chinese or Arabic origins or may often be combinations of American and Spanish customs or even be derived from native Filipino languages. Here is a list of 100 Filipino last names with varied origins and meanings:
1. Abe
Derived from the Hebrew language and short for ‘Abraham’, it commonly refers to ‘a father of many’.
2. Abad
The surname Abad is of Spanish origin; it means ‘everlasting’ or ‘eternal’.
3. Abadiano
A very common last name in the Philippines, Abadiano is a village in Biscay, Spain.
4. Abalos
One of the common Filipino last names, Abalos is a habitational name which refers to a place in the Soria province.
5. Abel
A famous Biblical name, Abel means ‘breath’ or ‘vanity’.
6. Adlawan
Derived from the word Adlaw, Adlawan means ‘Sun’. It originates from Cebuano where it refers to ‘daytime’.
7. Aganad
This surname is derived from the Ilocano word agannad, which means ‘to take care’.
8. Agbayani
One of the traditional Filipino last names, Agbayani means ‘to be heroic’ in the Ilocano language. Its traditional usage is in Filipino, Tagalog, and Ilocano.
9. Aguinaldo
Of Latin origin, this surname was borne by the first President of the Philippines, Emilio Aguinaldo.
10. Alacantara
Referring to the municipality of Alacantara in Spain, this transliteration of the Arabic word al-qantara means ‘the bridge’.
11. Almazan
A common surname in the Philippines, Almazan is a habitational name referring to a municipality in Spain. It comes from the Arabic term al-makhzan, i.e., ‘the stronghold’.
12. Alonto
Commonly used in Maranao and Filipino, Alonto in Maranao means ‘extraordinary’.
13. Ambong
Originated from Filipino and Cebuano, Ambong refers to a type of hut where food grains are stored.
14. Avellino
A personal name of Spanish origin, it was the name of the 17th century Saint Andrea Avellino in Italy.
15. Baccay
Derived from Tagalog, this Filipino surname means ‘to guard’.
16. Bacolod
Referring to ‘hill’ or ‘mound’, this toponymic name refers to a person living in the Bacolod city of the Philippines.
17. Bacunawa
Originating from the Cebuano word bakunawa, this name is a reference to a kind of serpent or dragon in Visayan mythology.
18. Bagatsing
It is a Filipinised version of the Sanskrit words bhagat, meaning ‘devotee’, and simha, meaning ‘lion’.
19. Baguinda
This Filipino surname is honorific of the prince Rajah Baguinda Ali, the ruler of the Sulu Archipelago.
20. Balaguer
Referring to persons hailing from the Balaguer city of Spain, this last name has Arabic origins.
21. Balindong
Maranao for ‘philosopher’, this surname is a title of nobility.
22. Baluyot
Meaning ‘bag’ or ‘pouch’, this surname originates from the Hiligaynon word baluyot.
23. Banaag
This last name is Hiligonyan for ‘gleam’, ‘daybreak’ or ‘reflection’.
24. Bangon
Maranao for ‘to rise’, this surname also means ‘a plot of land’.
25. Baquiran
One of the common Philippines surnames, Baquiran is derived from the Ilocano word bakiran, which means ‘forest’.
26. Batabor
Derived from Maranao, this surname means ‘tea/coffee pot’ or a ‘green tube skirt’.
27. Batungbakal
Derived from two names, Bato, meaning ‘stone’ and Bakal, meaning ‘iron/steel’, this is a common Tagalog and Filipino surname.
28. Bautista
A Spanish word for Baptist, this surname refers to Saint John the Baptist.
29. Bayabao
Derived from the Maranao term Bayabaw, Bayabao is a habitational surname that refers to a traditional subdivision in the eastern regions of Lanao.
30. Bulalacao
Derived from the Tagalog word bulalakaw, it means ‘shooting star’ or ‘meteor’.
31. Bulan
The first name brought to England by the Norman Conquest, this Cebuano surname means ‘a moon’ or ‘a month’.
32. Cabahug
Derived from the Cebuano term bahog, meaning ‘feed’ or ‘slop’, this surname was originally used in 19th century Spain.
