Maranao
| Total population | |
|---|---|
| 1,142,000 1.25% of total population |
|
| Regions with significant populations | |
Lanao del Sur, Lanao del Norte, Province of Sultan Mardan (Lanao del Sur, District II) Bembaran (specially in the municipalities of Talakag and Kalilangan), Cotabato, Maguindanao, Zamboanga del Sur, Zamboanga City, Misamis Oriental, Iligan City, Cagayan de Oro City, Basilan, Sulu, Tawi-tawi, Manila, Cebu in the  Philippines
Maranaos in Sabah,  Malaysia
Maranaos in the US Maranaos in  Saudi ArabiaMiddle East |
|
| Languages | |
| Maranao, Chavacano, Cebuano, Filipino, English | |
| Religion | |
| Predominantly Islam | |
| Related ethnic groups | |
|
Illanun, Maguindanao, Tiruray Lumad, Tausug, Visayan, other Moros, other Filipinos, other Austronesian peoples |
The Maranao people (Maranao: ['mәranaw]; Filipino: Mëranaw (based on Papanoka Mera)), also spelled Meranao, Maranaw (based on Marapatik) and Mëranaw, is the term used by the Philippine government to refer to the southern tribe who are the "people of the lake" (Ranao in the Iranaon language), a predominantly-Muslim region of the Philippine island of Mindanao. They are known for their artwork, weaving, wood and metal crafts and epic literature, the Darangen.
The word Maranao is a misnomer as it does not have a sense in reference to nouns such as people, places or things. The prefix Ma- means 'to be', i.e., Maranao means to be a lake. Alternatively, the word Maranao may be a portmanteau of "Malay" and "Lanao" or Lake Lanao thus making it "Maranao" which means people living around Lake Lanao).
The proper term is Iranon (also Iranun) which means "People of the Lake," referring to the indigenous people who inhabited the lands around the lake. The Maranaos are part of the wider Moro ethnic group.
The ancient people in Mainland Mindanao were called Iranun, also spelled Iranon, of the coastal area of Illana Bay (Ilian in Maranao) and Iranaon (the people in Bembaran/ Bumbaran or Bukidnon and Kiaranda a Ragata Tiongcopa Layagen, in local language).
Volcanic activity developed a flat land surface little-by-little. Modern science describes this process as sedimentary formation and residual remains that forms the low and flat land surface in the coastal areas. This land is rich and suitable for agriculture. The Maranao vernacular called it “ira” which means "remains".
Thus, the name of the people in the coastal area of Illana Bay is another portmanteau of “ira” plus “ranao” or people living in the remains in the coastal areas.
In present days, the Maranao use the word to refer to “tao sa ragat”, the people of Lanao who migrated to sea area while the Maranaos are people who stayed around the lake. They share lineages, culture, bravery, (i.g.Gandamatu sa Ranau a Tombaga sa Macadar,wadiya lantay decritan potaw dipagotngan,phagrom sa kinikhid, khansa batobarani) and history. They are called Maranao as a general term.
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Wikipedia