350+ Filipino Last Names or Surnames (With Origins & Meanings)

Looking for Filipino last names that tell amazing stories? You won’t believe how interesting these family names can be! I’ve always been fascinated by how a simple last name can tell you so much about where someone’s family came from and what their ancestors might have done.

You know how we all have those family stories passed down through generations? Well, Filipino last names are kind of like that – each one has its own tale to tell. Some show Spanish connections (thanks to all those years of Spanish rule), others have Chinese roots (from centuries of trade), and many come straight from ancient Filipino traditions.

Think about it like this – it’s like having a tiny family history book right in your name! When you meet someone with a last name like “Dela Cruz” (which means “of the cross”), you’re basically meeting someone whose family story goes way back to when Catholicism first came to the Philippines. Pretty cool, right?

And here’s something neat – these names aren’t just random. Each one means something special. Sometimes they tell you what job someone’s great-great-grandparents did, or which part of the Philippines they came from. It’s like having a family treasure that gets passed down with every generation.

It’s funny – I was talking to a friend the other day about how his last name “Santos” (meaning “saints”) is super common in the Philippines, but he had no idea why until we looked it up. That’s what makes these names so fun to learn about – there’s always an interesting story behind them!

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Filipino Last Names and Their Meanings

Let’s kick things off with some classic Filipino last names! Just like beautiful group names, these names each have their own special charm:

De la Cruz (Spanish) – “of the cross”
Santos (Spanish) – “saints”
Reyes (Spanish) – “kings”
Garcia (Spanish) – “bear”
Torres (Spanish) – “towers”
Lim (Chinese) – “forest”
Tan (Chinese) – “red”
Cruz (Spanish) – “cross”
Ramos (Spanish) – “branches”
Mendoza (Spanish) – “cold mountain”
Lopez (Spanish) – “son of Lope”
Flores (Spanish) – “flowers”
Aquino (Spanish) – “of the house of Aquinas”
Diaz (Spanish) – “son of Diego”
Rivera (Spanish) – “riverbank”
Gonzales (Spanish) – “son of Gonzalo”
Aguilar (Spanish) – “eagle”
Castillo (Spanish) – “castle”
Miranda (Spanish) – “admirable”
Valencia (Spanish) – “valor”

Philippines Last Names List

Hey, want to see more amazing Filipino surnames? These ones remind me of unique group names list:

Macapagal – “resilient”
Bautista – “baptist”
Pascual – “born at Easter”
Fernandez – “son of Fernando”
Romualdez – “famed ruler”
Mercado – “market”
Villegas – “small village”
Navarro – “from Navarre”
Santiago – “Saint James”
Rodriguez – “son of Rodrigo”
Ramirez – “son of Ramiro”
Perez – “son of Pedro”
Martinez – “son of Martin”
Gomez – “son of Gome”
Sanchez – “son of Sancho”
Alvarez – “son of Alvaro”
Morales – “mulberry trees”
Romero – “pilgrim”
Herrera – “blacksmith”
Velasco – “crow”

Filipino Surnames

Let’s dive into more amazing Filipino surnames! You know what’s cool about these? Each one has its own special story, kind of like matching couple names:

Del Rosario – “of the rosary”
Ang (Chinese) – “peaceful”
Chua (Chinese) – “snake”
Go (Chinese) – “enlightened”
Yap (Chinese) – “duck”
Sy (Chinese) – “merchant”
Co (Chinese) – “ancient”
Uy (Chinese) – “righteous”
De Guzman – “the good man”
De Leon – “of the lion”
De Vera – “of truth”
Del Mundo – “of the world”
De Jesus – “of Jesus”
De Castro – “of the fortress”
De los Santos – “of the saints”
De los Reyes – “of the kings”
De la Peña – “of the rock”
De la Rosa – “of the rose”
De la Torre – “of the tower”
De la Fuente – “of the fountain”

