Select a baby name that is influenced by a South Asian country known for its love of football.
The roots of Filipino surnames or last names come from different places. Some Filipino surnames have Spanish, Chinese, or Arabic origins, while others are a mix of American and Spanish naming customs. Some last names even have roots in Tagalog and other languages, although they are not very common. These Filipino surnames have a long and interesting history. When the Spanish colonized the Philippines in the 16th century, Filipinos started using surnames. The Catholic Church gave names to new converts, leading more Filipinos to use both their native and Christian names. This also marked the time when the Philippine government standardized naming practices. This post provides a list of common, elegant, and rare Filipino surnames or last names, including their meanings, history, and variations.
Popular Filipino Surnames or Last Names Or Surnames With Meanings
- Abe
This Filipino surname comes from Hebrew and is used in many English-speaking countries. It is a nickname for ‘Abraham’ which means ‘father of many or a multitude.’ In the Taytay region of Palawan, it is a popular last name.
- Abad
This is a Filipino last name that comes from Spain. This surname signifies ‘forever or never-ending.’
- Abadiano
This Filipino surname comes from a village in Biscay, Spain. In the Philippines, it is a very common surname.
- Abalos
This Filipino surname is commonly found in the Philippines. It comes from the town of Ábalos near Haro in Soria province. This surname is a variant of Avalos.
- Abel
This biblical name means ‘breath, vapor, or vanity’ in Hebrew.
- Adlawan
This Filipino surname originates from the Cebuano language and refers to the time of day. The original surname ‘Adlaw’ translates to ‘sun’ in the English language.
- Agbayani
This Filipino last name is used in the Filipino, Tagalog, and Ilocano languages. In Ilocano, it signifies being heroic.
- Alcantara
This Filipino surname is used for people who come from the town of Alacantara in Extremadura, Spain. It comes from the Arabic word al-qantara, which translates to ‘the bridge’.
- Almazan
The Filipino surname ‘Almazan’ is mainly used in the Philippines to describe someone from a town called Almazan in Spain’s Castile and Leon region. This last name comes from the Arabic term ‘al-makhzan,’ which translates to ‘the stronghold.’
- Alonto
In the Maranao language, the surname ‘Alonto’ translates to ‘extraordinary.’ This last name is commonly used by both Maranao and Filipino individuals.
- Ambong
This is a structure for storing food grains that has its roots in Filipino and Cebuano cultures.
- Avelino
This Filipino surname comes from the Spanish name Avelino. The name was held by Saint Andrea Avellino, who lived in 17th century Avellino, Italy.
- Baccay
This Filipino last name in Tagalog means ‘to protect’.
- Bacolod
This is a Filipino surname that comes from the city of Bacolod on Negros Island in the Western Visayas region of the Philippines. This last translates to ‘hill or mound’ in English.
- Bacunawa
This Filipino surname comes from the Cebuano language and is used to describe a serpent or dragon in the myths of the Visayan people.
- Baguinda
This Filipino last name is a title of respect for a prince in the Minangkabau culture. People started using this last name to honor Rajah Baguinda Ali, a prince from Minangkabau who was the ruler of the Sulu Archipelago.
- Balaguer
This Filipino last name is used for someone who is from Balaguer city in Catalonia, Spain. This last name also has roots in Arabic.
- Balindong
It is a Filipino surname which means ‘seer or philosopher’ in the Maranao language.
- Baluyot
This Filipino surname comes from the Hiligaynon word ‘baluyot,’ which means bag, sack, or pouch.
- Banaag
The Filipino surname Banaag is a name in the Hiligaynon language that translates to ‘gleam, daybreak, or reflection.
- Bangon
In Maranao language, this Filipino surname means ‘to get up or rise’. This last name also represents a piece of land.
- Baquiran
It is a popular Filipino surname in the Philippines. The surname comes from the Ilocano word ‘bakiran,’ which translates to forest.