33. Cagadas
Cagadas was the last name given to native Filipinos during conversion to Christianity.
34. Calinao
This surname is derived from the Cebuano word kalinaw, which means ‘clarity’ or ‘peace’.
35. Calumpang
Referring to persons from the Batangas river in the Philippines, this Tagalog derivative refers to the ‘wild almond tree’ as well.
36. Camama
Derived from the Maranao word kamama, this surname means ‘manly’ or ‘masculine’.
37. Canosa
One of the popular Philippines surnames, Canasa is derived from the Latin word Cana, which means ‘cave’ or ‘reed’.
38. Caringal
Derived from the Tagalog nickname ‘Dingal’, this last name refers to ‘very handsome’ or ‘very beautiful’.
39. Catacutan
A derivative of the Tagalog word katakutan, this surname means ‘fear’.
40. Catapang
Derived from the Tagalog word tapang, this Filipino surname refers to ‘courage’.
41. Cayabyab
Derived from the Tagalog word yabyab, it means ‘pounding of rice grains’.
42. Celda
This surname is of Spanish origin and means ‘prison cell’.
43. Chavez
A name borne by the famous labour leader Cesar Chavez is a popular surname among the Spanish and Portuguese as well.
44. Cruz
This surname is derived from the Spanish word cruz, meaning ‘cross’ and is spelt as krus in Tagalog.
45. Cuizon
It is derived from the Hokkien word kui sun, which means ‘precious grandchild’.
46. Dagohoy
Dagohoy, meaning ‘talisman’, is derived from the Cebuano phrase dagon sa huyuhoy.
47. Dalisay
A popular name originating from Tagalog and Cebuano, Dalisay means ‘chaste’ or ‘pure’.
48. Dasalan
Derived from the Tagalog word dasal, this last name means ‘a place of prayer’.
49. Datuimam
Used as a title by religious leaders, Datuimam is derived from the Maranao dato, and the Arabic imam, which mean ‘leader’.
50. Datumanong
A character in the Maranao epic poem Darangen, this name means ‘two-headed lizard’.
51. Datumolok
A combination of two Maranao words dato and molok, which means ‘leader’ and ‘own’ respectively, this surname is used as a noble title.
52. Dayanghirang
One of the unique Filipino family names, Dayanghirang is a combination of two Tagalog words dayang, meaning ‘lady’, and hirang, meaning ‘selection’.
53. Del Rosario
Of Spanish origin, Del Rosario means ‘of the rosary’.
54. Dilag
Derived from Tagalog, this surname refers to ‘splendour’, ‘beauty’ or ‘maiden’.
55. Dimaano
Coming from the Tagalog words di, meaning ‘no’, and maano, meaning ‘have something happen’, this name means ‘not touched’.
56. Dimaapi
Coming from Tagalog, this surname means ‘cannot be expressed’.
57. Dimabasa
Derived from the two Tagalog words di, meaning ‘not’, and basa, meaning ‘wet’. It means ‘dry’.
58. Dimacuha
Of Tagalog origin, this surname means ‘unobtainable.
59. Dimagiba
Derived from the Tagalog words di and giba, i.e. ‘not’ and ‘demolish’, respectively, this surname means ‘indestructible’.
60. Dimalanta
A combination of the Tagalog words di, meaning ‘not’ or ‘no’, and malanta, meaning ‘fade’ or ‘wither’. The surname means ‘cannot be withered’.
61. Dimaliwat
Tagalong for ‘firm’ or ‘stubborn’, this surname is a combination of the words di and liwat. It means ‘to transfer’.
62. Dimapilis
A combination of the Tagalog words di and pili, which mean ‘not’ and ‘contorted’, respectively, this traditional surname means ‘cannot be dissuaded’.
63. Divata
Referring to ancestral spirits that guide mortals, this surname is a Visayan word for ‘guardian’.
64. Duterte
It is derived from the French word du tertre, meaning ‘of the hillock’.
65. Ejercito
It is derived from the Spanish word ejército, meaning ‘army’.
