NameCensus.

UK surname

Phillipson

An English patronymic surname meaning "son of Philip".

In the 1881 census there were 1,111 people recorded with the Phillipson surname, ranking it #3,584 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,803, ranked #3,507, up from #3,584 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, Clee and Gateshead. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include West Lancashire, Doncaster and East Riding of Yorkshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Phillipson is 1,878 in 2002. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 62.3%.

1881 census count

1,111

Ranked #3,584

Modern count

1,803

2016, ranked #3,507

Peak year

2002

1,878 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Phillipson had 1,111 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #3,584 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,803 in 2016, ranked #3,507.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,853 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Phillipson surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Phillipson surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Phillipson 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 637 #4,076
1861 historical 698 #3,875
1881 historical 1,111 #3,584
1891 historical 1,304 #3,326
1901 historical 1,486 #3,441
1911 historical 1,853 #2,666
1997 modern 1,796 #3,343
1998 modern 1,865 #3,354
1999 modern 1,874 #3,363
2000 modern 1,853 #3,375
2001 modern 1,822 #3,358
2002 modern 1,878 #3,335
2003 modern 1,812 #3,376
2004 modern 1,799 #3,392
2005 modern 1,775 #3,410
2006 modern 1,759 #3,440
2007 modern 1,761 #3,474
2008 modern 1,786 #3,454
2009 modern 1,807 #3,495
2010 modern 1,869 #3,462
2011 modern 1,828 #3,488
2012 modern 1,787 #3,504
2013 modern 1,817 #3,509
2014 modern 1,828 #3,505
2015 modern 1,821 #3,492
2016 modern 1,803 #3,507

Geography

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Where Phillipsons are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, Clee, Gateshead, Grimsby, Great and Whalley. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to West Lancashire, Doncaster, East Riding of Yorkshire, Hyndburn and Craven. 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 Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside Durham
2 Clee Lincolnshire
3 Gateshead Durham
4 Grimsby, Great Lincolnshire
5 Whalley Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 West Lancashire 011 West Lancashire
2 Doncaster 003 Doncaster
3 East Riding of Yorkshire 038 East Riding of Yorkshire
4 Hyndburn 004 Hyndburn
5 Craven 003 Craven

Forenames

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First names often paired with Phillipson

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Phillipson

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

Ageing Communities

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many residents are of normal retirement age or above and live in communal establishments, and there are few dependent children. The dominant property type is a mix of retirement flats and detached houses. Those in work are likely to be employed in managerial and professional occupations, and many residents are educated to degree level. Levels of owner occupation are high, but the private rental sector is also present. Rural locations predominate.

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Phillipson is most associated with areas classed as Skilled Trades and Construction Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. 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

These scattered, peripheral and often low residential density neighbourhoods house more workers in skilled trades and construction. Few households rent social housing and there are few students. Multiple car ownership is higher than the Supergroup average, perhaps because of poorer public transport connectivity. Incidence of mixed or multiple ethnicity is below the Supergroup average, and the absence of individuals identifying as Pakistani or Other Asian groups is also less pronounced. Flatted accommodation is less dominant than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Phillipson is most concentrated in decile 7 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname near the middle of the scale.

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

7
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Phillipson falls in decile 1 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.

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Phillipson 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 Phillipson, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Phillipson

The surname Phillipson is an English surname derived from the personal name Philip, which has its origins in the Greek name Philippos, meaning "lover of horses." The name can be traced back to the Middle Ages in England, with records showing its presence as early as the 13th century.

Phillipson is a patronymic surname, meaning it was originally formed by adding the suffix "-son" to the personal name Philip, indicating that the person was the son of someone named Philip. This naming convention was common in England and other parts of Europe during the Middle Ages and beyond.

The earliest known record of the Phillipson surname appears in the Hundred Rolls of 1273, which were administrative records compiled in England during the reign of King Edward I. In these rolls, the name is listed as "Philipson," reflecting the earlier spelling variation.

During the late 13th and early 14th centuries, the Phillipson surname was particularly prevalent in Yorkshire and Lancashire, where it is believed to have originated. One notable early bearer of the name was John Phillipson, who was recorded as a landowner in Yorkshire in 1379.

In the 16th century, the Phillipson surname is found in various historical records, including the Subsidy Rolls of 1524 and the Muster Rolls of 1542. These records list individuals with the surname residing in different parts of England, indicating its spread across the country.

One of the earliest known members of the Phillipson family was Robert Phillipson, who was born in Yorkshire in 1516. He was a prominent landowner and served as a member of the local gentry.

Another notable figure with the Phillipson surname was Sir John Phillipson (1580-1645), an English politician and Member of Parliament who represented Yorkshire during the reign of King Charles I. He played a significant role in the English Civil War, initially supporting the Royalist cause but later switching allegiance to the Parliamentarians.

In the 18th century, the Phillipson surname gained further prominence with the birth of John Phillipson (1725-1795), an English businessman and philanthropist. He amassed a considerable fortune through his ventures and was known for his charitable contributions to various causes in Yorkshire.

The name Phillipson has also been associated with literary figures, such as the English writer and critic John Phillipson (1860-1923), who was a prolific essayist and literary critic during the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

Throughout its history, the Phillipson surname has been spelled in various ways, including Philipson, Phillipson, and Phillipps, reflecting the evolving orthography of English over the centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Phillipson families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Phillipson 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. Lincolnshire leads with 234 Phillipsons recorded in 1881 and an index of 13.50x.

