Lieutenant General Narciso Clavería y Zaldúa was the 71st Governor-General of the Philippines from 1844 to 1849. In 1849, he issued a decree assigning Spanish and local surnames to Filipinos who did not have them, in order to facilitate record keeping. This led to the widespread adoption of family names among Filipinos. Famous Filipino nationalist José Rizal was among those who received a new surname, "Rizal", under this decree in 1850.

1. Discussant: Sr. Marie Camelle S. Fernando

2. Lieutenant General
The Most Excellent
The Count of Manila
●71st Governor-
General
of the Philippines
● In office
July 16, 1844 – December 26,
1849
Born : May 2, 1795
Girona, Catalonia, Spain
Died : June 20, 1851 (aged 56)
Madrid, Spain
Nationality : Spanish

3. ● On Wednesday, November 21,
1849, Clavería issued a decree
sending a long lists of Spanish
and local surnames to the
chiefs of the provinces. These
were sent out to the different
towns, and given to the locals
who had no surnames.
Surnames for Filipinos

4. ● A new family name was adapted in 1850 by
authority of the Royal Decree of 1849.
"Rizal" (originally Ricial, the
green of young growth or green
fields), which was suggested
to him by a provincial
governor, or as José had
described him, "a friend of
the family".

5. - End