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=== Filipino Surnames of Chinese origin ===
=== Filipino Surnames of Chinese origin ===
Note: This is not a complete list


*Ahkiong
*Ahkiong

Revision as of 06:44, 16 June 2011

In the Philippines, Filipinos follow the conventional British form: given name-middle name-family name. However, given that the Spanish system of naming was first introduced, most Filipinos still follow the older system to some degree. For the most part, most Filipinos do not have middle names in the Anglo-American sense but adopted the dual first name-last name Spanish system. An example would be John Paul Reyes y Mercado becoming John Paul Mercado Reyes, shortened as John Paul M. Reyes. The y is dropped, and the father's last name moved to the appropriate part of the full name. The mother's last name is then used as a middle name, probably to preserve the mother's maiden name. It must be remembered, though, that the middle name in its natural sense would have been the second name if the person had one. John Paul would simply become John Paul Reyes or John Reyes if he did not have a second name to begin with. The construct of having several names in the middle name convention is common to all systems, but to have multiple "first" names and only one middle and last name is a result of the blending of American and Spanish naming customs.

Almost all Filipinos have Spanish or Spanish-sounding surnames imposed on them for taxing reasons (See: Alphabetical Catalog of Surnames), and a number of them have indigenous Filipino surnames. Most members of the newer generation of Filipinos have English Christian first names, but some still have Spanish or indigenous Filipino names. Most of the newer generation have English Christian names because most Filipinos never speak Spanish. Almost all Filipinos speak English as it is required to do business, and the vast majority of advertising is in English. Derivatives are also common but have no formal indigenous sources. For example, a man named Rafael (Spanish name) would be given a Filipino nickname of Paeng, coming from a local rendering of the last two syllables of Rafael.

Many modern-day Chinese Filipinos have traditional last names with one syllable like Lim, Tan, and Sy. However, early Chinese Filipino families took on the complete name of their patriarch, thus their names had three syllables. These were adopted into the mainstream Filipino surnames and don't exist anywhere else in the world. Their names were transcribed using the Spanish orthography in effect during the 19th century.

Of particular interest is the convention of Chinese surnames ending in -co or -ko. That suffix is an honorific in the Chinese language retained in the surname. However, it must be remembered that "co" by itself is also a valid surname. In general, if it is at the end it is an honorific. An example of this is Cojuangco. Their patriarch was Co Chi Kuan, who was addressed respectfully as Co Kuan Co (one given name dropped). Co Kuan Co eventually became Cojuangco to better adapt to the social norms dictated in the Spanish era.

The use of Arabic names is prominent among the Filipino Muslims. There are Islamic influence from Arabs, Persians, Malays, Indonesians, and Indian Muslims. Some names that are common in Spain from Arab influence, including Fatima, Omar, and Soraya, have both Spanish and directly Arabic sources in the Philippines.

Filipinos tend to be the only people with middle names and surnames derived from Chinese, Spanish, or Philippine roots combined with Spanish or English given names (can be more than one). Some typical combinations are: "Maria Bernadette de los Reyes Cuyegkeng," "Ivan Theophilo R. Ho," "George Bernard T. Cho III," "Hillary P. Dimagiba," "Jimson Ricardo Chadwick Uy Cuenco Jr." "Irish Diamond Fuentes Amoroso," and so on (these examples are fictional). A few names also derive from Tagalog and other Philippine languages but these are not common: "Bayani" (hero), "Luningning" (brightness/sheen), "Dakila" (great), "Kalayaan" (freedom), "Isagani" (unknown meaning).