County Total Index
Lincolnshire 234 13.50x
Lancashire 188 1.46x
Yorkshire 151 1.41x
Durham 119 3.69x
Northumberland 80 4.96x
Westmorland 55 23.09x
Middlesex 50 0.46x
Cumberland 43 4.61x
Nottinghamshire 37 2.53x
Essex 35 1.64x
Surrey 30 0.57x
Warwickshire 27 0.99x
Cheshire 12 0.50x
Huntingdonshire 9 4.18x
Northamptonshire 9 0.88x
Kent 6 0.16x
Hampshire 4 0.18x
Berkshire 3 0.37x
Carmarthenshire 3 0.66x
Somerset 3 0.17x
Sussex 3 0.16x
Buckinghamshire 2 0.31x
Devon 2 0.09x
Angus 1 0.10x
Cornwall 1 0.08x
Derbyshire 1 0.06x
Glamorgan 1 0.05x
Lanarkshire 1 0.03x
Rutland 1 1.26x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Stanhope in Durham leads with 39 Phillipsons recorded in 1881 and an index of 117.15x.

Place Total Index
Stanhope 39 117.15x
Accrington 31 26.51x
Ordsall 22 196.60x
Skelmersdale 19 88.66x
Clee With Weelsby 18 47.44x
Kendal 17 38.99x
Preston 17 4.94x
Manchester 16 2.77x
Aston 15 1.99x
Elswick 15 11.66x
Garthorpe 15 721.15x
Althorpe 14 355.33x
Great Grimsby 14 12.73x
Salford 14 3.70x
Kingston On Thames 13 10.25x
Ulceby 13 308.06x
Hook 12 50.80x
Westgate 12 12.02x
Croydon 11 3.75x
Paddington London 11 2.76x
West Ham 11 2.33x
Workington 11 20.59x
Alvingham 10 1010.10x
Crosthwaite Lyth 10 349.65x
Leeds 10 1.65x
Louth 10 25.18x
North Kelsey 10 319.49x
Skelton In Guisbrough 10 34.42x
Withnell 10 126.74x
Holme 9 311.42x
Holton Le Moor 9 1363.64x
Luddington 9 407.24x
Wallbottle 9 263.16x
Woodstone 9 264.71x
Hexham 8 32.05x
Kirkmond Le Mire 8 1568.63x
Scothern 8 434.78x
Sculcoates 8 4.70x
Witherslack 8 396.04x
Bentham 7 85.57x
Boreham 7 189.70x
Enfield 7 9.84x
Haslingden 7 13.15x
Liverpool 7 0.90x
Manthorpe Cum Little 7 52.83x
Monkwearmouth Shore 7 11.12x
Simonburn 7 457.52x
Stella 7 253.62x
Swinton In Rotherham 7 24.65x
Willington 7 37.57x
Woodford 7 28.90x
Chorley 6 8.31x
Coventry St Michael 6 6.83x
Everton 6 1.46x
Gainsborough 6 14.69x
Gomersal 6 11.97x
Hoghton 6 184.62x
Kingstonupon Hull 6 69.69x
Kirk Smeaton 6 425.53x
Little Steeping 6 594.06x
Maltby Le Marsh 6 535.71x
Medomsley 6 39.89x
Oundle 6 52.63x
Settle 6 72.99x
Shipley 6 10.77x
St Cuthbert W O 6 13.19x
Walthamstow 6 7.79x
Attercliffe Cum Darnall 5 5.00x
Bedlington 5 9.29x
Collierley 5 34.82x
Heugh 5 427.35x
Kirkleatham 5 34.48x
Kyo 5 32.94x
Monks Kirby 5 83.19x
Newbottle 5 28.39x
Newington 5 16.91x
Poplar London 5 2.44x
Washingborough 5 185.19x
Whittle Le Woods 5 117.37x
Wylam 5 140.85x

Top female names

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

Name Count
John 87
George 67
William 60
Thomas 41
Joseph 28
Charles 23
James 22
Henry 19
Robert 18
Richard 16
Arthur 14
Edward 12
Alfred 7
Frederick 7
Harry 7
Matthew 7
Herbert 6
Ralph 6
Walter 6
Benjamin 4
Samuel 4
Albert 3
David 3
Featherstone 3
Francis 3
Jonathan 3
Michael 3
Percy 3
Tom 3
Abraham 2
Adolphus 2
Christopher 2
Dryden 2
Edgar 2
Edmund 2
Elijah 2
Ernest 2
Frank 2
H. 2
Isaac 2
Leonard 2
Levi 2
Luke 2
Nicholas 2
Stephen 2
Thos. 2
Cicero 1
Enoch 1
Eustace 1
Wm.Ed.D.L. 1

FAQ

Phillipson surname: questions and answers

How common was the Phillipson surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,111 people were recorded with the Phillipson surname. That placed it at #3,584 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Phillipson surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,803 in 2016. That gives Phillipson a modern rank of #3,507.

What does the Phillipson surname mean?

An English patronymic surname meaning "son of Philip".

What does the Phillipson map show?

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