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On November 21, 1849, Spanish Governor-General Narciso Claveria y Zaldua implemented the standardization of Filipino surnames. This was to improve census data and tax collection, as well as to monitor unauthorized migration throughout the Philippines. A catalog of surnames was prepared which contains prescribed Spanish surnames. There are also surnames derived after Philippine vernacular names of plants, animals, minerals, places, and character traits.

A particular cluster of surnames per alphabet was issued to the capital towns and provincial towns, an example of which was the case of Albay where surnames beginning with "A" was appropriated to the provincial capital, while letters "B" and "C" in the towns along the coast beyond Tabaco and Tiwi, letters "E" to "L" along the coast of Sorsogon (then still part of Albay), "M"  at the foothill of Iraya at Daraga, "S" to Polangui and Libon, and the rest of the alphabet in Catanduanes. There are also surnames beginning with "A" associated with Ilocos (e.g., Abaya, Abellera, Alcid) and "D" with Iloilo (e.g., Defensor, Drilon), respectively.

Some Chinese were allowed to retain their Chinese names, but these took on Romanized forms. Descendants of ancient noble families were allowed to retain their surnames, mostly the Kapampangans (e.g., Maniago, Dula, Soliman, Maliari, Manalastas, Capulong, Panganiban, Catacutan), Cebuanos (e.g., Tupas), and Tagalogs (e.g., Gatdula, Gatmaytan. Gatsalian, Gatbonton, Lacandola). Those who continued to use a surname for four generations prior to the Claveria Decree were allowed to keep it. A few exceptions to these was the Marcelo H. del Pilar's family who adopted the surname of Hilario del Pilar (even though they were descendants of the Gatmaitans, an ancient Bulacan noble clan). Jose Rizal's parents also adopted the surnames Rizal and Realonda, respectively.

It was also decreed that those who did not use or change surnames as prescribed in the catalog would be imprisoned. Documents that did not carry the registered surname would consider invalid. These encouraged most Filipinos to start using their new surnames as mandated by the Claveria Decree.

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