The Spanish surname category provides the most common surnames in the Philippines. These include Mendoza, García, (de la) Cruz, (de los) Reyes, (de los) Santos, González/Gonzales, Torres and López.[1]

Filipino surnames

Autochthonous surnames

These are some of the surnames unique to the Filipino naming convention. Some surnames have a literal meaning in Filipino languages while others are derived from immigrants altering their names to conform to the colonial Spanish nomenclature.[1]

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  • Abaygar
  • Abucay
  • Abrogar
  • Agatep
  • Agbayani
  • Agtarap
  • Alimboyugen
  • Alupay
  • Abulog
  • Ahkiong
  • Amora
  • Amurao
  • Baang
  • Bakekang
  • Baldedara
  • Baltar
  • Balignasay
  • Barrometro( lit. Barometer in English)
  • Bello
  • Biag
  • Bilatan
  • Bongalos
  • Bitao (let go)
  • Butil
  • Cagas
  • Calapatia
  • Camat
  • Canumay
  • Carandang
  • Casicas
  • Catacutan
  • Cabatingan
  • Cojuangco
  • Chincuanco
  • Chuchu
  • Cuyegkeng
  • Dagala (Portuguese origin "da Gala" and Spanish origin "de Gala". See Spanish surnames below.)
  • Dahil-Dahil
  • Dahilan (synonymous to Spanish surname Razon. Both of them means "reason")
  • Daplas
  • Deang
  • Dimaguiba (impenetrable)
  • Dimaunahan
  • Dioquino
  • Divero
  • Dumaloan

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  • Dysangco (originated at China at around 1800 and still growing)
  • De Cedidomutila
  • Gabuat
  • Galit
  • Gatan
  • Gosiengfiao
  • Gubat (forest)
  • Guimatao
  • Guinto (gold)
  • Dinguinbayan
  • Dyquiangco
  • Humilde
  • Ifugao
  • Ilaban
  • Japos
  • Kalawakan
  • Kanaway
  • Kaunlaran
  • Kulikutan
  • Kulubot (wrinkly)
  • Kumulitog
  • Labasan (exit)
  • Labong
  • Lacro
  • Lao-lao (saggy)
  • Lemoncito
  • Limcuando
  • Luso-Luso
  • Macaraeg
  • Macaspac
  • Magan
  • Magaling
  • Magbantay
  • Magbanua
  • Magday
  • Magdiwang
  • Maglikian
  • Magnaye
  • Magos
  • Magpantay
  • Magpulong
  • Mahiya
  • Makabaligoten
  • Makadaan
  • Malit
  • Manansala
  • Manyakes ("maniac")
  • Marapao
  • Matapang (brave)

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  • Makisig (handsome)
  • Malaki (big) (often spelled as Malaqui)
  • Maputi (White)
  • Maitim (Black)
  • Maliit (small)
  • Masipag (industrious)
  • Matiyaga (Patient)
  • Malagar
  • Mangsinco
  • Magsino
  • Murro
  • Labuguen
  • Lanta
  • Limbaco
  • Limcangco
  • Limuaco
  • Loshang
  • Luansing
  • Olan
  • Ongpauco
  • Ongsioco
  • Otogan
  • Pabalan
  • Paca
  • Pagsisihan (regrettable)
  • Patanindagat
  • Paragili
  • Parsaligan
  • Pecore
  • Pilapil
  • Pildilapil
  • Pinagbuklod
  • Pinagdamutan
  • Pinagpala(blessed)
  • Rapisura/Rafisura
  • Reotutar (also Riotutar)
  • Sariwa/Sariua (fresh)
  • Salem
  • Salumbidez/Salumbides (altered Filipino name to conform to the Colonial Spanish nomenclature)

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  • (Mala)Sarte
  • Sese
  • Sinagtala
  • Sipsip (suck-up)
  • Siapuatco
  • Simangan
  • Simsuangco
  • Solmoro (meaning "Muslim sun")
  • Songcuya
  • Sumague
  • Supsup
  • Sydiongco
  • Syjuco
  • Sytengco
  • Subrabas
  • Tabilla
  • Talaugon
  • Talong (eggplant)
  • Tiaoqui
  • Tambuatco
  • Tanhehco
  • Tanjutco
  • Tanjuatco
  • Tansiongco
  • Tapalla
  • Tiangco
  • Tiongson
  • Tubo (pipe)
  • Tubongbanua
  • Tugonon/Tagonon
  • Tumulak
  • Quiblat
  • Quisumbing
  • Quindipan
  • Quibin
  • Quibuyen
  • Uy

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  • Uytengsu
  • Uysiuseng
  • Vital
  • Vitug
  • Vivas
  • Yengko
  • Yaptinchay
  • Yapchulay
  • Yu