Philippines Names and Surnames

These names are super interesting – they’re like family group names that tell amazing stories:

Villanueva – “new house”
Domingo – “born on Sunday”
Salvador – “savior”
Marquez – “son of Marco”
Jimenez – “son of Simon”
Estrada – “street”
Aguilar – “eagle handler”
Medina – “city”
Salazar – “old hall”
Cortez – “courteous”
Guerrero – “warrior”
Montenegro – “black mountain”
Evangelista – “evangelist”
Villanueva – “new village”
Cervantes – “servant”
Espiritu – “spirit”
Gutierrez – “son of Walter”
Almonte – “the mountain”
Buenaventura – “good fortune”
Ilustre – “illustrious”

Filipino Names and Surnames

Check these out – they’re like cultural team club names but for families:

Magsaysay – “to discuss”
Laurel – “laurel tree”
Quezon – “long”
Roxas – “red”
Quirino – “loving”
Osmena – “son of Osmund”
Recto – “right”
Mabini – “bamboo grove”
Aguinaldo – “Christmas bonus”
Bonifacio – “good fate”
Luna – “moon”
Rizal – “rice field”
Lacson – “son of Lac”
Tolentino – “from Toledo”
Soriano – “from Soria”
Padilla – “small pan”
Zaragoza – “from Zaragoza”
Enriquez – “son of Henry”
Malacañang – “fisherman’s home”
Cojuangco – “old house”

Philippines Last Names

You know what’s amazing about these Filipino last names? Each one’s got its own unique story, like how some of my Latin last names friends have such rich histories:

Abella – “beekeeper”
Alcantara – “bridge”
Alvarado – “guardian”
Antonio – “priceless one”
Basa – “reader”
Caballero – “gentleman”
Dizon – “son of Dixon”
Evangelista – “gospel writer”
Fajardo – “abundant”
Galang – “respect”
Imperial – “royal”
Javier – “new house”
Lazaro – “God helps”
Madrigal – “morning song”
Natividad – “nativity”
Ocampo – “from the field”
Pangilinan – “overseer”
Quiambao – “first”
Rosario – “rosary”
Tuazon – “eldest”

Family Names in the Philippines

These names are like precious family treasures! Think of them like those family group names that bring people together:

Abad – “eternal”
Arcega – “maple tree”
Bernardo – “brave as a bear”
Cañete – “from reed bed”
Dalisay – “pure”
Enrile – “honorable ruler”
Gallardo – “gallant”
Hidalgo – “nobleman”
Ignacio – “fiery”
Jaime – “supplanter”
Legaspi – “from the steep”
Manalo – “winner”
Nolasco – “from Nola”
Ordonez – “orderly”
Pacheco – “peaceful”
Quinto – “fifth born”
Recio – “strong”
Saavedra – “savior”
Trinidad – “trinity”
Urbina – “city dweller”

Common Filipino Last Names

Here are some names you’ll hear all the time in the Philippines – they’re kind of like popular medieval last names but with a Filipino twist:

Malvar – “bad news”
Marcos – “warlike”
Mercado – “market”
Montemayor – “greater mountain”
Moreno – “brown”
Navarro – “from Navarre”
Ortega – “nettle field”
Paredes – “walls”
Ponce – “bridge”
Ramos – “branches”
Robles – “oaks”
Ruiz – “son of Ruy”
Santos – “saints”
Silva – “forest”
Sotto – “under”
Torres – “towers”
Valdez – “from the valley”
Vargas – “steep slope”
Velasquez – “son of Velasco”
Zamora – “olive tree”

Cool Filipino Surnames

Hey, let me share some super cool Filipino last names! These are like the rockstars of surnames – each one’s got such a great ring to it:

