When you think about last names, the first thing that comes to mind is probably family history: tracing your family tree back through the generations to learn what you can from ancestors who shared your name. But last names are also an important part of cultural and political history, providing us with a glimpse into the major events (both good and bad) that shaped a nation. Filipino last names are a good example of this. For centuries, Filipinos used descriptive last names, most commonly, indicating that they are the mother or father of [their child’s name], or taking names referring to one of their physical traits, like being tall. But this all changed once Catholic missionaries came to the Philippines in 1565.
At that point, many Filipino families began adopting last names paying homage to various Catholic saints while others had Spanish surnames imposed on them. Filipino culture is a mixture of Spanish heritage. But they also have Chinese, American, and Latin influences as well. Filipino heritage balances between all of these different cultures but at its base, their use and appreciation for last names are tied to their love and respect for family and religion. Their belief in Bayanihan is known as the “community spirit.” (Fun fact: they also have one the longest Christmas celebrations).
So many families took on the same handful of names it made it difficult to keep track of the population. After that, in order to use a particular last name, Filipinos had to prove that it had been with their family for generations. Then, in 1849, the Spanish authorities decided to create a standardized system for Filipino last names. That sort of took, but many families (understandably) opted to keep their traditional Filipino last names instead. After all that history, here’s a look at some of the most popular Filipino last names, along with their meanings and origins.
- Abe
Meaning: Father of many
Origin: Hebrew - Abdulatip
Meaning: Servant of the gentle
Origin: Filipino, Maguindanao, Dagestani, Avar, Kumyk, Indonesian - Abalos
Meaning: Desert tunes
Origin: Filipino - Abayan
Meaning: To stand beside
Origin: Tagalog - Aquino
Meaning: A prosperous family in Italy. The family belonged to a historic noble house
Origin: Spain, Portugal, Italy - Baccay
Meaning: To guard
Origin: Tagalog - Bacolod
Meaning: Someone who lives near a hill or mound
Origin: Bacolod on Negros Island in Western Visayas, Philippines - Bacunawa
Meaning: Serpent or dragon in Visasyan mythology
Origin: Cebuano - Baguinda
Meaning: The Minangkabau title for prince
Origin: Sulu Archipelago - Balaguer
Meaning: Someone from the city of Balaguer in Catalonia Spain.
Origin: Arabic - Balindong
Meaning: Philosopher
Origin: Maranao - Baluyot
Meaning: Bag, sack, or pouch
Origin: Tagalog - Basilio
Meaning: Kingly or royal
Origin: Filipino - Baquiran
Meaning: Forest
Origin: Ilocano, Filipino - Batungbakal
Meaning: Stone, iron, or steel
Origin: Tagalog, Filipino - Bautista
Meaning: Baptist
Origin: Arabic - Calinao
Meaning: Clarity
Origin: Cebuano - Cruz
Meaning: Cross
Origin: Spanish - Del Rosario
Meaning: Rose garden, garland of roses, or rosarium
Origin: Portugues, Spanish, Italian - Dimagiba
Meaning: Indestructible
Origin: Tagalog - Facundo
Meaning: Talkative or eloquent
Origin: Spanish, Portuguese - Garcia
Meaning: Son of Garcia; rule of the spear
Origin: Iberian, Portugal, France - Gatus
Meaning: Hundred
Origin: Cebuano - Gonzales
Meaning: Castle or son of Gonzalo
Origin: Spain - Habalo
Meaning: Hurrying in order to overtake; pursuing; chasing; object of pursuit; claim
Origin: Filipino - Halili
Meaning: Successor
Origin: Tagalog - Halimaw
Meaning: Monster or a huge creature or thing
Origin: Filipino - Halina
Meaning: Come along
Origin: Filipino - Halum
Meaning: Gentle, forbearing, mild, patient, understanding, indulgent, slow to anger
Origin: Arabic - Hangad
Meaning: Yearning or desire
Origin: Tagalog - Harap
Meaning: Foreground; front; to face or meet
Origin: Tagalog - Harata
Meaning: Turn morning, dawn, or daylight
Origin: Filipino - Henson
Meaning: Son of Henry
Origin: Filipino - Hermano
Meaning: Brother
Origin: Spanish - Laxamana
Meaning: Admiral or officer
Origin: Sanskrit - Magasaysay
Meaning: To tell, to narrate
Origin: Cebuano - Mendoza
Meaning: Cold mountain
Origin: Philippines - Oracion
Meaning: Prayer
Origin: Spanish - Perez
Meaning: To breach or burst forth
Origin: Spanish, Hebrew - Posadas
Meaning: Standstill or resting place
Origin: Latin - Radiomoda
Meaning: Young king
Origin: Maaranao - Reyes
Meaning: Kings or royals
Origin: Spanish - Salvador
Meaning: Savior
Origin: Spanish - Santos
Meaning: Saint
Origin: Spanish - Tibayan
Meaning: To strengthen
Origin: Tagalog
If you’re interested in the last names and meanings of other countries, check out our package on last names from around the world. See how many you recognize: Irish, French, Russian, Brazilian, Italian, Japanese, Welsh, Thai, Vietnamese, Korean, and African last names, among others.