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  • Makiramdam
  • Palugod
  • Tokita
  • Cruz
  • Mariano
  • Jacinto
  • Vergara
  • Reyes
  • Tongco
  • Gumaro
  • Taguinod
  • Herrera
  • Fufunan
  • Miguel
  • Aguilar
  • Capili
  • Capuli
  • Jestingor

Filipino Surnames of Hindu-Malayan and Indonesian influence/culture

  • Palad (Fate)
  • Gallora ("Garuda")
  • Laxamana (pronounced as "la-hamanah". Originally Laksamana - "leutenant")
  • Mutya/Mutia ("Muse")
  • Diwata/Diuata
  • Lakan/Lacan

Filipino Surnames of Chinese origin

Note: This is not a complete list

  • Ahkiong
  • Ausan
  • Ayson
  • Banzon
  • Bengco
  • Bengzon
  • Biazon
  • Bonzon
  • Buncio (patriarch was Tiu Bok)
  • Buyco
  • Buzon?
  • Cangco
  • Cayco
  • Chanco (Tiangco)
  • Chiongbian (Chongbian)
  • Chionglo
  • Choa
  • Choochan
  • Chuakay
  • Chuidian
  • Ciocon
  • Concon?
  • Congco
  • Congson
  • Coquia
  • Cuizon
  • De Pan
  • Deonzon
  • Diamzon(Diamsun)
  • Dimson
  • Diokno?
  • Dizon (2nd grandson)
  • Ganzon
  • Goking
  • Gosoc
  • Gosum
  • Gozon (5th grandson)
  • Guanlao
  • Guanzon
  • Guiao
  • Henson
  • Hizon
  • Ison
  • Jante (from Te-Han)
  • Japson
  • Joco
  • Jocson
  • Joson
  • Junco
  • Kimpo (Quimpo)
  • Kison (Quison)
  • Lacson (6th grandson)
  • Lantin
  • Lauzon
  • Lawsin
  • Leyson
  • Liamzon
  • Limjap
  • Limson
  • Liongson
  • Locsin
  • Lopa (patriarch was Lo Bio Pa)
  • Luansing
  • Monton
  • Monzon
  • Nacu
  • Nangpi
  • Ongpin
  • Paulin
  • Pecson
  • Quengua
  • Quetua
  • Quiambao
  • Quiason
  • Quicho
  • Quimbo
  • Quimpo
  • Quimque
  • Quimson
  • Quingco
  • Quiocho
  • Quiocson
  • Quiogue
  • Quison
  • Samson (3rd grandson)
  • Sangco
  • Sanqui
  • Sason
  • Sayson
  • Sia
  • Siazon
  • Singco (Sinco)
  • Singson
  • Siongco
  • Sioson
  • Sipin
  • Sison (4th grandson)
  • Songco
  • Suaco
  • Suico
  • Suntay
  • Sycip
  • Syquia
  • Tangco
  • Tangkiang
  • Tecson
  • Tengco
  • Tiamson (Tiamzon)
  • Tiangco
  • Tiaoqui
  • Tiongco
  • Tiongson
  • Tizon
  • Tongson
  • Tuason (see below)
  • Tuazon (eldest grandson)
  • Tuico
  • Uson
  • Vianzon
  • Vinzon
  • Yalung
  • Yambao
  • Yamson
  • Yance
  • Yatco
  • Yengko
  • Yongque
  • Yulo
  • Yunsay
  • Yuson

Spanish surnames

  • Note: This is not a complete list of Spanish Surnames. Some are not listed here.

The vast majority of Filipinos have Spanish surnames, but a Spanish surname does not indicate Spanish ancestry. These type of surnames are partiatic, Christian, or words from Spanish. Examples of Spanish surnames are

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  • Borje,
  • Buenaflor,
  • Buenaventura,
  • Buenconsejo,
  • Buendia,
  • Buenpacifico,
  • Bustamante,
  • Cabral
  • Cabrera,
  • Cadiz,
  • Canencia,
  • Cachuela,
  • Capistrano,
  • Carrasco,
  • Castillo,
  • Castro,
  • Cayetano,
  • Celis (derive from the Celis,Spain and also Celiz )
  • Cereza,
  • Cerinza,
  • Cervantes,
  • Chavez
  • Concepción,
  • Corporal,
  • Córdoba/Córdova,
  • Cuenca
  • Custodio,
  • Cruz,
  • Cuenca,
  • Cuevas,
  • Dantes,
  • del Castillo,
  • Dela Cruz,
  • Demonteverde,
  • Desiderio,
  • Despujol
  • Díaz,
  • Divinagracia
  • Domingo,
  • Domínguez,
  • Dulce,
  • Duenaz (or Duenas)
  • Elefante,
  • Elizalde,
  • Ello,
  • Escaño
  • Escribano,

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Template:Multicol-break

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  • Salvador,
  • San Antonio,
  • San Francisco,
  • San Diego,
  • San Gabriel,
  • San Juan,
  • San Miguel,
  • San Pedro,
  • Sanarez,
  • Sánchez,
  • Santa Ana,
  • Santa Cruz,
  • Santa María,
  • Santarita,
  • Santillán,
  • Santos,
  • Santiago,
  • Sarmiento,
  • Segismundo
  • Silvestre,
  • Soleminio,
  • Subijano,
  • Tejada,
  • Tolosa,
  • Torrealba,
  • Torres,
  • Vargas,
  • Veterano,
  • Velasco,
  • Ventura,
  • Villaécija,
  • Vicente,
  • Villamar
  • Villamor,
  • Villanueva,
  • Villaromán,
  • Villosillo,
  • Vizcaya
  • Yllana,
  • Zacarias,
  • Zafra,
  • Zamora [1]

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Prefix "de-" are: de Asis, de Villa, de Castro, de Gala, de Galicia, de Dios, de Guía, de Guzmán, de León, de Rosas, del Bianco, del Carmen, del Fin (or Delfino),del Fonso, del Gado, del Mundo, de(l) Rosario, del Valle, de la Cerna, de la Cruz, de la Fuente, de (la) Mesa, de (la) Paz, de la Rama, de (la) Rosa, de la Vega, de las Alas, de (los) Reyes,and dela Peña.[1]

Basque Surnames

Elizalde, Aboitiz, Ayala and Elazegui.

English surnames

Although uncommon, there are some who bear English surnames. Examples are Burton, David, Dimian/Damian, Doughman, Grey, James, John, Murphy, Ribolton(Rebultan in Philippine Spanish), Sweeney (Irish origin), Sanders, Samantha, and Steven.[1]

German surnames

Baula, Hartweg, Obach, Kaufman(n), Zobel, Grossman, etc.[1]

Arabic/Moro-Maguindanaoan surnames

These surnames came from Islamic influence of the Philippines from Arabs, Malays, Indonesians, and Indian Muslims and are owned by Filipino Muslims and some children of Arab, Malaysian, Iranian, and Indian Muslim immigrant fathers. A few examples of Moro-Maguindanaoan names are Ampaso, Ampatuan, Ampuan, Bogabong, Cader, Macarambon, Dimaporo, Maruhom/Maruhombsar, Camama, Molok/Datumolok, Mutilan, Salic, and Sarip/Sharip.[1] Christian Filipinos also adopted Moro-Maguindanaoan names such as Abas, Abbu/Abu, Cadar, and Macapobre (lierally means "make (you) poor" from Spanish word "pobre") opposite of Macadato, in Visayan sense, which means "make (you) rich" as of Visayan word "datu"- "rich".

Known persons are:

