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The Early Principalia
Since San Fernando was carved out of Mexico and Bacolor, it is
no surprise that the old families of San Fernando find their roots
in either town. According to some sources, the first families of
San Fernando included the surnames Arrozal, Catacutan and David.
In fact, from 1755 to 1799, these three families produced the
most number of gobernadorcillos, with Don Vidal de Arrozal serving
as the first town chief executive in 1755. The surname David
appears six times in the list of gobernadorcillos, a sign of the importance
of the clan in the early stages of the development of San
Fernando, while the Arrozal and Catacutan, as well as the Dizon,
families have three each. Also appearing early in the list are the
Cunanan, Yutuc, de los Angeles, Singian and Singian de Miranda,
54
The Grand Old Families
of San Fernando
By Ivan Anthony Henares
The family of Don Serafin Lazatin and Doña Encarnacion Singian with children Cristino Ester L. Rivera, Corazon, Remedios L.
Panlilio, Anita, Consuelo L. Madrigal, Jesus and Carmen. (Lazatin Family)
Quirino
Abad Santos
Salvador
Abad Santos
Sotero
Baluyut
Antonio
Consunji
Concepcion, Lacson, Tuason, Miranda and de Miranda, and Dayrit
clans with two each. Many of San Fernando’s first gobernadorcillos
had actually served in the same capacity in Bacolor before San
Fernando was separated from it.
From 1800 to 1897 when the Philippine Revolutionary Government
seized control from Spain, the Henson surname was most
prolific, appearing 13 times in the list. This was followed by Dizon
with nine, Singian and Singian de Miranda with six, and Dayrit and
David with five each.
Rise to Prominence
Many of the current old families saw their influence strengthen
during the latter part of the 1800s and the early 1900s. Although
many old names remained, new families saw a rise to prominence,
many with surnames from other towns of Pampanga
as a result of intermarriages. Other old families of
San Fernando moved to other towns as well, such as
the de Miranda and Henson families as a result of the
creation of Angeles. Many Angeles families actually
trace their roots to San Fernando such as the Abad
Santos, Dayrit, Tayag, and Pamintuan clans. Other
Angeles families such as the Lazatins, trace their roots
to Mexico similar to their counterparts in San
Fernando.
Here are a few of the old surnames which are
distinctively from or have made an indelible mark in
the history of San Fernando: