UK surname
A surname derived from the French form of the ancient Greek name Philippos, meaning "lover of horses".
In the 1881 census there were 16 people recorded with the Phillipe surname, ranking it #31,301 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 7, ranked #37,967, down from #31,301 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Bunwell, St James and St Paul and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Phillipe is 274 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 56.3%.
1881 census count
16
Ranked #31,301
Modern count
7
2016, ranked #37,967
Peak year
1861
274 bearers
Map years
2
1861 to 1891
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Phillipe surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Phillipe surname density by area, 1891 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 28 | #28,274 |
| 1861 | historical | 274 | #9,111 |
| 1881 | historical | 16 | #31,301 |
| 1891 | historical | 111 | #22,421 |
| 1901 | historical | 46 | #29,047 |
| 1911 | historical | 26 | #30,547 |
| 1997 | modern | 9 | #37,214 |
| 1998 | modern | 8 | #37,334 |
| 1999 | modern | 11 | #36,917 |
| 2000 | modern | 5 | #37,823 |
| 2001 | modern | 5 | #37,652 |
| 2002 | modern | 4 | #37,921 |
| 2003 | modern | 3 | #38,198 |
| 2004 | modern | 4 | #38,013 |
| 2005 | modern | 3 | #38,312 |
| 2006 | modern | 7 | #37,634 |
| 2007 | modern | 5 | #38,004 |
| 2008 | modern | 4 | #38,216 |
| 2009 | modern | 6 | #37,953 |
| 2010 | modern | 7 | #37,904 |
| 2011 | modern | 7 | #37,865 |
| 2012 | modern | 5 | #38,167 |
| 2013 | modern | 5 | #38,195 |
| 2014 | modern | 5 | #38,228 |
| 2015 | modern | 5 | #38,221 |
| 2016 | modern | 7 | #37,967 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Bunwell, St James and St Paul, London parishes, Bingley and St Pancras. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bunwell | Norfolk |
| 2 | St James and St Paul | Gloucestershire |
| 3 | London parishes | London 3 |
| 4 | Bingley | Yorkshire, West Riding |
| 5 | St Pancras | London (North Districts) |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Phillipe surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Phillipe, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Phillipe surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Phillipe household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Phillipe is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Phillipe is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Phillipe, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Phillipe originated in France during the Middle Ages. It is derived from the personal name Philippe, which is the French form of the ancient Greek name Philippos. This name means "lover of horses" and is derived from the Greek words philos, meaning "lover of," and hippos, meaning "horse."
The earliest recorded instances of the surname Phillipe can be found in medieval French records from the 12th and 13th centuries. The name was particularly common in the regions of Normandy, Brittany, and Picardy. It was also found in various spellings such as Philipe, Philippe, and Philippes.
In the famous Domesday Book of 1086, a record of landholders in England commissioned by William the Conqueror, there are several references to individuals with the name Philippe or similar spellings, indicating that the name had already spread to England by the late 11th century.
One of the earliest recorded individuals with the surname Phillipe was Guillaume Philippe, a French nobleman who lived in the late 12th century. He was a prominent figure in the court of King Philip II of France and served as a military commander during the Third Crusade.
Another notable bearer of the name was Jean Philippe, a French poet and philosopher who lived from 1435 to 1505. He is best known for his work "Le Livre de la Fontaine de Toutes Sciences," a comprehensive encyclopedia of knowledge and a significant work of the Renaissance era.
In the 16th century, Pierre Philippe (1543-1625) was a French Catholic theologian and scholar who contributed to the Counter-Reformation. He served as a professor at the University of Paris and was involved in the controversy surrounding the Jansenist movement.
During the 17th century, François Philippe (1642-1708) was a French military engineer and architect. He worked on numerous fortifications and buildings throughout France and is particularly known for his work on the citadel of Besançon.
In the 19th century, Adolphe Philippe (1828-1891) was a French watchmaker and inventor. He is credited with developing the first keyless winding mechanism for watches, which revolutionized the industry and paved the way for modern wristwatches.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Phillipe surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Middlesex leads with 8 Phillipes recorded in 1881 and an index of 5.13x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Middlesex | 8 | 5.13x |
| Northumberland | 3 | 12.93x |
| Yorkshire | 3 | 1.94x |
| Herefordshire | 1 | 15.63x |
| Orkney | 1 | 58.14x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. St Luke London in Middlesex leads with 5 Phillipes recorded in 1881 and an index of 200.00x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| St Luke London | 5 | 200.00x |
| Holy Trinity | 3 | 80.65x |
| Simonburn | 3 | 15000.00x |
| Bethnal Green London | 1 | 14.75x |
| Birsay Harray | 1 | 833.33x |
| Grays Inn Staple Inn | 1 | 5000.00x |
| Hammersmith London | 1 | 26.04x |
| Hereford All Sts | 1 | 344.83x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Phillipe surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Phillipe surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Phillipe households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 3 |
| Assistant In Confectioner Shop | 1 |
| Bonnet Shape Maker | 1 |
| Bookbinders Porter | 1 |
| Carman | 1 |
| Charwoman | 1 |
| Fancy Box Maker | 1 |
| Farmer Daughter | 1 |
| Farmer Of 216 Employing 3 Labour | 1 |
| Keeps Confectioner Shop | 1 |
| Solr Practising | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 16 people were recorded with the Phillipe surname. That placed it at #31,301 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 7 in 2016. That gives Phillipe a modern rank of #37,967.
A surname derived from the French form of the ancient Greek name Philippos, meaning "lover of horses".
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Phillipe bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.