NameCensus.

UK surname

Phillip

Derived from the Greek name Philippos, meaning "friend of horses" or "horse-loving."

In the 1881 census there were 1,524 people recorded with the Phillip surname, ranking it #2,760 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,071, ranked #5,458, down from #2,760 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), Skipton and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Forfar West, Craven and Leeds.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Phillip is 2,874 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 29.7%.

1881 census count

1,524

Ranked #2,760

Modern count

1,071

2016, ranked #5,458

Peak year

1861

2,874 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Phillip had 1,524 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #2,760 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,071 in 2016, ranked #5,458.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 2,874 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations.

Phillip surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Phillip surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Phillip 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 2,491 #1,193
1861 historical 2,874 #1,009
1881 historical 1,524 #2,760
1891 historical 2,638 #1,807
1901 historical 1,576 #3,271
1911 historical 2,499 #2,058
1997 modern 950 #5,722
1998 modern 943 #5,942
1999 modern 931 #6,043
2000 modern 868 #6,347
2001 modern 836 #6,429
2002 modern 884 #6,264
2003 modern 859 #6,299
2004 modern 903 #6,077
2005 modern 894 #6,060
2006 modern 945 #5,817
2007 modern 952 #5,841
2008 modern 950 #5,879
2009 modern 999 #5,770
2010 modern 1,044 #5,673
2011 modern 1,002 #5,812
2012 modern 980 #5,829
2013 modern 1,031 #5,694
2014 modern 1,051 #5,618
2015 modern 1,054 #5,560
2016 modern 1,071 #5,458

Geography

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Where Phillips are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), Skipton, London parishes, Edinburgh and Llangafelach. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Forfar West, Craven, Leeds and Letham and Glamis. 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 Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos) Glamorganshire
2 Skipton Yorkshire, West Riding
3 London parishes London 3
4 Edinburgh Edinburgh
5 Llangafelach Glamorganshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Forfar West Angus
2 Craven 007 Craven
3 Leeds 042 Leeds
4 Craven 003 Craven
5 Letham and Glamis Angus

Forenames

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First names often paired with Phillip

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Phillip

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

Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities

Group

Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations

Nationally, the Phillip surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations, within Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities. This does not mean every Phillip 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 is often found in less central parts of London and other major towns and cities. Adults are more likely than the Supergroup average to have never been married and are typically aged less than 45 years. Many have young dependent children and individuals may have been born in Africa. There are many members identifying with a Black ethnic group, with the other ethnic groups (as listed in the glossary) also represented, though Chinese less so. Accommodation in flats, frequently socially rented, is common in these neighbourhoods. Part time employment is also common, and work is often in elementary occupations, while unemployment is also the highest within this Supergroup.

Wider pattern

Young adults, many of whom are students, predominate in these high-density and overcrowded neighbourhoods of rented terrace houses or flats. Most ethnic minorities are present in these communities, as are people born in European countries that are not part of the EU. Students aside, low skilled occupations predominate, and unemployment rates are above average. Overall, the mix of students and more sedentary households means that neighbourhood average numbers of children are not very high. The Mixed or Multiple ethnic group composition of neighbourhoods is often associated with low rates of affiliation to Christian religions. This Supergroup predominates in non-central urban locations the UK, particularly within England in the Midlands and the outskirts of west, south and north-east London.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Phillip is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Pockets, part of Social Rented Sector Families with Children. 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

Found in pockets across London, residents are less likely to live in private sector rentals and fewer adults are students. Fewer individuals work in transport and communications occupations relative to the Supergroup average. More individuals identify as Black and were born in Africa.

