NameCensus.

UK surname

Philippou

A surname of Greek origin meaning "lover of horses".

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Enfield.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Philippou is 400 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

369

2016, ranked #12,617

Peak year

2010

400 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 369 in 2016, ranked #12,617.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Suburban Professionals.

Philippou surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Philippou surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Philippou 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
1891 historical 1 #34,674
1997 modern 324 #12,859
1998 modern 333 #12,964
1999 modern 341 #12,851
2000 modern 345 #12,693
2001 modern 341 #12,588
2002 modern 349 #12,652
2003 modern 367 #11,988
2004 modern 365 #12,077
2005 modern 368 #11,926
2006 modern 360 #12,198
2007 modern 370 #12,073
2008 modern 381 #11,918
2009 modern 387 #12,021
2010 modern 400 #11,992
2011 modern 387 #12,142
2012 modern 364 #12,564
2013 modern 374 #12,521
2014 modern 376 #12,553
2015 modern 376 #12,446
2016 modern 369 #12,617

Geography

Back to top

Where Philippous are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around No data. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Enfield. 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 No data No data

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Enfield 035 Enfield
2 Enfield 011 Enfield
3 Enfield 021 Enfield
4 Enfield 036 Enfield
5 Enfield 026 Enfield

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Philippou

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Philippou

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Philippou, 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

Ethnically Diverse Suburban Professionals

Group

Suburban Professionals

Nationally, the Philippou surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Suburban Professionals, within Ethnically Diverse Suburban Professionals. This does not mean every Philippou household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Employment in this Group is typically in managerial and professional occupations, and education to degree level is common. Residents are typically of working age, many of whom identify with an Indian ethnicity. Households are unlikely to be of Mixed or Multiple ethnicities, and English is not the main language used in some households. This Group is found on the outskirts of most conurbations as well as in the suburbs of some free-standing towns.

Wider pattern

Those working within the managerial, professional and administrative occupations typically reflect a wide range of ethnic groups, and reside in detached or semi-detached housing. Their residential locations at the edges of cities and conurbations and car-based lifestyles are more characteristic of Supergroup membership than birthplace or participation in child-rearing. Houses are typically owner-occupied and marriage rates are lower than the national average. This Supergroup is found throughout suburban UK.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Philippou 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

Philippou is most concentrated in decile 10 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.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Philippou 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 Philippou is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

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

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - Other

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

Meaning and origin of Philippou

The surname PHILIPPOU has its origins in Cyprus, an island nation in the Mediterranean Sea. The name can be traced back to the 12th century and is derived from the Greek name "Philippos," which means "lover of horses." The suffix "-ou" indicates a patronymic or a name derived from one's father or ancestor.

The PHILIPPOU name likely originated in the central plains of Cyprus, where horse breeding and trading were prominent activities during the medieval period. It is possible that the earliest bearers of this name were involved in these equine-related professions or trades.

Historical records from the Venetian period in Cyprus (1489-1571) mention several individuals with the PHILIPPOU surname, indicating its widespread use across various villages and towns on the island. One notable example is a land deed from 1523 that references a certain Georgios PHILIPPOU, a landowner in the village of Kato Drys.

The earliest recorded instance of the PHILIPPOU name appears in a Byzantine manuscript from the 14th century, which mentions a monk named Kyriakos PHILIPPOU. This document is currently housed in the Monastery of Kykkos, one of the wealthiest and most influential monasteries in Cyprus.

During the Venetian period, a prominent PHILIPPOU family resided in the coastal town of Larnaca. Petros PHILIPPOU (1543-1612) was a successful merchant and ship owner who played a vital role in the island's trade with Venice and other Mediterranean ports.

Another noteworthy figure was Nikolaos PHILIPPOU (1685-1754), a scholar and theologian who served as the Archbishop of Cyprus from 1730 until his death. He was renowned for his contributions to the preservation of Greek Orthodox traditions and his efforts to promote education among the Cypriot population.

In the 19th century, a PHILIPPOU family from the village of Omodos produced several notable individuals. Ioannis PHILIPPOU (1820-1893) was a revered teacher and poet who wrote extensively about Cypriot culture and traditions. His nephew, Pavlos PHILIPPOU (1865-1942), became a respected lawyer and politician, serving as a member of the Legislative Council during the British colonial period.

As Cyprus underwent various cultural and political changes throughout its history, the PHILIPPOU surname has endured, reflecting the island's rich heritage and the resilience of its people.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Philippou surname: questions and answers

How common is the Philippou surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 369 in 2016. That gives Philippou a modern rank of #12,617.

What does the Philippou surname mean?

A surname of Greek origin meaning "lover of horses".

What does the Philippou map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Philippou 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.