Alabanza – “praise”
Belmonte – “beautiful mountain”
Celestial – “heavenly”
Delos Angeles – “of the angels”
Estrella – “star”
Galvez – “son of Galván”
Hermoso/a – “beautiful”
Isabelo – “devoted to God”
Jalandro – “traveler”
Kimpo – “golden treasure”
Lualhati – “glory”
Magbanua – “warrior”
Noble – “noble one”
Oro – “gold”
Paraiso – “paradise”
Querubin – “cherub”
Resplandor – “radiance”
Salvacion – “salvation”
Tala – “star”
Victoria – “victory”

Filipino Family Names

You know what’s really neat about these family names? Each one’s got a story that goes way back! Like those rich Filipino surnames, they carry so much history:

Avelino – “desired”
Bayani – “hero”
Carmona – “garden”
Datu – “chief”
Escueta – “shield”
Fortuna – “fortune”
Guevarra – “giver”
Honorato – “honored”
Ines – “pure”
Jovellanos – “joyful”
Kristanto – “follower of Christ”
Lakandula – “noble chief”
Macaraeg – “abundant”
Nepomuceno – “from Nepomuk”
Olivares – “olive groves”
Paragas – “precious stone”
Quijano – “victorious”
Rajah – “king”
Soliman – “peaceful”
Tamayo – “twin”

Rich Filipino Last Names

These names often pop up in history books and business directories – they’re like the elegant rare Filipino surnames of the Philippines:

Araneta
Ayala
Cojuangco
Lopez-Jaena
Madrigal
Ortigas
Palanca
Puyat
Rufino
Soriano
Tantoco
Tuason
Yuchengco
Zobel
Zóbel de Ayala
Elizalde
Fernandez-Concepcion
Laurel-Castañeda
Prieto-Romualdez
Roxas-Chua

Rarest Filipino Last Names

You know what’s super interesting? Some Filipino last names are like hidden gems – you rarely hear them! Here’s a peek at some of these unique treasures:

Ambalada – from ancient Filipino nobility
Bakunawa – named after a mythical sea creature
Dayang – means “princess” in old Filipino
Gatmaitan – ancient warrior class name
Hungduan – from mountain tribes
Inumaran – pre-colonial name
Kabayao – means “horse rider”
Lakambini – means “noblewoman”
Mangubat – means “warrior”
Nagrampa – indigenous origin
Pagulayan – royal lineage name
Rajamuda – means “young prince”
Salakot – named after traditional hat
Tampinco – rare Chinese-Filipino blend
Ulilang – means “orphaned”
Villadolid – rare Spanish variation
Wangkay – ancient Chinese origin
Yaranon – indigenous mountain name
Zialcita – unique Spanish-Filipino mix
Kasilag – means “alertness”

Rare Filipino Last Names

These names are like finding a four-leaf clover – pretty special! Just like those unique group names, they really stand out:

Alingalan
Bangayan
Caliso
Dagohoy
Esguerra
Gatus
Hamada
Isorena
Jaranilla
Kangleon
Lumayag
Magdamo
Novero
Oandasan
Pagdanganan
Quindipan
Ravalo
Sugatan
Tamondong
Unchuan

Filipino American Last Names

Hey, check these out – they’re what you might spot in both Manila and Manhattan! Like a cool cultural mashup:

Abad Santos
Bautista-Smith
Cruz-Johnson
De la Cruz-Williams
Estrada-Brown
Flores-Miller
Garcia-Anderson
Hernandez-Davis
Ignacio-Wilson
Jimenez-Taylor
Lopez-Martin
Mendoza-Clark
Navarro-White
Ortiz-Thompson
Perez-Moore
Quintero-Lee
Reyes-Martinez
Santos-Robinson
Torres-Wright
Villanueva-Scott

Family Names in Philippines

Let’s chat about these amazing family names! They’re like little pieces of history that got passed down through generations:

