PHILLIPPS
Phillipps is a patronymic surname that originates from the ancient Greek personal name Philippos, meaning "lover of horses." The name has entered English usage through its connection to the given name Philip, a choice that carried the same Greek etymology. The patronymic construction of the surname indicates that it was first employed to distinguish the descendants of an ancestor called Philip.
The earliest documentary evidence of the name appears in the thirteenth century. In 1274 a man named Wernherus Philippi is recorded in a German archive at Worms, and a year later Henry Philip is mentioned in the English Hundred Rolls for the county of Norfolk. These entries demonstrate that variations of the name were already in use across continental Europe and the British Isles.
Over the centuries the spelling of the surname has fluctuated, producing a wide range of orthographic forms such as Philip, Phillip, Philipps, Filip, Lippi, Filippeli, Filipichov, Khilkov, and many others. The diversity of spellings reflects both linguistic differences and the absence of standardised orthography during the medieval period.
In the United Kingdom, the surname is most frequently found in Norfolk, Warwickshire, Lancashire, Devon and Essex. In Wales the name is notably common in South Wales, especially in Caerphilly, Newport and Monmouthshire. In Ireland its larger concentrations are situated in Ulster, with significant numbers in Donegal, Down, Antrim and Monaghan, and smaller amounts in Limerick, Laois and Dublin. The surname has also spread to overseas English‑speaking communities, with smaller populations in Australia, the United States, Canada, New Zealand and South Africa.
Beyond the United Kingdom, variations of the surname are established in several other European countries. In France the name appears as Phillippe, Filippe or Philippeau; in German‑speaking areas it may be found as Philippsen or Philippsen; in Poland the usual spelling is Filipek or Filipo; and in Russia variants such as Philippov or Philippoff are recorded. The surname thus retains a presence throughout both the Western and Eastern parts of Europe.
Throughout its long history the surname Phillipps has remained relatively common within its traditional heartlands, while continuing to appear in civil, ecclesiastical and land‑recording documents. Its persistence attests to the enduring nature of patronymic naming practices and to the lasting legacy of the ancient Greek name from which it derives.
Typical given names associated with the Phillipps surname
Male
- Andrew
- David
- Ian
- James
- John
- Mark
- Michael
- Nigel
- Peter
- Richard
- William
Female
- Christine
- Elizabeth
- Jane
- Jennifer
- Karen
- Kathleen
- Rachel
- Sally
- Sarah
- Valerie
Similar and related surnames
- Philip
- Philps
- Philp
- Phillipson
- Phillips
- Phillipp
- Philips
- Philippe
- Philipp
- Phippen
- Filipp
- Fillip
- Fillips
- Phiilips
- Phiillips
- Philiips
- Philipas
- Philipe
- Philiphs
- Philipose
- Philippa
- Philippas
- Philippi
- Philippo
- Philippou
- Philipps
- Philipse
- Philipsz
- Phillies
- Phillip
- Phillipa
- Phillipe
- Philliph
- Philliphs
- Phillipi
- Phillipo
- Phillipou
- Phillippa
- Phillippe
- Phillippi
- Phillippo
- Phillis
- Philllips
- Phillps
- Philpps
- Phylip
- Phylips
- Phyllips
- Phelps
Related and similar names are generated algorithmically based on the spelling, and may not necessarily share an etymology.
How to communicate the surname Phillipps in...
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There are approximately 190 people named Phillipps in the UK. That makes it one of Britain's least common surnames. Only around three in a million people in Britain are named Phillipps.
Famous people named Phillipps
- Thomas Phillipps - Antiquarian and book collector (1792 to 1872)
- Vivian Phillipps - Politician (1870 to 1955)
- Everard Aloysius Lisle Phillipps - Recipient of the Victoria Cross (1835 to 1857)
Names and descriptions courtesy of Wikipedia, and may contain errors. This is not intended to be an exhaustive list of every famous person with this name.