Other Filipino Surnames of Foreign Origins

  • Amaranto(Greek αμάραντος - "amaranth" or "unfading")
  • Ambrosio (Italian "Of the Immortals"),
  • Babia (Spanish/Mexican/Slovak Babje )
  • Barcelo (Portuguese "Barcelos")
  • Bonnevie(French Bonne Vie or "good life")
  • Castiglione (Italian)
  • Chowdhary (Indian चौधरी, caudhari)
  • Gabor (Hungarian. Hungarians usually have this as their given name.)
  • Godinez (Hispanized, derived from Russian surname Годунов, Godunov)
  • Harder (German)
  • Jaworski (Polish)
  • Kahn (German-Jewish)
  • Kehanu (Hawaiian "breeze over the mountains")
  • Mancebo (Portuguese)
  • Marfori (Italian Marforri), Malferari (Italian Malferarri)
  • Monfort (American/British "Mountfort")
  • Mortiz (Spanish or Latin, root word "muerte" or "mort", respectively which means "death")
  • Pacheco (Portuguese)
  • Piccio (Italian)
  • Portogalera (Portuguese/Spanish)
  • Quibranza (Mexican)
  • Raj (Indian राज्य - "Kingdom")
  • Ranido (Spanish)
  • Roxas/Rojas (Mexican)
  • Ruais (French)
  • Someroux (French)
  • Santander (Spanish)
  • Singh (Indian सिंह - "lion")
  • Subido (Spanish, which means "improved")
  • Tasic (Serbian Tasič)
  • Vacalares (Portuguese "will silence/kill")
  • Vedano(Italian/Portuguese)
  • Zobel (German)
  • Zhornack (Polish)

Altered Spanish and foreign surnames

These surnames were altered as time changed, Filpino Americans and other Filipinos having half of their foreign sanguinity in the Philippines altered their names to look and sound it Spanish-derived, to conform in Spanish naming convention, or for no reason.

Examples are:

  • Monfort (American/British "Mountfort")
  • Marfori (Italian Marforri), Malferari (Italian Malferarri)
  • Galorport (from Portogalera or English Galore Port)
  • Gituaban (Spanish Getuavan)
  • Pemonte (from Italian or Spanish Piamonte)

Other altered and combined surnames

Here are other alterations in the Spanish surnames and foreign surnames that are common in Visayan-dominated areas, especially in Visayas and northern Mindanao:

  • Englis (although its "English", they remove the 'H' from it for no reason. But the derivation was of Spanish "Ingles" so some said that they reshuffled the spelling)
  • Golis (Spanish, Golez)
  • Gomis (Spanish, Gomez)
  • Ranis (origin unknown, probably Spanish, Ranes)
  • Sendaydiego (Japanese, Sendai 仙台; Spanish, Diego)
  • Valmorida (originally valle de Morida. Maybe from Japanese Murida and Spanish word "valle" which means "valley")
  • Wahiman (originally Ojiman/Ohiman. They altered the spelling to separate themselves from their relatives of same name because they are not well-accepted in their clan due to social status.)

Surnames from the world cities, towns and provinces

These surnames were taken from cities, towns and provinces around the world, unknown to the bearers.

Maternal middle names and Paternal family surnames

Christians (as well as certain Muslims, Chinese Filipinos, and others) in the Philippines have traditionally followed naming patterns practiced throughout the Spanish-speaking world (the practice of having the father's surname followed by the mother's surname, the two being connected by the particle "y", which means "and", such as Juan Agbayani y Lopez). If the second surname starts with i, y, hi or hy, the particle becomes e, following Spanish rules of euphony, as in Eduardo Dato e Iradier.

However, this practice changed when the Philippines became a United States colony in the early half of the 20th century. The order was reversed to follow the conventional American form "Given name-Middle name-Surname," which in this case is actually "Given name-Mother's maiden surname-Father's surname" (Juan Lopez Agbayani or simply Juan L. Agbayani). The conjunction y was dropped.

Currently, the middle name is usually, though not always, the mother's maiden name (followed by the last name which is the father's surname). This is the opposite of what is done in Spanish-speaking countries and is similar to the way surnames are done in Portugal and Brazil. The blending of American and Spanish naming customs results in the way Filipinos write their names today.

Furthermore, application forms for various Philippine government documents define the first name as the "given name(s)," the middle name as the "mother's maiden surname" (this becomes the basis for the middle initial), and the surname as the "father's surname."

Bearing the mother's maiden surname as a the middle name or middle initial is more important to a majority of Filipinos than to use one of the given names as a middle name or middle initial. Filipino culture usually allocates equal value to the lineage from both mother and father except in some prominent families who practice a strictly patriarchal system (usually of Spanish or Chinese heritage).

