Jose Rizal surname was not actually Rizal, but Mercado.
He was born José Protasio Mercado Rizal y Alonzo Realonda. His name uses Spanish naming customs: the first or paternal
family name is Rizal Mercado and the second or maternal family name is Alonso Realonda. Upon enrolling at the Ateneo Municipal de Manila, José dropped the last three names that
make up his full name, on the advice of his brother, Paciano Rizal, and the Mercado-Rizal family, thus rendering his name as "José Protasio Rizal". This was to enable him to travel
freely and disassociate him from his brother, who had gained notoriety with his earlier links to Gomburza.
©TaF
He was born José Protasio Mercado Rizal y Alonzo Realonda. His name uses Spanish naming customs: the first or paternal
family name is Rizal Mercado and the second or maternal family name is Alonso Realonda. Upon enrolling at the Ateneo Municipal de Manila, José dropped the last three names that
make up his full name, on the advice of his brother, Paciano Rizal, and the Mercado-Rizal family, thus rendering his name as "José Protasio Rizal". This was to enable him to travel
freely and disassociate him from his brother, who had gained notoriety with his earlier links to Gomburza.
©TaF