A Brief History of the Quimpo Family

The Quimpo "chop" or seal.

Philippines

It appears our roots go back to Fujian, China. The Chinese were in the Philippines before the Spanish. Chinese mercenaries fought along side of the Datau's (early tribal rulers) of Borneo as far back as the 13^th century.

Many Chinese families settled in the Philippines during the Spanish era and became a powerful but persecuted minority. The name "QUIMPO" (pronounced KIM-PO) is a Spanish transliteration. It means GOLD SHOP. The origin is obscured and the fact that it is a two syllable Chinese surname is unusual. There are many in the Philippines.

Many Chinese families changed or dropped their original surnames to conform to Spanish laws concerning names. Prior to the conformity of surnames, census taking was a nightmare as family members would have different names, and many adopted the names of saints (also illegal, but done) to dodge Spanish taxes.

The name is a very old Chinese usage.

1939 family photo

To see the photo with names click here.

Our roots emerge from obscurity toward the end of the 18^th century in the Province of Capiz. My Grandfather, Jose Aden Quimpo was the Provincial Treasurer of Iloilo during the American Era. If you look on the map of the Philippines, right in the middle is the island of PANAY.

Visayas Islands

My family is from Aklan and Capiz Province on the Northern part of Panay Island. Towns like Kalibo, and Altavas are full of Quimpo's. Eventually the family moved to ILOILO CITY on the south part of the island. Distant relations traveled to Mindanao to cities like Davao, and Cagayan del Oro. I have found one Quimpo who settled in South Africa at the turn of the century.

Masonic Pic

Old Masonic Picture

My father Jacob Reyes Quimpo was 12th in a family of 19 children. A lot of kids. My Grandfather, Jose Aden Quimpo, was a very religious man. He studied for the priesthood, but later married Maria de los Reyes, my Grandmother. His sense of the spiritual led him to be a Master Mason, and Rosicrucian. My Grandmother was among the first Baptist in the Philippines. This caused a split to occur in the family. It seems half the family is catholic and the other is protestant. Unlike many sectarian splits, this split is not a bitter one at all, everyone gets along just fine.

To View the Quimpo Family Tree