Exceptions apply in the case of children with single parents. Children born out of wedlock are registered under the mother's maiden name (if still unmarried), applying her middle name (maternal surname) and current surname (paternal surname) for the child's middle name and last name, respectively. The unmarried father must resort to legal and administrative procedures if he desires to acknowledge the child as his own and for the child to be registered with his own surname (in which case the child will use the mother's surname as his/her middle name).

Married and maiden names

When a woman marries, she usually adopts the surname of her husband and uses her father's surname (her maiden surname) as her middle name and drops her mother's maiden name (her former middle name). Some women may decline to adopt their husband's surname and continue to use their maiden names for professional or personal reasons.

  • When a woman whose full maiden name is Maria Santos Cojuangco (where her given name is "Maria", mother's maiden surname is "Santos", and father's surname is "Cojuangco"; this is normally shortened to "Maria S. Cojuangco") marries a man by the name of Juan L. Agbayani, her full name becomes Maria Cojuangco Agbayani (shortened to "Maria C. Agbayani").
  • For the sake of brevity, she would be usually known at the very least as Maria Agbayani; her maiden name is usually not mentioned or it may simply be abbreviated as an initial (Maria C. Agbayani). In many cases, her maiden name may be mentioned.
  • All children from this marriage will automatically have "Cojuangco" as their middle name and "Agbayani" as their last name, but they may have any number of first/given names as the parents wish (usually one to three).
  • Their child, "Rafael Dominic", will have a full name of Rafael Dominic Cojuangco Agbayani shortened to Rafael Dominic C. Agbayani when using initials. "Rafael Dominic C. Agabayani" will be the preferred way of rendering the name. Depending on family or personal preference, the child may use either "Rafael" or "Dominic" as his primary given name.
  • If for space constraints, the aforementioned Rafael Dominic C. Agbayani cannot use this preferred way of writing his name, he would most likely choose to write his name as "Rafael C. Agbayani" or "Rafael D. C. Agbayani" (keeping the mother's maiden name) instead of just "Rafael D. Agbayani" (the generally American custom).

Until the middle of the 20th century, it was common for married Filipino women to insert the particle "de" ("of") between her maiden surname and husband's surname (as in Maria Cojuangco de Agbayani or Maria C. de Agbayani), another common Spanish naming custom. However, this practice is no longer common.

Married Filipino women who are professionals may choose to hyphenate their surnames (such as "Maria Cojuangco-Agbayani," instead of simply "Maria Agbayani" or "Maria C. Agbayani"), at least in professional use, and use it socially even if legal documents follow the above naming pattern. This practice allows others to identify them after their marriage and helps others keep track of their professional achievements; otherwise, her unmarried and married names would seem to refer to two different persons ("Maria Santos Cojuangco" as compared to "Maria Cojuangco Agbayani").

Given names, Nicknames and Monickers

Filipinos may have one or more official given names (as registered in their birth certificates and baptismal certificates) and various types of temporary or permanent nicknames. Filipinos have a penchant for giving themselves or each other various sorts of nicknames and monickers. Some nicknames are carried for life while others are used only with certain groups so a person can have multiple nicknames at different ages or among different groups of people.

Filipino women with two given names such as "Maria Cristina" or "Maria Victoria" may choose to abbreviate the very common "Maria" as "Ma." (with a period), thus rendering these given names as "Ma. Cristina" or "Ma. Victoria." Filipino males with two given names such as "Jose Mariano" or "Jose Gerardo" could follow the same practice of abbreviating "Jose" as "Jo." but this is not as consistent.

The variety of Filipino names, some of them with negative connotations in Anglicized form, often take foreigners by surprise ("Playful Filipino names hard to get used to" by Kate McGeown. BBC News: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programmes/from_our_own_correspondent/9435751.stm). Most Filipinos don't notice any negative English connotations, however, unless somebody points it out.

Many Filipino celebrities and high-status personalities, such as actors and politicians, don't mind having such types of nicknames; in fact, their nicknames are often more well-known than their actual given names. Movie and TV celebrity German Moreno doesn't mind using the nickname "Kuya Germs" ("kuya" = elder brother). National Artist of the Philippines for Fashion Design, Jose "Pitoy" Moreno, would never be recognized anywhere under his official given name, but so far, he is the only prominent "Pitoy" in the world.