Alcazar – cool name meaning “fortress”
Batongbakal – it literally means “iron stone”
Cordero – means “lamb,” sweet right?
Dacanay – ancient indigenous name
Enriquez – royal Spanish roots
Fuentebella – means “beautiful fountain”
Guinto – means “gold” in Tagalog
Halili – from native Filipino roots
Ilagan – means “east”
Jalandoni – Visayan origin
Katigbak – pure Filipino name
Ledesma – old Spanish heritage
Macarambon – Mindanao origin
Narciso – means “daffodil”
Orbos – rare Spanish name
Pimentel – means “spice seller”
Quiogue – Chinese-Filipino blend
Regalado – means “gifted”
Singson – Chinese heritage
Tañada – indigenous roots

Most Common Surnames Philippines

These are the names you’ll hear everywhere in the Philippines – they’re super popular, like your favorite coffee shop that’s on every corner:

Santos
Reyes
Cruz
Garcia
Fernandez
Lopez
Martinez
Rodriguez
Perez
Gonzales
Torres
Rivera
Ramos
Flores
Morales
Castro
Gomez
Mendoza
Castillo
Del Rosario

Filipino Last Names Spanish

Hey, did you know lots of Filipino names have Spanish roots? Check these out – they’re like a bridge between two amazing cultures:

Alcantara – “the bridge”
Borromeo – super elegant, right?
Cervantes – like the famous author!
Delgado – means “thin”
Espinosa – means “thorny”
Fajardo – noble origins
Gallardo – means “gallant”
Herrera – means “blacksmith”
Ibañez – “son of Ivan”
Jimenez – classic Spanish
Lacuesta – “the slope”
Montoya – “mountain”
Nuñez – means “son of Nuño”
Ocampo – “the field”
Padilla – cute, means “small pan”
Quinones – old Spanish name
Rosales – means “rosebushes”
Suarez – “son of Suero”
Toledo – city name
Velasquez – famous artist name

Filipino Last Names That Start With D

Hey! Let’s check out these awesome Filipino last names that kick off with D. Each one’s got such an interesting story:

De Guzman – means “the good man”
De Leon – it’s like having a lion in your name!
De La Cruz – super common, means “of the cross”
Delos Santos – “of the saints”
Diaz – classic name, means “son of Diego”
Domingo – born on Sunday, cool right?
Delos Reyes – “of the kings”
Del Rosario – all about the rosary
David – like the biblical hero
Delos Angeles – means “of the angels”
Dela Rosa – think “of the rose”
Dizon – has such a nice ring to it
Dela Peña – “from the rock”
Delos Santos – sounds so noble!
Dulay – unique indigenous name
Dela Torre – means “of the tower”
Datu – means “chief”
Dacanay – ancient Filipino roots
Dorado – means “golden”
Dimalanta – pure Filipino name

Filipino Last Names That Start With H

Now let’s talk about the H-crew! These names are just as interesting:

Hernandez – super popular
Herrera – means “blacksmith”
Hidalgo – means “nobleman”
Huang – Chinese-Filipino blend
Henson – got some Western vibes
Hilario – means “cheerful”
Hortaleza – “about gardens”
Herradura – means “horseshoe”
Hong – Chinese origin
Hostallero – “innkeeper”
Humarang – indigenous name
Hibaya – rare Filipino name
Hagad – unique local name
Hubilla – Spanish influence
Halili – native Filipino
Hermoso – means “handsome”
Holgado – “comfortable”
Heredia – Spanish origin
Habaradas – indigenous
Himaya – means “glory”

Unique Filipino Last Names

These names? They’re like finding rare gems – you don’t hear them every day:

Alunan – sounds so regal
Bathala – means “deity”
Calindas – super unique
Dimasupil – warrior name
Empaynado – rare Spanish mix
Fulgencio – sounds fancy!
Garchitorena – what a mouthful
Halagueña – means “flattering”
Iñigo – old Spanish name
Jamandre – unique blend
Kalayaan – means “freedom”
Lacandola – royal lineage
Mayumi – means “gentle”
Nakpil – historical name
Oligario – rare Spanish
Paraluman – means “muse”
Quintos – means “fifth”
Regalado – “gifted”
Salonga – prominent name
Tagumpay – means “victory”

