200+ Filipino Last Names 2026 (With Meanings)
Filipino last names: The Philippines has a very rich and diverse history brought in its culture, language, and surnames.
The Filipino last names tell stories about colonial influences, indigenous roots, and historical migration.
From it derive centuries-old Spanish names like Cruz and Lopez, amongst others, and more indigenous surnames such as Laksamana and Dimalanta.
This blog will cover both the origins and meanings of Filipino surnames while highlighting their significance.
Whether you trace your lineage for ancestry purposes or are just curious about Filipino heritage, this guide will enhance your appreciation of Filipino names.
Filipino last names
Cruz – “Cross,” often associated with Christianity.
Lopez – “Son of Lope,” derived from the Spanish word for “wolf.”
Santos – “Saints,” common in religious families.
Reyes – “Kings,” symbolizing royalty.
Garcia – Derived from a Spanish warrior family name.
Ramos – “Branches,” possibly referring to a family tree.
Torres – “Towers,” representing strength.
Del Rosario – “Of the Rosary,” a Marian devotion.
Navarro – “Plains” or “Newcomer.”
Aguilar – “Eagle,” symbolizing power.
De la Cruz – “Of the Cross,” a religious name.
Villanueva – “New town,” indicating a place of origin.
Gonzales – “Son of Gonzalo,” meaning “battle genius.”
Ortega – “Nettle,” a plant with symbolic significance.
Bautista – “Baptist,” referencing John the Baptist.
Castillo – “Castle,” representing nobility.
Mendoza – “Cold mountain,” referring to geography.
Fernandez – “Son of Fernando,” meaning “brave traveler.”
Pascual – “Easter,” linked to the resurrection of Christ.
Valencia – “Strength” or “bravery.”
Lazaro – “Lazarus,” associated with resurrection.
Padilla – “Small frying pan,” an occupational surname.
Alvarez – “Son of Alvaro,” meaning “guardian.”
Salvador – “Savior,” a religious name.
Vergara – “Place of thick vegetation.”
Espinoza – “Thorny,” possibly referring to a landscape.
Jimenez – “Son of Jimeno,” meaning “he who hears.”
De Guzman – “Of Guzman,” linked to nobility.
De Leon – “Of the lion,” symbolizing courage.
Manalo – “To win” or “to triumph” in Tagalog.
Dimalanta – “Not yet defeated,” symbolizing resilience.
Laksamana – A Malay-derived name meaning “admiral.”
Bayani – “Hero” in Tagalog.
Magbanua – “To defend,” from an indigenous warrior class.
Balagtas – A famous surname linked to poet Francisco Balagtas.
Katigbak – “To support” or “to assist.”
Panganiban – “To wave a sword,” denoting a warrior heritage.
Macaraeg – “To overcome” or “to conquer.”
Sumulong – “To advance” or “to progress.”
Gatbonton – “Noble of Bonton,” a historical Filipino title.
Liwanag – “Light” or “brightness.”
Mapili – “Choosy” or “selective,” possibly referring to discernment.
Magtanggol – “To defend,” representing bravery.
Pagsanjan – A place-based surname, referring to a town in Laguna.
Dela Peña – “Of the rock” or “cliff.”
Malabanan – “To fight against” or “to resist.”
Bagatsing – A name of Indian origin meaning “strong.”
Dimagiba – “Indestructible” or “unbreakable.”
Tumangday – “To rise up” or “to stand tall.”
Banquil – Possibly derived from a river or body of water.
Abad – “Priest” in Spanish, often associated with religious figures.
Abella – “Bee” in Spanish, symbolizing hard work.
Abesamis – “Companion of Sama” in Visayan, meaning “friend.”
Acebedo – Derived from a Spanish word meaning “maple tree.”
Almario – “To be adorned” or “ornamented” in Spanish.
Amparo – “Protection” or “shelter” in Spanish.
Arceo – “Oak tree,” representing strength and resilience.
Atienza – “To assist” or “to help.”
Bagayan – “To carry something on the back” in native languages.
Baluyot – “Roof” or “shelter,” possibly an occupational name.
Bañez – “Son of Baño,” meaning “bath” or “spring.”
Batacan – Derived from “Bataan,” a historical province.
Batiancila – Possibly a Visayan surname, meaning unknown.
Belmonte – “Beautiful mountain” in Spanish.
Benitez – “Blessed” or “favored” in Spanish.
Biscocho – “Biscuit” or “cookie,” possibly an occupational surname.
Buenaventura – “Good fortune” or “good adventure.”
Calumpang – Named after a native tree species in the Philippines.
Camacho – “Thick or bushy,” possibly referring to hair.
Carandang – “To run in confusion” in Tagalog.
Cariño – “Affection” or “kindness” in Spanish.
Cayabyab – A Kapampangan surname with unclear origins.
Clemente – “Merciful” or “gentle” in Latin.
Coronel – “Colonel” in Spanish, likely given to soldiers.
De los Santos – “Of the Saints,” a religious surname.
Dimaculangan – “Not lacking” or “complete.”
Dizon – A Kapampangan name, possibly a Chinese-influenced surname.
Domingo – “Sunday” in Spanish, linked to devotion.
Esguerra – “War” or “warrior” in Spanish.
Estrella – “Star,” symbolizing guidance or brilliance.
Feliciano – “Happy” or “fortunate.”
Flores – “Flowers,” a common surname in Spanish-speaking regions.
Fuentes – “Fountain” or “spring.”
Galang – “Respect” or “honor” in Tagalog.
Gatchalian – A surname of Chinese origin, common in the Philippines.
Guinto – “Gold” in Tagalog.
Halili – Possibly from “Hali,” meaning “king” in Malay.
Ilagan – “To flee” or “to escape” in Tagalog.
Javier – “New house” or “bright.”