66. Elyas
A common surname among the Filipino, Ethiopian and Malay population, it is derived from Elias, meaning ‘My God is Yahweh’.
67. Fabroa
A word of Tagalog origin and a variant of Fabro, this last name means ‘lucky’.
68. Fernandez
A popular and common Filipino surname, Fernandez, is Spanish for ‘son of Fernando’.
69. Galura
Derived from the Sanskrit word garuda, this surname refers to a mythical bird in Hindu, Jain and Buddhist mythology.
70. Guinto
This surname is derived from the Tagalog word ginto, meaning ‘gold’.
71. Hermedilla
Hermedilla was the name that was given to those hailing from the Batangas province of Southern Tagalog at the time of the Spanish rule.
72. Halili
Halili is derived from Tagalog, and it refers to ‘successor’.
73. Labrador
Often associated with the patron saint of farmers, San Isidro Labrador, this name means ‘work’ or ‘labour’.
74. Lardizabal
This habitational name refers to the people originating from Lardizabal Palace.
75. Laxamana
Derived from the Sanskrit word Laksamana, it means ‘admiral’ or ‘officer’.
76. Lualhati
This surname is derived from the Tagalog word luwalhati, which means ‘glory’.
77. Macalipay
It is Cebuano or Hiligaynon for ‘comfort’ or ‘pleasant’.
78. Magasaysay
Magasaysay is Cebuano for ‘to relate’ or ‘to narrate’.
79. Magindara
It is the name of a demigoddess and a mythical mermaid in the Philippines.
80. Manug
This traditional Filipino surname is often used by those residing in Mnaug, Visayas or Mindanao, Philippines.
81. Marohom
Originating from Maranao, this Filipino surname means ‘of the Sultan’, in terms of the Sultan in the Maranao region.
82. Oracion
Derived from the Spanish word oracion, this last name means ‘prayer’ or ‘sentence’.
83. Pabelico
It refers to ‘humblest’ and is derived from the word pabel, meaning ‘humble’.
84. Pacquiao
A name borne by the famous world boxing champion, Manny Pacquiao, it means ‘wholesale’ in Cebuano.
85. Radiomoda
Radiomoda was traditionally used as a title by Sultans. It means ‘young king’.
86. Reyes
It is derived from the Spanish word reyes, which refers to ‘kings’ or ‘royals’.
87. Salalila
A name referring to the Rajah of Maynila, this surname is a Sanskrit derivative of sarira, which means ‘body’.
88. Santos
It is derived from the Spanish word that means ‘saints’.
89. Salvador
Used widely in Filipino, Spanish, and Portuguese regions, this popular Christian name means ‘saviour’.
90. Suarez
Commonly used in the Philippines and Latin America, Suarez means ‘son of Suero’.
91. Sulu
A habitational name that refers to persons from the sea in the Philippines.
92. Sumulong
Sumulong comes from Tagalog origins, and it refers to ‘to advance’ or ‘to progress’.
93. Tanglao
Derived from the Tagalog word tanglaw, this surname means ‘illumination’ or ‘light’.
94. Tatlonghari
This surname is derived from a Tagalog word which means ‘three kings’. It refers to the biblical Magi.
95. Tibayan
It comes from the Tagalog word for ‘to strengthen’ or ‘to secure’.
96. Tolentino
It is derived from the name of a town in Italy.
97. Trinidad
This surname means ‘trinity’ and refers to the Holy Trinity in Spanish.
98. Valmorida
A mix of Spanish and Japanese words val, i.e. ‘valley’, mor, i.e. ‘forest’ and ta, i.e. ‘field’, this surname means ‘valley of the forest field’.
99. Valle
The name Valle means ‘valley’ and it is a habitational surname used by people living in a valley.
100. Velasco
A derivative of the medieval name Belasco, this habitational name is used by persons of Velasco in Logrono, Soira, and Seville.
Filipino surnames originate from numerous traditional languages and regions and are a depiction of the rich culture and geography of the country. Used over centuries, across different parts of the world, these fascinating surnames have native roots and meanings.
