NameCensus.

UK surname

Philcox

An English surname derived from the given name Philip and a diminutive of Cox.

In the 1881 census there were 267 people recorded with the Philcox surname, ranking it #10,573 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 252, ranked #16,699, down from #10,573 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Catsfield, Hastings St Mary-in-the-Castle, Hastings St Andrew and Hastings All Saints. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Rother, Rural Keith and Strathisla and Hastings.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Philcox is 359 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 5.6%.

1881 census count

267

Ranked #10,573

Modern count

252

2016, ranked #16,699

Peak year

1911

359 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Philcox had 267 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #10,573 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 252 in 2016, ranked #16,699.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 359 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Philcox surname distribution map

The map shows where the Philcox surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.

Distribution map

Philcox surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Philcox over time

The table below tracks recorded surname counts and rank from the 19th-century census years through the modern adult-register period.

Year Period Count Rank
1851 historical 173 #11,629
1861 historical 175 #13,409
1881 historical 267 #10,573
1891 historical 277 #11,784
1901 historical 327 #10,966
1911 historical 359 #10,084
1997 modern 280 #14,136
1998 modern 307 #13,690
1999 modern 302 #13,895
2000 modern 283 #14,488
2001 modern 280 #14,364
2002 modern 284 #14,524
2003 modern 267 #14,950
2004 modern 273 #14,804
2005 modern 265 #15,048
2006 modern 254 #15,560
2007 modern 250 #15,901
2008 modern 246 #16,247
2009 modern 253 #16,283
2010 modern 263 #16,205
2011 modern 254 #16,458
2012 modern 254 #16,328
2013 modern 254 #16,603
2014 modern 252 #16,822
2015 modern 249 #16,858
2016 modern 252 #16,699

Geography

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Where Philcox' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Catsfield, Hastings St Mary-in-the-Castle, Hastings St Andrew, Hastings All Saints, London parishes and Lambeth. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Rother, Rural Keith and Strathisla, Hastings, Southwark and South Hams. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Some modern areas include a three-digit suffix, such as Leeds 110. The suffix is a small-area code, so it stays in the table while the prose uses the plain place name.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 Catsfield Sussex
2 Hastings St Mary-in-the-Castle, Hastings St Andrew Sussex
3 Hastings All Saints Sussex
4 London parishes London 3
5 Lambeth London (South Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Rother 006 Rother
2 Rural Keith and Strathisla Moray
3 Hastings 001 Hastings
4 Southwark 008 Southwark
5 South Hams 010 South Hams

Forenames

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First names often paired with Philcox

These lists show first names that appear often with the Philcox surname in historical and recent records.

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Philcox

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Philcox, this points to the kinds of places where the surname is most concentrated today.

These neighbourhood labels describe areas, not individual people. They are useful because surnames often cluster through family history, migration, housing patterns and local work. A surname can be strongest in one type of neighbourhood even when people with that name live across the country.

The UK classification gives the national picture. The London classification is more specific to the capital, where housing, age profile, tenure and population mix can look quite different from the rest of the UK.

UK neighbourhood type

UK Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities

Group

Rural Amenity

Nationally, the Philcox surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Philcox household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group comprises older parents or retirees, with no resident dependent children, and with the lowest residential densities in this Supergroup. Predominantly UK-born, residents typically live in detached houses, although others do live in semi-detached and terraced properties. The level of multiple car ownership is the highest in this Supergroup. Most houses are owner occupied although social renting is also present. Many concentrations occur in high amenity rural locations, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Wider pattern

Pervasive throughout the UK, members of this Supergroup typically own (or are buying) their detached, semi-detached or terraced homes. They are also typically educated to A Level/Highers or degree level and work in skilled or professional occupations. Typically born in the UK, some families have children, although the median adult age is above 45 and some property has become under-occupied after children have left home. This Supergroup is pervasive not only in suburban locations, but also in neighbourhoods at or beyond the edge of cities that adjoin rural parts of the country.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Philcox is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Scattered across London’s Inner and Outer suburbs, residents of these neighbourhoods are typically housed in the social rented sector. Although terraced and semi-detached houses predominate, more residents live in flats than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Neighbourhoods are more ethnically diverse than the Supergroup average. Those identifying as of Bangladeshi, Pakistani and some Black ethnicities are more prevalent. Europeans born in a overseas non-EU countries make up more of the lower proportion of residents identifying as White. Few residents are very old (85+). Employment in distribution, hotels and restaurants is more common than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Philcox is most concentrated in decile 9 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier end of the index.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

9
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Philcox falls in decile 4 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

4
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Philcox is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 30-40 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

6
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

This describes the area pattern most associated with Philcox, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Philcox

The surname PHILCOX originated in England during the late medieval period. It is believed to have derived from the Old English words "phil" meaning "deep" and "cocc" meaning "pit" or "hollow," suggesting that the name may have initially referred to someone who lived near a deep pit or depression in the landscape.

The earliest recorded instances of the PHILCOX surname can be traced back to the 16th century in various parish records and historical documents. One notable example is John Philcox, a landowner mentioned in the Court Rolls of the Manor of Tewkesbury in Gloucestershire, dated 1572.

Throughout the 17th and 18th centuries, the PHILCOX name appeared in various parts of England, particularly in the counties of Gloucestershire, Worcestershire, and Herefordshire. Some variations in spelling included Philcox, Phillcox, and Phillcocks.

