In 1849, Governor-General Narciso Clavería y Zaldúa issued a decree providing a book of approved surnames—the Catálogo alfabético de apellidos—to prevent administrative confusion, which explains why many Filipinos share Spanish names despite lacking direct Spanish ancestry.
Pasok ka ba sa top 100?
You’re looking for your last name and finding your entire family tree instead.
From the legendary ‘Dela Cruz’ to the classic ‘de Leon’, here are the top 100 surnames that define the Philippines.