PHILLIPS
The surname Phillips is of patronymic origin, ultimately derived from the Greek personal name Philippos. The Greek compound consists of philein (“to love”) and hippos (“horse”), and therefore conveys the meaning “lover of horses”. The name was widely popularised by Saint Philip, one of the twelve apostles of Jesus Christ, and later by the historical figure Philip of Macedon, father of Alexander the Great.
In the British Isles the name entered England via France during the twelfth century. Early documentary evidence includes the forms “Filippus” in the Danelaw records of Lincolnshire (1142) and “Philipus” in the Gilbertine charters of the same county (c. 1150). The earliest recorded bearer of the hereditary surname in England is Henry Phelipe, listed in the Hundred Rolls of Norfolk in 1273. A contemporary variant, Alicia Philippes, appears in the Hundred Rolls of Huntingdonshire in the same year, illustrating the fluid orthography of the period.
The surname spread across the British Isles, becoming established in Wales where it was adopted by families speaking Welsh and adhering to the Christian faith. Within the Welsh context the name is regarded as Celtic in origin, being derived from the name of a parent, a common pattern in Celtic patronymics.
Numerous orthographic variants have arisen from the original patronymic formation, including Phil(l)ips, Phil(l)ipps, Phil(l)ipse, Phelps, Phelips and Phelops. A coat of arms granted to the Phillips family of London in 1634 depicts a silver field bearing a black lion rampant, collared, chained and ducally crowned in gold.
Migration to the New World is documented in the early seventeenth century; John Phillips embarked from London aboard the vessel “Merchant’s Hope” for Virginia in July 1635, representing one of the first recorded name‑bearers to settle in America. The surname today remains a common British and Anglophone surname, retaining its historic connection to the Greek roots of the given name Philip.
Typical given names associated with the Phillips surname
Male
- Andrew
- Christopher
- David
- James
- John
- Mark
- Michael
- Paul
- Robert
- Stephen
Female
- Elizabeth
- Emma
- Helen
- Karen
- Margaret
- Mary
- Nicola
- Patricia
- Sarah
- Susan
Similar and related surnames
- Fillip
- Filip
- Filipp
- Filipe
- Philips
- Phillipp
- Phillipps
- Philip
- Philipp
- Phillipson
- Phipps
- Phelps
- Phibbs
- Fillips
- Phillip
- Phillipa
- Phelips
- Phellips
- Phiilips
- Phiillips
- Philiips
- Philipas
- Philipe
- Philiphs
- Philipose
- Philipou
- Philippa
- Philippas
- Philippe
- Philippi
- Philippo
- Philipps
- Philipse
- Philipsz
- Philis
- Phillies
- Phillipe
- Philliph
- Philliphs
- Phillipi
- Phillipo
- Phillipou
- Phillippa
- Phillippe
- Phillippi
- Phillippo
- Phillis
- Philllips
- Phillps
- Philps
- Phlips
- Phllips
- Phylip
- Phylips
- Phyllips
- Filipas
- Philippou
- Philipsen
- Philipson
- Philleps
- Phillins
- Phillippou
- Phillops
- Philp
- Philpps
Related and similar names are generated algorithmically based on the spelling, and may not necessarily share an etymology.
How to communicate the surname Phillips in...
Braille
⠏⠓⠊⠇⠇⠊⠏⠎
Morse
.--........-...-.....--....
Semaphore
Did you know?
According to a survey carried out by Democracy Club, politicians and candidates with the surname Phillips are most likely to say that their favourite biscuit is a Garibaldi.
There are approximately 106,756 people named Phillips in the UK. That makes it the 48th most common surname in Britain. Around 1,639 in a million people in Britain are named Phillips.
Surname type: From name of parent
Origin: Celtic
Region of origin: British Isles
Country of origin: Wales
Religion of origin: Christian
Language of origin: Welsh
Famous people named Phillips
- Todd Phillips - American director, producer, screenwriter, and actor
- Peter Phillips - Son of Anne, Princess Royal
- Sally Phillips - Actress and comedian
- Kevin Phillips - Football player
- Leslie Phillips - Actor
- Mark Phillips - Equestrian
- Kalvin Phillips - Football player
- Michelle Phillips - American singer, actress, songwriter
- Jess Phillips - Labour Party politician
- Simon Phillips - Drummer
- John Phillips - American musician (1935 to 2001)
- Siân Phillips - Welsh actress
- Bijou Phillips - Actress, model, singer
- Anthony Phillips - Musician
- Nathaniel Phillips - Football player
- Trevor Phillips - Television producer
- Lou Diamond Phillips - American film, television, and stage actor
- Chynna Phillips - Singer and actress from the United States
- Mackenzie Phillips - American actress and singer
- Matt Phillips - Football player
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.