Filipino Surnames Describing Physical Appearance and Character Traits

 

Surnames are family identifiers. Generally, the surname of the father is passed on to his children, and the sons passed on the name to the succeeding generations. In the Philippines female descendants lost their surnames when they marry because they must carry their husbands’ surnames.  

There are types of surnames. A patronymic surname is derived from the name of a father or a male ancestor. Occupational surname is one that is derived from an ancestor’s means of livelihood. Toponymic surname is one that is related to the ancestor’s place of origin, village, or the terrains he was born into. Theoporic surname is derived from matter related to God and saints. And there is the descriptive surname that is derived from an ancestors’ physical appearance and personal traits.

In the descriptive surname, the surname may originally refer to an ancestor’s skin color or hair such as brown, black, and blond. Descriptive character traits include those of courage, modesty, and others. Over generations descendants’ appearance may not match their descriptive surname. This situation is common especially in former Spanish overseas colonies or territories where indigenous people were given or assigned Spanish names. Character traits include those of courage and bravery, mercy, and others. Below are some of the Filipino surnames that are of Spanish and indigenous origins.

Surnames of Spanish origins:

Alegre- cheerful

Barbosa- bearded

Bello- beautiful

Blanco- white

Blando- soft

Bocanegra- black mouth

Bonita- pretty

Bravo- brave!

Bueno- good

Calvo- bald

Cortes- courteous, court

Delgado-slim

Gallardo- gallant or brave

Grande-big

Guzman- good man

Lozano- beautiful or handsome

Miranda- admirable, wondrous

Moreno- brown

Neri- surname of Italian origin, from nero which means black.

Pardo- brown

Prieto- dark or swarthy

Roa- reddish or roan

Rojas, Roxas- Pink

Rubio- blond

Valeroso- valiant

Valiente- brave

Surnames of indigenous origins:

About half of Filipino surnames are of indigenous origins. In fact, the Catalogo Alfabetico de Apellidos where most Filipino surnames came from contained both Spanish and indigenous surnames. Descriptive names of indigenous origins are those that refer to physical appearance or traits.

Babayen-on- effeminate

Bayot- gay, homosexual

Boctot- hunchback

Buhay- alive, life

Calingin- round

Caringal- handsome

Catacutan- fearsome

Catapang- brave

Dalisay- pure

Datu- rich, a title of a ruler

Dimaandal- cannot be budged

Dimaano- cannot be affected

Dimaculangan- one who cannot be shortchanged

Dimaguiba- indestructible

Dimalanta- one who cannot be withered

Dimapilis- one that cannot be twisted

Dimasupil- one who cannot be subdued.

Dimaunahan- one who cannot be outdone.

Dimayuga- unshakable

Gino-o- lord

Ilogon- a favorite or to snatch

Jumoc- soft

Kara-an- old. ancient

Maambong- handsome

Mabao- shallow

Mabilog- round

Mabini- modest

Macalisang- fearsome

Macapobre- pro-poor

Macatol- itchy

Mahinay- slow

Mahusay- great

Malabanan- one who can be fought against

Malapitan- approachable

Malinao- clear

Malinis- clean

Malixi, Maliksi- agile, quick

Maloloy-on- merciful

Mamaril- one who shoots.

Manalo- one who can win.

Manaig- one who prevails.

Mangahas- one who dares.

Maniwang- thin

Marikit- pretty

Matawaran- negotiable

Paasa- one who makes other hope or expect.

Panganiban- to be feared of

Patay- dead

Puyat- one who lacks sleep.

Saguisag- symbol

Talinis- sharp

Ucab- open

Although many descriptive surnames are of Spanish origin, Filipinos who carried them consider it as not foreign. They are born into those names and consider them as their own.