People with the same name as their father are registered as "Junior" (abbreviated to "Jr.") or numbered with Roman numerals (III, IV, V, etc.); their father adds "Senior" ("Sr.") after his surname (i.e., "Renato Reyes Ramos Sr." is the father of the brothers "Renato Javier Ramos Jr." and "Renato Javier Ramos III"). Inevitably, the younger person tends to be nicknamed "Junior" or "Jun" permanently. One person's nickname became "Third" because his full name was "Roberto Unson Ramos III" (this is a fictional name for example purposes). Thus a family will necessarily bestow a variety of unofficial nicknames to distinguished the various people having with nearly identical official given names (e.g., "Roberto Ramos Sr.," "Roberto Ramos Jr.," "Roberto Ramos III," "Roberto Ramos IV," etc).

The names of children in some families may follow a certain pattern, such as beginning with a certain letter of the alphabet, e.g. "Diego Arnel," "Diamond Amelia," "Danford Arman," "Dolores Allison," such that all their initials will be the same, i.e., "DAZL" if the middle name is "Zulueta" and the surname is "Lim." One group of siblings was named after countries ("Arabia," "Australia," "Aruba," "Albania") while another was named after car trademarks ("Ford," "Mercedes," "Bentley," "Maserati"). Other names seemed to have been taken from popular brand names, food, fruits, and flowers: "Ramcar," "Cherry Pie," "Apple," "Peachy," "Pepsi," "Brandy." World Champion boxer Manny Pacquiao named his two daughters "Queen Elizabeth" and "Princess" while his wife is named "Jinky." Philippine Senator Joker Arroyo (his real given name) has a brother named Jack.

Many nicknames are bestowed by parents or other elders on children while they are still toddlers. Examples are the numerous "Boy," "Toto/Totoy" (young boy), "Girlie," "Nene" (young girl), "Baby" and similar types of pet names given to people who received them as kids and carried them into adult life and seniority. They've carried the nickname all their lives and see no incongruity in being called "Boy" or "Baby" even when in their sixth decade. Some are diminutives of the actual name, such as "Pepito" for "Pepe," "Juanito" for "Juan" (or the English form "Johnny" for "John"), and "Nenita" for "Nena." Thus, a person used to being called "Joselito" ("Little Joseph") as a child may retain the nickname as an adult even if he could already be called "Jose" or "Joseph."

  • The aforementioned "Rafael Dominic C. Agbayani" may be given an unofficial nickname such as "Paeng," "Domeng," "Raffy," "Nick," or "Ranic" that he could later change or keep for life.

A common Filipino practice (rarely seen in other cultures) is to further shorten or combine multiple given names into one nickname. The young ladies named "Maria Cristina" and "Maria Victoria" may thus acquire the nicknames "Maricris" and "Marivic." Thus the Filipino names "Maricel," "Maritoni," "Marijo," "Maritess," and "Maricon" come from "Maria Celia (or Celeste)," "Marie Antoinette," "Maria Josefa (or Josefina)," "Maria Teresa," and "Maria Concepcion (or Consolacion)." The popular male nicknames "Joma," "Jomar," and "Jomari" are derived from concatenating "Jose Mariano." "Jestoni" was derived from "Jesus Antonio."

  • These types of nicknames have become so common that they have also been registered as a child's official given name by the parents (e.g., "Maricris Llamador Gunigundo" or "Maricris Ll. Gunigundo").

Sometimes this practice is used to create a totally new official given name that never existed before. Vice-President Jejomar Binay's given name is a combination of "Jesus-Joseph-Mary." A former senator's first name was "Heherson," derived from "He-Her-Son" (referring to Jesus). The unique female names "Luzviminda" and "Minvilu" come from concatenating the name of the three main island groups Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. The child "Sidperl" got his name when his parents combined their given names "Isidro" and "Perlita." Some first names like "Lodegrano" or "Lorimer" may have been invented on the spot by the parents or be derived some partially remembered foreign word.