- Basa
This Filipino last name from the Philippines is commonly found in Manila.
- Batabor
In Maranao, this Filipino surname means a vessel for making tea or coffee. This last name can also be used to describe a green tube skirt.
- Batungbakal
This Filipino surname comes from combining the Tagalog words for ‘stone’ and ‘iron or steel.’
- Bayabao
This Filipino surname comes from the Maranao language and is used to describe the traditional divisions in the eastern parts of Lanao.
- Bulalacao
This last name is commonly used in areas where Tagalog and Filipino are spoken. The last name comes from the Tagalog term ‘bulalakaw,’ which refers to a shooting star or meteor.
- Bulan
This Cebuano last name means ‘a moon’ or ‘a month’ and was introduced to England during the Norman Conquest.
- Cabahug
This Filipino surname was discovered in Spanish records from the 1800s. This last name comes from the Cebuano word ‘bahog,’ which means ‘feed or slop.’
- Cagadas
This surname was probably given to the Filipinos when they were converted to Christianity.
- Calinao
This Filipino surname comes from the word ‘kalinaw,’ which means ‘clarity or peace’ in the Cebuano language.
- Calumpang
This is a surname based on a place near a river in Batangas, Philippines. It is another way to say ‘kalumpang,’ which means ‘wild almond tree’ in Tagalog.
- Camama
This last name from the Philippines comes from the term ‘kamama,’ which translates to ‘manly or masculine’ in the Maranao language.
- Canosa
This Filipino surname comes from Latin and means ‘cave or reed.’ It is a frequently used last name in the Caraga, Central Visayas, and Northern Mindanao regions of the Philippines.
- Caringal
This Filipino last name comes from the nickname Dingal, which means ‘very handsome or very beautiful’ in Tagalog.
- Catacutan
This Filipino surname comes from the Tagalog term katakutan, which translates to ‘fright or fear.’
- Catapan
This Filipino surname means having the courage to do something brave and comes from the Tagalog word ‘tapang.’
- Cayabyab
The last name ‘Cayabyab’ comes from the Filipino word ‘yabyab,’ which means to crush rice grains.
- Celda
This contemporary surname comes from Spain and means a small jail cell.
- Chaves
This is another way of spelling Chavez, who was a well-known labor activist named Cesar Chavez.
- Dagohoy
This surname comes from the Cebuano phrase ‘dagon sa huyuhoy,’ which translates to ‘talisman of the breeze.’
- Dalisay
This last name is a common nickname that means ‘pure or innocent.’ This surname comes from the Tagalog and Cebuano languages.
- Dasalan
It denotes a location specifically designated for praying, originating from the Tagalog word ‘dasal’ which translates to ‘prayer.’
- Datuimam
This surname is a title for religious leaders. This last name comes from the Maranao word ‘dato,’ which means ‘chief’ or ‘leader,’ and the Arabic word ‘imam,’ which means ‘leader.’
- Datumanong
This surname comes from Datomanong, a character in the Maranao epic poem Darangen, and it means ‘two-headed lizard’ in the language of the Maranao people.
- Datumolok
This Filipino last name is formed from the Maranao terms ‘dato,’ which means ‘chief or leader,’ and ‘molok,’ which means ‘own or possess.’ This last name signifies high social status.
- Dayanghirang
This Filipino surname means ‘chosen lady’ and comes from Tagalog. It is a mix of the words ‘dayang,’ which means ‘lady, girl, process,’ and ‘hirang,’ which means ‘selection or choice.’
- Del Rosario
This Filipino surname, which means ‘of the rosary,’ comes from Spain.
- Dilag
This Filipino last name means ‘splendor, beauty, or brilliance,’ or ‘maiden’ in Tagalog.’
- Dimaano
This Filipino last name means not being hurt or not being affected. This last name comes from two Tagalog words, ‘di,’ which means ‘no’ or ‘not,’ and ‘maano,’ which means ‘having something happen.’