Filipino Last Names for Girl

Hey! Let’s talk about some beautiful Filipino last names that sound especially lovely for girls. You know how some names just have that special ring to them? These definitely do:

Dela Rosa – isn’t “of the rose” just perfect?
Estrella – means “star,” how pretty is that?
Flores – literally means “flowers”
Luna – like the moon, so dreamy!
Mariposa – means “butterfly”
Bella – means “beautiful”
Celeste – means “heavenly”
Dalisay – means “pure”
Reyna – means “queen”
Isabela – royal vibes!
Corazon – means “heart”
Divina – means “divine”
Perla – means “pearl”
Magnolia – like the flower
Soledad – means “solitude”
Angeles – means “angels”
Rosario – means “rosary”
Aurora – like the dawn
Paloma – means “dove”
Belinda – means “beautiful”

Rich Filipino Surnames

You know those names that just sound fancy? These are like the Rolls-Royce of Filipino surnames:

Ayala – old money vibes
Zobel – super prestigious
Lopez – big business family
Sy – major retail dynasty
Tan – business royalty
Gokongwei – corporate giants
Aboitiz – power family
Cojuangco – political dynasty
Osmena – political elite
Roxas – old wealth
Yuchengco – banking family
Concepcion – industry leaders
Ortigas – real estate moguls
Puyat – business legends
Madrigal – old wealth
Araneta – major landowners
Aguirre – historic wealth
Escaler – old money
Soriano – industry pioneers
Elizalde – prestigious family

Elegant Rare Filipino Surnames

These names are like finding a unicorn – they’re both rare and totally gorgeous:

Almendras – “almond trees”
Buenaflor – “good flower”
Carmona – so sophisticated!
Delgado – sounds so refined
Esplana – rare beauty
Fuentebella – “beautiful fountain”
Glorioso – “glorious”
Hermosura – means “beauty”
Ilustre – means “illustrious”
Jalandoni – old-world charm
Katigbak – unique elegance
Ledesma – such class
Macaraig – noble sound
Nobleza – means “nobility”
Ortigas – prestigious
Paredes – refined
Quiambao – rare gem
Resplandor – “radiant”
Salcedo – distinguished
Villareal – “royal villa”

Filipino Last Names Male

Alright, let’s wrap this up with some strong, masculine-sounding Filipino last names! You know the kind – they just have that powerful ring to them:

Agbayani – means “brave one”
Batongbakal – literally “iron stone”
Dagohoy – famous warrior name
Guerrero – means “warrior”
Lakandula – “noble chief”
Magiting – means “brave”
Matapang – means “brave”
Montero – “hunter”
Pagulayan – “like royalty”
Rajah – means “king”
Salamanca – strong Spanish name
Tagalog – ethnic pride
Tizon – means “firebrand”
Ulama – means “wise man”
Valiente – means “valiant”
Villafuerte – “strong town”
Waray – warrior tribe
Ximenes – powerful sound
Yalung – ancient warrior
Zamora – means “olive tree”

The Spanish Connection

You know how things changed when the Spanish arrived in the Philippines? Well, they really shook up the way Filipinos named themselves!

Before the Spanish came along, most Filipinos used single names, sometimes with descriptions of their traits or where they lived.

But everything changed in 1849 when Governor General Narciso Clavería y Zaldúa decided things needed a major overhaul.

Want to know something interesting? Check out these Spanish team names – you’ll notice some similarities with many Filipino surnames today!

The Spanish brought along what they called the Catálogo Alfabético de Apellidos – fancy name, right? It was basically a big book of surnames that Filipino families could choose from.

This is why you’ll find so many Filipino families with beautiful Spanish-sounding names like dela Cruz, Santos, and Reyes.

