125+ Popular & Rare Filipino Surnames (with Meanings)

Many Filipino last names have Spanish origins, due to Spanish colonization in the mid-19th century. However, some last names come from indigenous languages, like Tagolog, as well as Chinese, Indonesian, and Malaysian influences. We talked to naming experts Dr. Hayley Elizabeth Wilson and Natalie Mulholland to help us put together the ultimate list of Filipino last names (and their meanings)—so keep reading to learn more about popular, rare, or native names.

Common Filipino Surnames

Naming expert Dr. Hayley Elizabeth Wilson explains that many Filipino surnames sound Spanish because of the Spanish colonial administration’s practice of standardizing surnames. Here are some of the most common:

dela Cruz - Spanish for “of the Cross.”
García - Basque for “bear.”
Reyes - Spanish for “kings” or “royalty.”
Ramos - Spanish and Portuguese for “branches” or “bouquets.”
Mendoza - Basque for “cold mountain.”
Santos - Spanish and Portuguese for “saints” or “holy.”
Flores - Spanish and Portuguese for “flowers.”

Section 1 of 7:

Most Common Filipino Last Names

Download Article

Dela Cruz, García, and Reyes are the most common Filipino surnames. The following list contains the most common surnames in the Philippines. According to Dr. Wilson, many of them sound Spanish due to colonialism.^{[1]
X
Expert Source

Dr. Hayley Elizabeth Wilson
Naming Expert

Expert Interview} Here are the most popular Filipino surnames, along with what they mean:^{[2]
X
Research source}
- dela Cruz^{[3]
  X
  Expert Source
  
  Dr. Hayley Elizabeth Wilson
  Naming Expert
  
  Expert Interview} - Spanish for “of the Cross.”
- García^{[4]
  X
  Expert Source
  
  Dr. Hayley Elizabeth Wilson
  Naming Expert
  
  Expert Interview} - Basque for “bear.”
- Reyes^{[5]
  X
  Expert Source
  
  Dr. Hayley Elizabeth Wilson
  Naming Expert
  
  Expert Interview} - Spanish for “kings” or “royalty.”
- Ramos^{[6]
  X
  Expert Source
  
  Dr. Hayley Elizabeth Wilson
  Naming Expert
  
  Expert Interview} - Spanish and Portuguese for “branches” or “bouquets.”
- Mendoza^{[7]
  X
  Expert Source
  
  Dr. Hayley Elizabeth Wilson
  Naming Expert
  
  Expert Interview} - Basque for “cold mountain.”
- Santos^{[8]
  X
  Expert Source
  
  Dr. Hayley Elizabeth Wilson
  Naming Expert
  
  Expert Interview} - Spanish and Portuguese for “saints” or “holy.”
- Flores^{[9]
  X
  Expert Source
  
  Dr. Hayley Elizabeth Wilson
  Naming Expert
  
  Expert Interview} - Spanish and Portuguese for “flowers.”
- Gonzales^{[10]
  X
  Expert Source
  
  Dr. Hayley Elizabeth Wilson
  Naming Expert
  
  Expert Interview} - Spanish for “son of Gonzalo.”
- Bautista^{[11]
  X
  Expert Source
  
  Dr. Hayley Elizabeth Wilson
  Naming Expert
  
  Expert Interview} - Spanish for “Baptist” or “baptized.”
- Villanueva^{[12]
  X
  Expert Source
  
  Dr. Hayley Elizabeth Wilson
  Naming Expert
  
  Expert Interview} - Spanish for “new town” or “new village.”
Meet the wikiHow Experts

Dr. Hayley Elizabeth Wilson is a naming consultant and early childhood expert. She has over 20,000 followers on Instagram, where she shares naming tips, name meanings, and other inspiration.

Natalie Mulholland is a naming expert from Athens, Georgia. Since 2023, she’s also been a content creator focused on sharing the origin of names, plus what they mean and interesting people who’ve had that name before.

Section 2 of 7:

Popular Filipino Last Names

Download Article

Aquino, Cruz, and Santiago are other popular Filipino surnames. The following surnames still appear frequently, but they just aren’t as common as García, Reyes, and Gonzales (and others from the “most common” section). Here are some more popular Filipino surnames and their meanings:^{[13]
X
Research source}
- Abad - Spanish for “everlasting” or “eternal.”
- Abalos - Refers to a place in the Soria province.
- Aquino - Italian and Spanish for “from the town of Aquino.”
- Canosa - Latin for “cave” or “reed.”
- Castillo - Spanish for “castle.”
- Castro - Latin for “castle” or “forest.”
- Cruz - Spanish and Portuguesd for “cross.”
- de Guzmán - Spanish for “of Guzmán.”
- de León - Spanish for “of León” or “from León.”
- delos Santos - Spanish for “of the saints.”
- Díaz - Spanish for “son of Diego.”
- Domingo - Lain for “of the Lord.”
- Fernandez - Spanish for “son of Fernando.”
- Francisco - Spanish and Portuguese for “Frenchman” or “free man.”
- Galvez - Spanish for “son of Galve.”
- Hernández - Spanish for “son of Hernando.”
- López - Spanish for “son of Lope.”
- Martínez - Spanish for “son of Martin.”
- Mercado - Spanish for “market.”
- Morales - Spanish for “mulberry tree” or “blackberry bush.”
- Najera - Spanish for “from Najera.”
- Pérez - Spanish for “son of Pedro.”
- Ramírez - Spanish for “son of Ramiro.”
- Rivera - Spanish and Portuguese for “riverbank” or “shore.”
- Rodríguez - Spanish for “son of Rodrigo.”
- Salazar - Basque for “old hall” or “old house.”
- Sánchez - Spanish for “son of Sancho.”
- Santiago - Spanish and Portuguese for “Saint James.”
- Soriano - Spanish and Italian for “from Soria.”
- Suarez - Spanish for “son of Suero.”
- Tolentino - Italian for “from Tolentino.”
- Torres - Spanish, Portuguese, and Catalan name for “towers.”
- Valdez - Spanish for “son of Valdo.”

Section 3 of 7:

Rare Filipino Last Names

Download Article

Baltazar, Dallisay, and Macabulos are some of the rarest Filipino surnames. Although these surnames are relatively uncommon, you might come across them from time to time. Some hold odd or unique meanings, while others are simply outdated. Here’s a quick list of rare and unique options:^{[14]
X
Research source}
- Bacaunawa - Refers to a serpent or dragon in Visayan mythology.
- Balagtas - Tagalog for “pathway trail.”
- Balingit - Ilocano for “to shake someone by the shoulder,” or Tagalog for “balin (to return).”
- Baltazar - Babylonian for “may god protect the king.”
- Cabailo - Spanish for “horse.”
- Carpio - Spanish for “carp.”
- Carreón - Spanish for “cart” or “wagon.”
- Dalisay - Tagalog for “pure” or “clean.”
- Esteban - Spanish for “crown” or “garland.”
- Gallora - Spanish for “from Galera.”
- Gatchalian - Tagalog for “nobility” and the place name “Li-han.”
- Gatdula - A pre-colonial Tagalog honorific title for a nobleman.
- Ilagan - Tagalog for “to dodge,” “to evade,” or “to get out of the way.”
- Lontoc - Tagalog for a type of tree or shrub.
- Macabulos - Tagalog for “to flow or pour.”
- Mallari - Tagalog for sojmeone who possessed certain qualities or land.
- Quiling - Tagalog for “bending” or “coiling.”
- Sumanga - Hispanicized form of the Tagalog word “umang,” meaning “snare” or “trap.”
- Tuazon - Chinese for “eldest grandson.”
- Tupas - Refers to a pre-Hispanic Cebuano rajah (ruler) named Tupas.

Section 4 of 7:

Native Filipino Last Names

Download Article

Dalisay, Panganiban, and Tatlonghari are some native Filipino surnames. Many of these names derive from family ancestry, geography, occupations, personal qualities, and natural elements, unlike most of the Spanish-derived surnames that became popular due to colonization. Here are native Filipino last names and what they mean:^{[15]
X
Research source}
- Baccay - Tagalog for “to guard.”
- Batongbakal - Tagalog for “stone iron.”
- Bulalacao - Tagalog for “shooting star” or “meteor.”
- Bulan - Tagalog for “moon.”
- Catapang - Tagalog for “courage.”
- Dalisay - Tagalog for “pure,” “immaculate,” or “sincere.”
- Dasalan - Tagalog for “a place of prayer.”
- Dimayuga - Tagalog for “unshakeable,” “steadfast,” “resolute,” and “brave.”
- Gatpandan - Refers to a former Tagalog leader who ruled what is now Silang.
- Guinto - Tagalog for “gold.”
- Halili - Tagalog for “successor,” “substitute,” or “replacement.”
- Lacanla - Tagalog for “noble light.”
- Lacson - Hokkien-Chinese for “sixth grandson.”
- Macalintal - Tagalog for a type of tree or plant.
- Magpantay - Tagalog for “to equalize” or “to level.”
- Mallari - Refers to the powerful deity in Kapampangan and Sambal mythology.
- Manalo - Tagalog for “to win” or “to conquer.”
- Manug - Tagalog for “to do” or “one who does.”
- Panganiban - Tagalog for “danger” or “risk.”
- Tibayan - Tagalog for “strength” or “sturdiness.”
- Timbol -Tagalog for “float.”
- Tatlonghari - Tagalog for “three kings.”