- Dimaapi
This last name in Tagalog conveys the idea of being unable to be fully expressed.
- Dimabasa
This last name in Tagalog, meaning ‘dry.’ It is made up of two words, ‘di’ which means ‘no, not’ and ‘basa’ which means ‘watery, wet.’
- Dimacuha
This Filipino surname in Tagalog means something that cannot be obtained. This word is formed by combining ‘di,’ which means no or not, with ‘makuha,’ which means to obtain or get.
- Dimagiba
In Tagalog, this surname means ‘indestructible’ and comes from the words ‘di’ meaning ‘no, not’ and ‘giba’ meaning ‘demolished, destroyed.’
- Dimaisip
This Filipino surname means ‘difficult to understand.’ This last name is made up of two Tagalog words ‘di’ which means ‘no, not,’ and ‘isip’ which means ‘discernment, intellect.’
- Dimalanta
This Filipino last name comes from Tagalog and means ‘unable to wither.’ It is made up of ‘di,’ which means ‘no’ or ‘not,’ and ‘malanta,’ which means ‘wither’ or ‘fade.’
- Dimaliwat
This Filipino surname in Tagalog means strong-willed or unyielding, coming from the words ‘di’ which means ‘no’ or ‘not’ and ‘liwat’ which means ‘to transfer.’
- Dimapilis
This Filipino surname means ‘cannot be dissuaded.’ It comes from the Tagalog words ‘di,’ which means ‘no, not,’ and ‘pili,’ which means ‘contorted or twisted.’
- Dimatulac
This last name comes from the Tagalog words ‘di,’ which means ‘no, not,’ and ‘tulak,’ which means ‘shove, push.’
- Dimayuga
In Tagalog, this Filipino surname means ‘unshakable’ and is a combination of ‘di’ (which means ‘no, not’) and ‘mauga’ (which means ‘shaky or wobbly’).
- Divata
It is a last name in the Visayan or Mindanao language that means ‘guardian or protector of nature.’ These are ancestral spirits that provide guidance to humans.
- Dy
This last name in Hokkien is spelled as ‘Li,’ which means ‘plum or plum tree’ in Chinese.
- Elyas
It’s a version of the Filipino surname Elias, which comes from the Hebrew name ‘Eliyahu’ meaning ‘My God is Yahweh.’ This last name is often found among people from the Philippines, Ethiopia, and Malaysia.
- Fabroa
This Filipino last name means ‘fortunate’ and is from the Tagalog language. This last name is a different form of Fabro.
- Fernandez
This Filipino surname is frequently seen in the Philippines and translates to ‘son of Fernando’ in Spanish.
- Galura
This Filipino surname comes from a word in Sanskrit, ‘garuda,’ which is connected to a legendary bird in Hinduism, Jainism, and Buddhism.
- Gatus
This last name in Cebuano means ‘hundred’ is this.
- Gozar
This Filipino last name comes from the Spanish word ‘gozar,’ which means ‘to have fun.’
- Guinto
In Tagalog, this last name stands for the word ‘gold’.
- Hermedilla
During the Spanish rule, people from Batangas province in the Southern Tagalog region were given an occupational name.
- Halili
This Filipino surname means the person who takes over a position in the Tagalog language.
- Labrador
This Filipino surname comes from the word ‘labaro,’ which means ‘work or labor.’ This last name is commonly linked to San Isidro Labrador, the patron saint of farmers.
- Lardizabal
This Filipino last name comes from the Lardizabal Palace, which is a big house in Segura, a region in Goierri.
- Laxamana
This last name comes from the Sanskrit term ‘Laksamana,’ which translates to ‘admiral or officer.’
- Mabini
This Filipino surname means ‘modest, prudent or civil’.
- Magasaysay
In Cebuano, this Filipino surname means ‘to tell, to narrate, or to relate.’ Ramon Magasaysay, the seventh President of the Philippines, was a famous person with this name.
- Manug
In the Philippines, many people in Mnaug in Visayas or Mindanao commonly use this last name.
- Marohom
The phrase ‘of the Sultan’ is used to describe the Sultan in the Maranao area.
- Milanay
This Filipino last name is commonly used by people from the Bicol region in the Philippines.
- Oracion
This Filipino surname comes from the Spanish word ‘oracion,’ which means ‘prayer or sentence.’
- Pabalat
This Filipino last name means ‘saddle, cover,’ or ‘saddle maker.’ It is thought to have been bestowed upon a boy by a Spanish land surveyor in the late 1800s.
- Pacquiao
This surname is the Hispanicized version of the name Paquiao, which means ‘wholesale’ in the Filipino language Cebuano. One famous person with this last name is Manny Pacquiao, who used to be a champion boxer in the world.
- Panganiban
This Filipino surname means being careful or alert. The last name comes from combining the Tagalog word ‘panganib,’ which means ‘danger,’ with the suffix -an that indicates action or cause.
- Radiab
This Filipino surname comes from the Maranao word ‘Radiyab,’ which represents the seventh month in the Islamic calendar.
- Radiomoda
This Filipino surname translates to ‘young king.’ This is a last name used by sultans in the Maaranao culture.
- Salalila
This Filipino last name comes from Sanskrit and means ‘body.’ This surname was used as the name of a ruler in the ancient area of Maynila.
- Salvador
This Filipino surname is a common name in Christianity that means ‘Savior’ and is used in countries like the Philippines, Spain, Catalonia, the Philippines, and Portugal.
- Sicat
This Filipino surname comes from Tagalog language which means becoming famous or making an appearance.
- Sioson
In Hokkien, thos Filipino last name means ‘small grandchild’ and was likely used as a nickname that later became a family name.
- Suarez
This Filipino surname comes from Suárez, which means ‘son of Suero (blood, race, or family).’ It is a popular last name in the Philippines and Latin America.
- Sulu
This is a surname that represents someone from the sea in the Philippines. One famous person with this last name is Hikaru Sulu, who is a character in the TV show Star Trek.
- Sumulong
This Filipino last name comes from Tagalog and it translates to ‘moving forward’ or ‘making progress’.
- Tanglao
This Filipino surname comes from the Tagalog term ‘tanglaw’ which means ‘light or brightness.’
- Tatlonghari
This last name is connected to the biblical Magi or the Epiphany. In Tagalog, it translates to ‘three kings.’
- Tibayan
The last name Tibayan comes from a Tagalog word that means ‘to strengthen’ or ‘to secure.’
- Tolentino
This last name comes from the name of a town in the province of Macerata in Italy.
- Trinidad
Possibly derived from the Spanish word ‘trinidad’, meaning trinity, Trinidad reflects the rich religious history of its namesake.’ This last name from the Philippines means ‘trinity,’ which is a reference to the Holy Trinity in Spanish.
- Valle
This Filipino surname is commonly used by people who live in places called ‘valle,’ which means ‘valley.’
- Valmorida
This Filipino surname translates to ‘valley of the forest field’ and combines Spanish and Japanese words – ‘val’ for valley, ‘mor’ for forest/woods in Japanese, and ‘ta’ for paddy/field.
- Velasco
This Filipino surname comes from a medieval name, Velasco or Belasco, which comes from the word ‘bel’ meaning ‘raven’ and a suffix ‘-sco.’ It is also a last name used by people from different places named Velasco in provinces like Logrono, Soria, and Seville.
Frequently Asked Questions
This list of traditional Filipino surnames or last names has been in use for hundreds of years. These names are beautiful and remain widely used. It’s fascinating to explore the roots and different versions of these names and the cultural significance they convey with just one word. Filipino surnames or last names often reflect the geography and culture of the country. Furthermore, these names are passed down through generations, showing deep respect and giving insight into a person’s family background without any further research.