The Filipino given name "Dranreb" was invented by reversing the spelling of the English name "Bernard." Don't be surprised when a Filipino calling himself "Nosrac" actually turns out be officially named "Carson." Former President Joseph Ejercito Estrada Jr. started his career as a movie actor and received his nickname "Erap" as an adult; it comes from "Pare" spelled backwards (from Spanish "compadre" for "fellow godparent") but now means "mate" or "buddy" in Filipino.

Long given names can be shortened in various ways. "Emmanuel" can become "Eman," "Manuel," "Manolo," "Manny," or "Manoy." "Consolacion" has been converted to "Connie," "Cons," "Sol," or "Chona."

Another pattern is to Anglicize a Spanish given name. Thus "Jose Roberto" becomes "Joseph Robert" (shortened to "Joebert"). "Eduardo" becomes "Edward" and then "Eddie" or "Eddieboy" (sometimes further shortened to "Daboy"). "Consolacion" becomes "Connie"; "Corazon" becomes "Cora" or "Cory"; "Teresita" or "Teresa" becomes "Tere," "Tessa," or "Tessie"; and "Gracia" becomes "Grace."

A different pattern is to replace or insert Filipino phonemes into a Spanish or English name: "Mariano" becomes "Nano," "Edwin" becomes "Aweng," "Eduardo" becomes "Dwarding," "Roberto" becomes "Berting," "Ponciano" becomes either "Popoy," "Onse," or "Syano." Sometimes there is a tendency to convert a grand-sounding given name into something very ordinary, such as when "John Paul" becomes "JayPee," "Peter John" becomes "Peejong," "Anthony" becomes "Tonyo," "Ronald" becomes "Onad," "Maria Elena" becomes "Ineng" or "Inyang," or "Ambrosia" becomes "Brosya."

Filipinos also like using and bestowing so-called "doorbell names" that sound like chimes or taps: "Bang," "Beng," "Bing," "Ding," "Ging," "Ting," "Ming," "Ping," "Pepeng," Leng," "Weng," "Eng," Yengyeng," "Bong," "Dong," "Pong," "Tintin," "Tingting," "Tonton," "Bingbing," "Bingbong," "Bongbong," "Dingdong," "Popong," "Kiko," "Kokoy," "Kikay," "Kitkit," "Dada," "Jaja," "Jamjam," "Jonjon," "Jigjig," "Jojo," "Cheche," "Chong," "Choy," "Doy," "Loy," "Ninoy," "Noynoy," "Nonong," "Toying," "Toyang," "Yoyoy," "Vicvic," "Taktak," "Bokbok," "Micmac" and many more.

Some Filipinos use creative spelling to further distinguish themselves, such as by adding the letter "h" or changing "b" to "v" to convert the commonplace "Boy" to the distinctive "Vhoy." Thus you'll see some creative spellings like "Jhim," "Bhess," or "Jhun/Juhn." Filipinos with repetitive nicknames like "Bingbing," "Tintin," or "Jamjam" now also further shorten their nicknames by putting a numeral "2" after the first syllable, as if it had an exponent ("Bingbing" becomes "Bing-squared"): "Bing2," "Tin2," and "Jam2."

Another Filipino practice is to use honorific titles in place of a person's actual name. Thus the titles for family elders are often used by the younger persons and then adopted by the wider community: "Apo" and "Lolo" (grandfather) and "Lola" (grandmother) are used for senior elders; "Tatay/Itay/Ama" (father) or "Tito/Tio/Tiong" (uncle) and "Nanay/Inay/Ina" (mother) or "Tita/Tia/Tiang" for middle-aged elders; "Manong" or "Kuya" (elder brother) and "Manang" or "Ate" (elder sister) for anyone slightly older than the person speaking.

People in the community are often addressed by their military or police rank, professional titles or job descriptions, either with or without their names. "Attorney," "Engineer," "Dok/Doctor," "Direk/Director," "Manager," "Bisor" (supervisor), "Boss," "Tsip/Chief," are used in the same way as "Mister," "Miss," "Ms.," or "Mrs." especially when the addressee's name is not yet known by the speaker. This is often done as a sign of respect and in order to avoid giving offense.

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g "List of some surnames in the Philippines". Archived from the original on 2009-10-25.
  2. ^ The variant Barretto is Italian since geminates do not exist in Spanish.
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