A prominent figure bearing the PHILCOX name was Sir Thomas Philcox (1602-1675), a wealthy landowner and Member of Parliament for Gloucestershire during the English Civil War. He played a significant role in the Siege of Gloucester in 1643, supporting the Parliamentarian cause.

Another notable individual was John Philcox (1766-1838), a British naval officer who served during the Napoleonic Wars. He participated in several battles, including the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805, and rose to the rank of Vice-Admiral.

In the 19th century, the PHILCOX surname appeared in various historical records, such as the 1841 Census of England and Wales, where families with this name were found in counties like Gloucestershire, Herefordshire, and Worcestershire.

One interesting figure from this period was Charles Philcox (1826-1901), a renowned English architect who designed several notable buildings, including the Church of St. Barnabas in Gloucestershire and the Great Western Colliery in South Wales.

Another individual worth mentioning is William Philcox (1842-1919), a British businessman and philanthropist who made significant contributions to the development of the town of Bewdley, Worcestershire, where he lived and worked.

As the PHILCOX family continued to grow and disperse, the name appeared in various parts of the world, particularly in countries with strong British influence, such as Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Philcox families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Philcox surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.

Top counties

Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Sussex leads with 116 Philcox' recorded in 1881 and an index of 26.42x.

County Total Index
Sussex 116 26.42x
Kent 38 4.28x
Middlesex 34 1.31x
Surrey 28 2.21x
Essex 17 3.31x
Midlothian 9 2.58x
Norfolk 8 2.00x
Leicestershire 7 2.42x
Buckinghamshire 3 1.91x
Hertfordshire 3 1.67x
Devon 1 0.18x
Hampshire 1 0.19x
Lincolnshire 1 0.24x
Warwickshire 1 0.15x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Brighton in Sussex leads with 18 Philcox' recorded in 1881 and an index of 20.32x.

Place Total Index
Brighton 18 20.32x
Grays Thurrock 14 292.89x
New Romney 14 1538.46x
St Pancras London 12 5.72x
Hastings St Andrew 11 700.64x
Hastings St Mary In The 10 106.72x
Milton In Gravesend 10 75.02x
Ore 10 305.81x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 9 6.41x
Lambeth 9 3.96x
Catsfield 8 1269.84x
East Grinstead 8 128.62x
Hastings St Mary 8 73.19x
Bottesford 7 588.24x
Hastings All Sts 7 169.08x
Wandsworth 7 27.92x
Westfield 7 744.68x
Hartfield 6 431.65x
Fulham London 5 13.24x
Hastings St Leonards 5 77.52x
Islington London 5 1.98x
Kings Lynn St Margaret 5 41.60x
Southwark St George Martyr 5 9.54x
Camberwell 4 2.40x
Northfleet 4 51.09x
Paddington London 4 4.18x
Plumstead 4 13.50x
Brede 3 326.09x
Cliffe 3 202.70x
East Barnet 3 84.27x
Eastbourne 3 14.84x
Lewes St John Southover 3 101.69x
Prittlewell 3 42.13x
Bermondsey 2 2.58x
Brancaster 2 289.86x
Chalfont St Peter 2 153.85x
Deptford St Nicholas 2 28.37x
Margate St John Baptist 2 12.29x
St Luke London 2 4.79x
Atherstone On Stour 1 1250.00x
Burwash 1 49.02x
Clerkenwell London 1 1.63x
Eton 1 28.01x
Gravesend 1 13.30x
Hackney London 1 0.68x
Hamble Le Rice 1 270.27x
Hastings St Clement 1 24.21x
Hendon 1 10.67x
Hollington 1 64.10x
Holy Trinity Less 1 178.57x
Lydd 1 52.63x
Messingham 1 99.01x
Preston 1 13.04x
Rottingdean 1 66.67x
Sedlescombe 1 172.41x
South Lynn 1 22.12x
St Clement Danes 1 23.70x
St Marylebone London 1 0.72x
Wimbledon 1 7.02x
Wolborough 1 14.60x

Top female names

These are the female first names most often recorded with the Philcox surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Top male names

These are the male first names most often recorded with the Philcox surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
George 13
William 13
John 11
Charles 9
James 8
Alfred 7
Henry 7
Arthur 5
Walter 5
Frederick 4
Godfrey 4
Harry 4
Robert 4
Samuel 3
Daniel 2
Francis 2
Frank 2
Harrington 2
Herbert 2
Stephen 2
Albert 1
Alfd. 1
Archibald 1
Bernard 1
Earnest 1
Fredk.J. 1
Geo. 1
Geo.T. 1
Infant 1
Isaac 1
Kenneth 1
Mary 1
Noneus 1
Rowland 1
Thomas 1

FAQ

Philcox surname: questions and answers

How common was the Philcox surname in 1881?

In 1881, 267 people were recorded with the Philcox surname. That placed it at #10,573 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Philcox surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 252 in 2016. That gives Philcox a modern rank of #16,699.

What does the Philcox surname mean?

An English surname derived from the given name Philip and a diminutive of Cox.

What does the Philcox map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Philcox bearers relative to the surrounding population.

What records is this surname page based on?

The historical counts come from census surname records. The modern counts and neighbourhood summaries come from later surname distribution records. Counts are recorded bearers in those records, not a live estimate of everyone with the name today.