Ancient history

Where did Jose Rizal get his surname Rizal?

Jose Rizal did not get his surname Rizal. Rizal was born Jose Protacio Mercado Rizal Alonso y Realonda. Mercado is his father’s surname while Alonso y Realonda is his mother’s. However, during the Spanish colonization, the Governor General of the Philippines, Narciso Clavería y Zaldua in 1849 required the Filipino people to adopt Spanish surnames. His father Francisco Mercado adopted the name Rizal, which refers to the green of a young plant. Thus, Jose Rizal officially adopted the surname of his father.