Filipino Family Names Derived from Occupations, Vocations, and Titles

  

Centuries of Spanish colonization in the Philippines have significantly influenced Filipino culture, traditions, and religion. Philippine languages such as Cebuano and Tagalog have borrowed many words from Spanish. Filipinos also adopted Spanish given names and surnames.

More than half of Filipino surnames are of Spanish origin, many of which were taken from the Catálogo Alfabético de Apellidos, a list of surnames that native Filipinos were required to choose from under a decree issued by Governor-General Narciso Clavería during the Spanish colonial period. The catalog contains both Spanish and indigenous Filipino surnames.

Many surnames are related to a person's geographic origin, character traits, physical features, or the given name of an ancestor. Examples include Gonzalo, from which Gonzales is derived, and Pelagio or Pelayo, from which Pelaez originated. Some surnames signify the occupations, vocations, or titles of ancestors, which is the subject of this blog.

Below is a list of family names and their English meanings. Most are Spanish in origin. Native Filipinos in the past do not appear to have commonly adopted surnames based on their occupations. Three surnames in this list are italicized: two are indigenous Filipino names, while one is of Arabic origin.

• Abad — abbot
• Abogado — lawyer
• Abejero — beekeeper
• Aceñero (Filipino spelling: Aseniero) — steelmaker
• Alcaide — warden
• Alfarero — potter
• Alférez — ensign
• Almirante — admiral
• Apóstol — apostle
• Auditor — auditor
• Autor — author
• Ballesteros — crossbowman
• Barbero — barber
• Barrero (feminine: Barrera) — sweeper
• Botero — boatmaker
• Caballero — knight
• Cabrera (feminine of Cabrero) — goatherder
• Cardenal — cardinal
• Castellano — castle lord
• Cazador (also Casador) — hunter
• Claver — key keeper
• Clérigo — cleric
• Comendador — commander
• Conde — count
• Cordero — shepherd of lambs
• Coronel — colonel
• Custodio — custodian
• Datu — an indigenous Filipino title for a village or community ruler; it can also refer to a wealthy person.
• Defensor — advocate
• Doctor — doctor (also médico in Spanish)
• Duque — duke
• Ejercito- army
• Escribano — scribe
• Escudero — squire
• Espadero — swordsmith
• Ferrer — ironsmith
• Garzón — waiter
• Guerrero — warrior
• Herrero (feminine: Herrera) — smith
• Hidalgo — nobleman
• Hortelano — gardener
• Jurado — juror
• La Guardia — guard
• Labrador — farmer, laborer
• Maestre — master
• Maestro — teacher
• Manulat — writer
• Márquez — marquis; it may also mean "son of Marco"
• Mercader — merchant
• Molina — miller
• Monje or Monge — monk
• Montero — huntsman
• Obispo — bishop
• Obrero (feminine: Obrera) — worker
• Papa — pope
• Pastor — shepherd
• Pastrano (feminine: Pastrana) — shepherd
• Peregrino (feminine: Peregrina) — pilgrim
• Pintor — painter
• Piquero — pikeman
• Posada or Posadas — innkeeper
• Quintero — farmer
• Regidor — councilor
• Reyes — kings (plural of king)
• Romero — pilgrim
• Sacristán — sacristan
• Sargento- sergeant
• Sultan — a title of Arabic origin meaning a Muslim ruler. This surname is also used by some Christians.
• Tejero — weaver
• Tenorio — tenor; also used to mean an amorist or lady-killer
• Tesorero — treasurer
• Tutor — tutor
• Vanguardia — vanguard
• Vasallo — vassal