A Mix of Cultures

Here’s what makes Filipino last names super special – they’re like a cultural buffet! You’ve got:

Spanish-inspired surnames (the most common ones)
Chinese family names (especially in business families)
Indigenous Filipino names (keeping those roots strong!)
Arabic-influenced names (particularly in Muslim regions)

Speaking of cultural mixes, it reminds me of how Japanese group team names show similar cultural blending.

Spanish-Origin Surnames

These names often reflect:

Religious connections (dela Cruz = of the Cross)
Physical features (Moreno = brown-skinned)
Occupations (Herrero = blacksmith)

Just like Latin words for usernames, these names often carry deep historical meaning.

Chinese-Origin Surnames

Chinese surnames in the Philippines have an interesting twist. Many were modified to sound more Filipino or Spanish. For example:

Lim (林)
Tan (陳)
Sy (施)

These names often show up in both their original and modified forms, kind of like how Korean usernames adapt to different contexts.

Regional Names

You know what’s really cool about Filipino indigenous last names? They tell amazing stories about the land and its people. Like a window into the past, these names carry deep meanings connected to nature, traits, and ancient traditions.

Let’s look at some beautiful examples:

Agbayani – means “brave one” or “hero”
Baluyot – derived from a type of basket used for fishing
Dimaano – means “untouchable” or “unreachable”

It’s a bit like looking at nature last names, but with a uniquely Filipino twist!

Arabic Influence

Now, here’s something interesting – especially if you’re from Mindanao! Muslim Filipino families often have surnames that show their Islamic heritage. These names are super meaningful and often have beautiful meanings in Arabic:

Usman – means “one who leads”
Ali – means “noble” or “elevated”
Hassan – means “good” or “handsome”

Top Filipino Last Names

Ready for the greatest hits of Filipino surnames? Here’s a look at some super common ones you’ll definitely run into:

Surname	Origin	Meaning
Santos	Spanish	“Saints”
Cruz	Spanish	“Cross”
Reyes	Spanish	“Kings”
Lim	Chinese	“Forest”
Macapagal	Indigenous	“Resilient”

These names are kind of like family group names – they bring people together and create a sense of belonging!

Cultural Significance

Let me tell you something amazing about Filipino surnames – they’re not just names, they’re like family treasures! When someone introduces themselves with their last name, they’re sharing:

Their family’s history
Where their ancestors might have come from
Sometimes even what their ancestors did for a living

Think of it like those cultural team club names – each one carries special meaning and pride.

Modern Day Significance

In today’s Philippines, your surname can still tell people a lot about you:

Which region your family’s from
Your possible ethnic background
Sometimes even your family’s social history

Choosing a Filipino Last Name

Looking to choose a Filipino last name? Maybe for your character in a story or because you’re connecting with your roots? Here are some friendly tips:

Think about your family history
Consider the meaning behind the name
Look at regional connections
Check if it’s easy to pronounce
Make sure it feels right to you

It’s kind of like choosing from unique group names list – you want something that really speaks to you!

Wrapping It Up

Filipino last names are like little time capsules carrying centuries of history. From Spanish colonization to Chinese trade, from indigenous traditions to Islamic influence – each name tells a story that’s part of the bigger Filipino tale.

Whether your last name is Santos, Lim, Agbayani, or something totally different, it’s part of what makes Filipino culture so amazingly rich and diverse. And hey, isn’t that what makes it all so special?

Pro Tip: If you’re digging into your family history, start by asking your older relatives about your surname. They often have the best stories about where your family name came from!

Want to explore more about names and their meanings? Check out this article about beautiful group names. You might find some inspiration there!

Remember, every name has a story – what’s yours? 😊

Alex Holland

Greetings, I’m Alex – an expert in the art of naming teams, groups or brands, and businesses. With years of experience as a consultant for some of the most recognized companies out there, I want to pass on my knowledge and share tips that will help you craft an unforgettable name for your project through TeamGroupNames.Com!