The Catálogo Alfabético de Apellidos is a surname book published in 1849 by Spanish Governor General Narciso Claveria y Zaldua.

Due to difference in naming customs throughout the Philippines that posed as a challenge to the Spanish government’s tribute collection and civil governance, Governor General Claveria imposed a surname decree standardizing Filipino surnames through the use of this surname catalog. The last names were assigned to Filipino families through the help of Spanish friars. It is from this book that most Filipino surnames are derived from.

You can browse the book online through the Filipinas Heritage Library and see if your last name is in the Catalogo. Link: https://issuu.com/filipinasheritagelibrary/docs/catalogo_alfabetico_de_apellidos?e=18015266/13622223

For more information on the Catalogo, visit:
1. “Filipino Genealogy Project: Claveria’s Surname Decree,” Filipinogenealogy, accessed March 28, 2022, http://www.filipinogenealogy.com/…/claverias-renovacion…
2. “10 Things About the Catalogo Alfabetico de Apellidos,” YouTube, accessed March 28, 2022, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tmN1PXScXIg
3. “Catálogo alfabético de apellidos,” Wikipedia, accessed March 28, 2022, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catálogo_alfabético_de_apellidos
4. “Filipinas Heritage Library,” Biblio, accessed March 28, 2022, https://www.filipinaslibrary.org.ph/biblio/50226/
5. “Catálogo Alfabético de Apellidos,” Familysearch, accessed March 28, 2022, https://www.familysearch.org/…/3:1:3Q9M-C9BP-99NF-3…
6. “Catalogo alfabetico de apellidos : transcribase este decreto con el catalogo de apellidos by Filipiniana Online,” Issuu, accessed March 28, 2022, https://issuu.com/filipinasheritagelibrary/docs/catalogo_alfabetico_de_apellidos?e=18015266/13622223