Labrador – “Laborer” or “worker.”
Lanuza – A place-based surname from Spain.
Magtoto – “To fulfill a promise.”
Mirasol – “Sunflower” in Spanish.
Nolasco – “Rescued or redeemed.”
Pangilinan – “To bite” or “to grip” in Tagalog.
Quisumbing – A Chinese-Filipino surname with unknown meaning.
Rizal – “Green fields,” famously associated with José Rizal.
Samonte – Possibly from “San Monte,” meaning “Holy Mountain.”
Tan – A Chinese surname meaning “Chen” or “Dawn.”
Villamor – “Love town” or “village of love.”
Abe – “father of many” (Hebrew origin)
Abad – “everlasting / eternal” (Spanish)
Abadiano – from a Spanish village place name
Abayan – “to stand beside” (Tagalog)
Abel – “breath / vanity” (Biblical/Hebrew)
Adlawan – “day / sun” (Cebuano)
Agbayani – “to be heroic” (Ilocano)
Alcantara – “the bridge” (Spanish/Arabic origin)
Alindog – “beauty / charm” (Tagalog)
Bacolod – “hill” (Hiligaynon; also a city)
Balindong – “philosopher / thinker” (Maranao)
Baluyot – “bag / pouch” (Tagalog)
Baccay – “to guard” (Tagalog)
Baguinda – “prince / noble” (Sulu/Malay influence)
Basilio – “kingly / royal” (Spanish/Latin)
Batungbakal – “stone / iron / steel” (Tagalog descriptor)
Calinao – “clarity / clear” (Cebuano)
Catacutan – derived from Tagalog terms (native structures)
Dagohoy – name of a place in Bohol; often used as a surname
Dasigan – rooted in Tagalog linguistic patterns
Dimagiba – “indestructible / unwavering” (Tagalog)
Facundo – “eloquent / talkative” (Spanish/Latin)
Gatus – “hundred” (Cebuano numeric term)
Habalo – “hurrying / chasing” (Filipino)
Halili – “successor / heir” (Tagalog)
Halum – “gentle / patient / mild” (Arabic influence)
Hangad – “yearning / desire” (Tagalog)
Harap – “to face / front” (Tagalog)
Harata – “morning / dawn” (Filipino)
Henson – “son of Henry / ruler” adaptation
Lacson – “sixth grandchild” (from Hokkien Chinese roots)
Lacsamana – linked to Lakshmana (virtue of loyalty / courage)
Ligaya – “joy / happiness” (Tagalog)
Liwanag – “light / illumination” (Tagalog)
Lupagui – Tagalog compound from native roots
Magat – likely from a toponym or native root
Malaguit – indigenous root surname
Malang – native variant retained post-colonization
Malicsi – Tagalog structure suggesting descriptive trait
Manansala – possibly derived from native or Spanish blended naming
Manglinte – indigenous surname root
Mangubat – “to wage war / fight” (Cebuano historical term)
Magsumbol – Tagalog compound using native terms
Madlangbayan – “many people / populous town” (Tagalog)
Manalo – “to win / victorious” (Tagalog; also common)
Manansala – Philippine surname with blended root
Marasigan – historic surname found in Filipino records
Matibay – “strong / durable” (Tagalog)
Masaya – “happy / joyful” (Tagalog)
Mabini – “modest / humble” (Tagalog)
Neri – adaptation of native/Spanish blend
Ong – common Hokkien-derived surname
Panganiban – Tagalog compound tied to specific meanings
Pangalangan – indigenous structure surname
Panahon – “weather / seasons” (Tagalog)
Patalinghug – native surname with compound meaning
Pineda – habitational Spanish root (pine grove)
Rigor – “strength / discipline” adaptation
Sao – Filipino Chinese surname form
Sansom – Spanish/European origin adopted in the Philippines
Sian – Hokkien-derived surname
Singson – Filipino Chinese compound surname
Sison – related to Hokkien “fourth grandson” meaning
Sumulong – “to advance / move forward”
Tabiolo – found in historical surname lists
Tan – common Hokkien surname (陳/陈)
Teh – Hokkien surname variant
Tiu – Hokkien surname found among many Filipino Chinese
Torrecampo – “tower field” (Spanish roots)
Tuazon – Spanish-influenced surname
Uy – Hokkien surname variant
Vidal – Spanish origin meaning “life”
Villanueva – “new village” (Spanish)
Yadao – Filipino Chinese Hokkien variant
Yap – from Ye (叶) in Chinese, common in the Philippines
Yee – Chinese surname found in Filipino communities
Zamora – Spanish habitational name
Zobel – European-influenced surname found among Filipino elites
Belmonte – “beautiful mountain” (Spanish)
Barrientos – “from the land by the caves” (Spanish)
Cargado – Spanish-influenced name
Carpio – habitational Spanish root
Delos Reyes – “of the kings” (Spanish)
Escobar – Spanish for “broom / scrubland”
Galang – Filipino place-style name
Lagman – Filipino surname listed historically
Lim – Hokkien surname variant
Mallari – Filipino surname documented
Manansala – Filipino/Spanish mix
Magat – possibly from Tagalog native roots
Mabini – “humble / modest” (Tagalog)
Malaya – “free / independent” (Tagalog)
Pag-asa – “hope” (Tagalog)
Bayani – “hero / courageous protector” (Tagalog)
Tala – “star / celestial guide” (Tagalog)
Kalaw – “hornbill bird” (Tagalog/Visayan)
Dakila – “great / noble” (Tagalog)
Tanglaw – “lamp / wisdom guide” (Tagalog)
Maliksi – “agile / swift” (Tagalog)
Masigasig – “energetic / determined” (Tagalog)
Bagwis – “wing / freedom” (Tagalog, symbolic)