Wider London pattern

Residents of these neighbourhoods include sizable numbers identifying with ethnicities originating outside Europe, particularly in Africa or Bangladesh. The proportion of residents identifying as White, Indian or Pakistani is well below the London average. Neighbourhood age profiles are skewed towards younger adults, and above average numbers of families have children. Rates of use of English at home are below average. Marriage rates are low, and levels of separation or divorce are above average. Housing is predominantly in flats, and renting in the social rented sector the norm - few residents are owner occupiers. Housing is often overcrowded, and neighbourhoods are amongst the most densely populated in London. Disability rates are above average, although levels of unpaid care provision are about average. Employment is in caring, leisure, other service occupations, sales and customer service, or process, plant, and machine operation. Part time working and full-time student study are common. Levels of unemployment are slightly above average. Most residents have only Level 1 or 2 educational qualifications or have completed apprenticeships.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Phillip 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

Phillip falls in decile 2 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

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

2
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Phillip 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 - British

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

Meaning and origin of Phillip

The surname Phillip originated in Britain during the medieval period. It is derived from the personal name Phillip, which itself comes from the Greek name Philippos, meaning "lover of horses." The name was introduced to Britain by the Normans after the conquest of 1066.

One of the earliest records of the surname Phillip dates back to the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Philipus." This suggests that the name had already become established in England by the late 11th century.

In the 12th century, the surname Phillip is found in various records, such as the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire from 1191, which mention a "Radulfus Philipp." Other early spellings of the name include "Philippe," "Philipe," and "Philipp."

The surname Phillip has been associated with several notable figures throughout history. One of the earliest was Sir John Phillip (c. 1340-1415), a Welsh soldier and landowner who fought in the Hundred Years' War. Another prominent individual was Sir Robert Phillip (c. 1587-1647), an English parliamentarian and supporter of the Parliamentary cause during the English Civil War.

In the literary world, John Phillip (1631-1709) was an English poet and writer best known for his work "The Splendid Shilling." Other notable bearers of the surname include William Phillip (1731-1781), a British naval officer and the first Governor of New South Wales, Australia, and Arthur Phillip (1738-1814), a British admiral and the first Governor of the colony of New South Wales.

The surname Phillip has also been associated with various place names, such as Phillip Island in Victoria, Australia, named after Arthur Phillip, and Phillip County, Kansas, named after William Phillip, the naval officer.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Phillip families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Phillip 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. Yorkshire leads with 252 Phillips recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.71x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 252 1.71x
Glamorgan 207 8.01x
Middlesex 190 1.28x
Angus 81 5.89x
Pembrokeshire 52 11.03x
Lanarkshire 49 1.02x
Aberdeenshire 46 3.35x
Carmarthenshire 46 7.36x
Surrey 46 0.64x
Midlothian 41 2.06x
Lancashire 40 0.23x
Essex 33 1.13x
Warwickshire 31 0.83x
Staffordshire 28 0.56x
Hampshire 27 0.89x
Northumberland 27 1.22x
Durham 23 0.52x
Sussex 19 0.76x
Devon 18 0.58x
Monmouthshire 17 1.58x
Shropshire 17 1.33x
Brecknockshire 15 5.06x
Cheshire 14 0.43x
Kincardineshire 13 7.20x
Leicestershire 12 0.73x
Lincolnshire 11 0.46x
Worcestershire 11 0.57x
Perthshire 10 1.50x
Somerset 10 0.42x
West Lothian 10 4.48x
Caernarfonshire 9 1.50x
Nottinghamshire 9 0.45x
Cornwall 8 0.48x
Dorset 8 0.82x
Kent 8 0.16x
Fife 7 0.80x
Ross-shire 7 1.72x
Bedfordshire 6 0.78x
Dumfriesshire 6 1.83x
East Lothian 6 3.05x
Anglesey 5 1.90x
Derbyshire 5 0.22x
Merionethshire 5 1.84x
Shetland 5 3.30x
Berwickshire 3 1.67x
Cumberland 3 0.23x
Norfolk 3 0.13x
Royal Navy 3 1.70x
Berkshire 2 0.18x
Cambridgeshire 2 0.21x
Channel Islands 2 0.45x
Morayshire 2 0.87x
Renfrewshire 2 0.17x
Stirlingshire 2 0.37x
Banffshire 1 0.32x
Buckinghamshire 1 0.11x
Denbighshire 1 0.18x
Gloucestershire 1 0.03x
Herefordshire 1 0.16x
Rutland 1 0.92x
Westmorland 1 0.31x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Embsay Cum Eastby in Yorkshire leads with 75 Phillips recorded in 1881 and an index of 1262.63x.

Place Total Index
Embsay Cum Eastby 75 1262.63x
Clase 38 39.56x
Skipton 38 82.13x
Llansamlet Lower 33 141.09x
Dundee 24 4.68x
Barony 23 1.89x
Monifieth 23 47.37x
Wilsden 22 145.70x
Mile End Old Town 21 8.97x
Peterhead 21 28.90x
Bethnal Green London 20 3.10x
Llansamlet Higher 19 98.60x
Lampeter Velfrey 18 362.17x
Horton In Bradford 17 7.40x
St Marylebone London 17 2.15x
St Pancras London 15 1.26x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 14 1.75x
Bingley 13 13.88x
Bowling 13 8.93x
Liff Benvie 13 6.23x
Lower Ystradgynlais 13 71.04x
Rotherhithe 13 7.09x
Alcester 12 97.24x
Camberwell 12 1.27x
Glasgow 12 1.41x
Cramond 11 73.04x
Govan 11 0.93x
Berden 10 543.48x
Edgbaston 10 8.62x
Elsham 10 392.16x
Oystermouth 10 50.03x
Penrice 10 757.58x
St Luke London 10 4.20x
Wolverhampton 10 2.60x
Monkwearmouth 9 21.30x
Aberdeen St Nicholas 8 3.11x
Blaenhonddan 8 66.50x
Bromley London 8 2.45x
Cleckheaton 8 14.77x
Hackney London 8 0.96x
Henllan Amgoed 8 1081.08x
Islington London 8 0.56x
Llanelly 8 5.68x
Ryde 8 12.25x
Shoreditch London 8 1.24x
Walsall Foreign 8 3.09x
Battersea 7 1.28x
Benholm 7 90.21x
Cwmdu 7 22.24x
Elswick 7 3.97x
Fortrose 7 283.40x
Hedworth Monkton Jarrow 7 3.66x
Llandebie 7 38.59x
Llandewy 7 1272.73x
Middleton 7 945.95x
Mile End New Town 7 34.55x
Ormesby 7 17.72x
Paddington London 7 1.28x
Southwark St George Martyr 7 2.34x
Waltham Holy Cross 7 25.58x
Ystradyfodwg 7 3.09x
Aberdeen Old Machar 6 2.09x
Bedwellty 6 3.17x
Chapel Hill 6 287.08x
Chorlton On Medlock 6 2.15x
Cound 6 247.93x
Coyty Lower 6 35.78x
Haworth 6 17.17x
Hellifield 6 277.78x
Kensington London 6 0.73x
Laugharne 6 72.38x
Llangeinor 6 39.45x
Llantwit Lower 6 26.42x
South Weald 6 23.92x
St Brides Major 6 173.91x
St Martin 6 41.87x
Uttoxeter 6 23.40x
West Knighton 6 379.75x
Christchurch 5 7.58x
Mydrim 5 108.70x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 97
Elizabeth 52
Sarah 51
Ann 34
Margaret 27
Jane 25
Emma 16
Hannah 16
Alice 15
Annie 15
Anne 11
Ellen 10
Emily 8
Harriet 8
Maria 8
Martha 8
Harriett 7
Margret 6
Ada 5
Agnes 5
Charlotte 5
Clara 5
Louisa 5
Lucy 5
Rachel 5
Catherine 4
Edith 4
Florence 4
Jessie 4
Selina 4
Sophia 4
Susannah 4
Betty 3
Elizth. 3
Esther 3
Ethel 3
Eva 3
Fanny 3
Henrietta 3
Isabella 3
Julia 3
Laura 3
Marian 3
Matilda 3
Phebe 3
Rachael 3
Rebecca 3
Rose 3
Bella 2
Maggie 2

Top male names

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

FAQ

Phillip surname: questions and answers

How common was the Phillip surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,524 people were recorded with the Phillip surname. That placed it at #2,760 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Phillip surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,071 in 2016. That gives Phillip a modern rank of #5,458.

What does the Phillip surname mean?

Derived from the Greek name Philippos, meaning "friend of horses" or "horse-loving."

What does the Phillip map show?

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