Section 5 of 7:

Rich Filipino Last Names

Download Article

These surnames are associated with wealthy families in the Philippines. While you might not come across these surnames frequently, they’re widely known and respected. Here are some prestigious surnames tied to the wealthiest individuals and families in the country:^{[16]
X
Research source}
- Aboitiz - Refers to the major conglomerate with diversified investments in power, banking, food, infrastructure, and real estate.
- Ang - Associated with Ramon Ang, the president and CEO of Top Frontier Investment Holdings, Inc.
- Antonio - Associated with real estate magnate Jose Antonio, the founder and chairman of Century Properties Group.
- Belo - Tied to William Belo, the founder and chairman emeritus of Wilcon Depot, Inc.
- Campos - Refers to the Campos siblings, the heirs to the Unilab fortune.
- Cojuangco - Tied to Eduardo Cojuangco Jr., the former chairman and CEO of San Miguel Corporation (the largest food and beverage corporation in the Philippines and South East Asia).
- Consunji - Associated with Filipino businessman and former secretary of the Department of Public Works, Transportation, and Communications David M. Consunji.
- Coyiuto - Tied to Robert Coyiuto Jr., the chairman of privately held Prudential Guarantee and Assurance, one of the largest non-life insurance companies in the Philippines.
- Gokongwei - Associated with Filipino banker, businessman, investor, and philathropish John Gokongwei.
- Gotianun - Associated with Filipinno businessman and investor Andrew Gotianun, best known for running Filinvest Development Corporation.
- Gozon - Associated with Felipe Gozon, the current chairman and advisor of the board of GMA Network Inc.
- Kweefanus - Tied to Hartono Kweefanus, chairman emeritus of Monde Nissin (a food manufacturer based in the Philippines).
- Lao - Tied to Alredo Yao, a well-known figure in the food and beverage sector.
- Ng - Associated with Jacinto Ng, the founder of Republic Biscuit (Rebisco).
- Po - A prominent business family known for founding Century Pacific Food, Inc.
- Soesanto - Tied to Henry Soesanto, the CEO of food manufacturer Monde Nissin.
- Sy - Tied to the family known for the SM group, which is one of the largest conglomerates in the Philippines.
- Tan - The Tan family is associated with business and finance in the Philippines.
- Villar - Tied to Manuel Villar, known for his real estate and other businesses.
- Yap - Tied to Emilio Yap, who built his wealth through Philtrust Bank.
- Zobel - A family known for founding the Ayala Corporation, the Philippines’ oldest and largest conglomerate.

Section 6 of 7:

Elegant Filipino Last Names

Download Article

Ayala, Belmonte, and del Rosario are some elegant Filipino surnames. Elegant last names often have Spanish or Italian origins, symbolizing beautiful characteristics, places, or nature. Here are some of our favorite options, along with their meanings:^{[17]
X
Research source}
- Alonto - Maranao for “extraordinary.”
- Ayala - Spanish for “from Ayala.”
- Balindong - Maranao for “philosopher.”
- Banaag - Hiligonyan for “gleam,” “daybreak,” or “reflection.”
- Belmonte - Spanish for “beautiful mountain.”
- Ciudad - Spanish for “city.”
- Corpuz - Latin for “body.”
- Davino - Italian for “little David” or “dear David.”
- del Rosario - Spanish for “of the Rosary.”
- de Vera - Spanish for “from Vera.”
- Dilag - Tagalog for “beauty” or “grace.”
- Dinero - Spanish for “money.”
- Diwata - Refers to mythological nature spirits in Philippine folklore.
- Evangelista - Italian and Spanish for “evangelist (bringer of good news).”
- Madrigal - Spanish for “womb” or “riverbed.”
- Medrano - Spanish for “abundance,” “to thrive,” or “to prosper.”
- Miranda - Latin for “admirable” or “wonderful.”
- Oracion - Spanish for “prayer.”
- Rodrigo - Spanish for “famous power” or “famous ruler.”
- Santillanes - Spanish for “from Santillán.”
- Tolentino - Italian for “from Tolentino.”

Section 7 of 7:

History of Filipino Last Names

Download Article

Most Filipino last names originate from Spanish colonization. “The Spanish sound of many Filipino last names is largely a legacy of the Spanish colonial administration’s practice of standardizing surnames,” explains Dr. Wilson.^{[18]
X
Expert Source

Dr. Hayley Elizabeth Wilson
Naming Expert

Expert Interview} In 1849, Filipinos were forced to adopt Spanish surnames with the enactment of the Claveria Decree, which aimed to standardize names for census and tax purposes.^{[19]
X
Research source}
- Mulholland agrees that “there’s a lot of Spanish influence with Filipino names.”^{[20]
  X
  Expert Source
  
  Natalie Mulholland
  Name Consultant
  
  Expert Interview}
- Prior to Spanish colonization, Filipinos typically used single names that reflected their location, occupation, or father’s name.