NameCensus.

UK surname

Phillis

A surname possibly derived from the Greek name "Phillis," meaning "lover of horses or foliage."

In the 1881 census there were 244 people recorded with the Phillis surname, ranking it #11,258 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 333, ranked #13,670, down from #11,258 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Pilton, North Wootton, Shepton Mallet, Croscombe, London parishes and St Philip and Jacob. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Amber Valley, Erewash and Birmingham.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Phillis is 411 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 36.5%.

1881 census count

244

Ranked #11,258

Modern count

333

2016, ranked #13,670

Peak year

1911

411 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Phillis had 244 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #11,258 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 333 in 2016, ranked #13,670.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 411 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Young Families in Industrial Towns.

Phillis surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Phillis surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Phillis 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 170 #11,780
1861 historical 269 #9,244
1881 historical 244 #11,258
1891 historical 353 #9,760
1901 historical 345 #10,541
1911 historical 411 #9,112
1997 modern 360 #11,929
1998 modern 382 #11,779
1999 modern 370 #12,124
2000 modern 358 #12,356
2001 modern 339 #12,641
2002 modern 344 #12,777
2003 modern 337 #12,759
2004 modern 345 #12,571
2005 modern 319 #13,275
2006 modern 330 #13,021
2007 modern 331 #13,117
2008 modern 341 #12,958
2009 modern 347 #13,044
2010 modern 353 #13,156
2011 modern 339 #13,404
2012 modern 325 #13,720
2013 modern 332 #13,713
2014 modern 325 #14,030
2015 modern 326 #13,898
2016 modern 333 #13,670

Geography

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Where Phillis' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Pilton, North Wootton, Shepton Mallet, Croscombe, London parishes, St Philip and Jacob, Waltham, North and Steventon. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Amber Valley, Erewash, Birmingham, North Kesteven and Barnsley. 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 Pilton, North Wootton, Shepton Mallet, Croscombe Somerset
2 London parishes London 3
3 St Philip and Jacob Gloucestershire
4 Waltham, North Hampshire
5 Steventon Hampshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Amber Valley 012 Amber Valley
2 Erewash 007 Erewash
3 Birmingham 029 Birmingham
4 North Kesteven 006 North Kesteven
5 Barnsley 026 Barnsley

Forenames

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First names often paired with Phillis

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Phillis

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

Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce

Group

Young Families in Industrial Towns

Nationally, the Phillis surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Young Families in Industrial Towns, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Phillis household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These neighbourhoods house predominantly young, UK-born individuals identifying with a White ethnic group with dependent children. Long-term disability and unpaid care are prevalent, and religious affiliations are uncommon. Housing is terraced or semi-detached and social rented sector housing is the norm. Unemployment is above the Supergroup average, and employment is principally in elementary occupations, as process plant and machine operatives, or in caring and leisure services. Educational attainment is low. The group is scattered throughout former industrial towns in the Midlands and the South Wales Valleys.

Wider pattern

Living in terraced or semi-detached houses, residents of these neighbourhoods typically lack high levels of education and work in elementary or routine service occupations. Unemployment is above average. Residents are predominantly born in the UK, and residents are also predominantly from ethnic minorities. Social (but not private sector) rented sector housing is common. This Supergroup is found throughout the UK’s conurbations and industrial regions but is also an integral part of smaller towns.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Phillis is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support 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

Mainly located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

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

Phillis is most concentrated in decile 5 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.

5
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Phillis 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 Phillis is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

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

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Phillis

The surname PHILLIS originated in England during the late medieval period. It is believed to have derived from the personal name Philip, which was quite popular among early Christians and came from the Greek word "philos," meaning lover of horses. The surname likely emerged as a way to distinguish individuals with the same first name.

PHILLIS is thought to have first appeared in written records in the 13th century, with variations in spelling such as Phillipps, Phillipes, and Phillipps. One of the earliest documented instances was in the Hundred Rolls of 1273, which listed a Robert Philips in Oxfordshire.

During the 14th century, the surname PHILLIS gained prominence in various regions of England, including Shropshire, Gloucestershire, and Somerset. It was also found in the Subsidy Rolls of 1327, listing individuals like John Philips in Worcestershire and Walter Philips in Gloucestershire.

In the 15th century, the surname PHILLIS appeared in the Patent Rolls of 1429, where a Thomas Philips was mentioned in connection with land transactions in Warwickshire. The name was also present in the Paston Letters, a collection of correspondence from the influential Paston family of Norfolk, dating back to the 1400s.

Notable individuals with the surname PHILLIS throughout history include:

1. John Philips (1676-1709), an English poet and writer best known for his work "The Splendid Shilling." 2. Samuel Philips (1555-1619), an English clergyman and author who served as the vicar of Bromyard, Herefordshire. 3. Edward Philips (1630-1696), an English writer and nephew of the poet John Milton. He wrote several works, including "The New World of English Words" and "The Mysteries of Love and Eloquence." 4. William Philips (1775-1828), an English geologist and mineralogist who made significant contributions to the study of mineralogy and crystallography. 5. John Philips (1801-1887), an English geologist and writer who authored works such as "Memoirs of the Geological Survey of Great Britain" and "Life on the Earth."

The surname PHILLIS has also been associated with various place names in England, such as Phillipshill in Buckinghamshire, Phillipston in Gloucestershire, and Phillipstown in Kent.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Phillis families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Phillis 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. Hampshire leads with 44 Phillis' recorded in 1881 and an index of 8.98x.

County Total Index
Hampshire 44 8.98x
Somerset 42 10.92x
Kent 36 4.42x
Yorkshire 36 1.52x
Middlesex 18 0.75x
Surrey 16 1.37x
Gloucestershire 11 2.35x
Leicestershire 8 3.02x
Wiltshire 8 3.79x
Glamorgan 7 1.68x
Berkshire 5 2.79x
Sussex 4 0.99x
Derbyshire 3 0.80x
Oxfordshire 2 1.36x
Carmarthenshire 1 0.99x
Devon 1 0.20x
Essex 1 0.21x
Nottinghamshire 1 0.31x
Royal Navy 1 3.51x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Leeds in Yorkshire leads with 21 Phillis' recorded in 1881 and an index of 15.70x.

Place Total Index
Leeds 21 15.70x
North Waltham 21 6176.47x
Shepton Mallet 14 324.07x
Kensington London 12 9.03x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 11 24.93x
Glastonbury 9 286.62x
Lewisham 8 18.40x
Seend 8 1904.76x
Hunslet 7 18.95x
Leicester St Margaret 7 10.83x
Nailsea 7 460.53x
Bath St Michael 6 309.28x
Bermondsey 6 8.43x
Blagdon 6 740.74x
Dover St Mary Virgin 6 76.05x
Steventon 6 2500.00x
Buckland In Dover 5 185.19x
St Mary Cray 5 320.51x
Abbotts Ann 4 727.27x
Bradford 4 6.98x
Camberwell 4 2.62x
Canterbury St Mary 4 73.13x
Cholsey 4 281.69x
Llandaff 4 28.90x
Sherborne St John 4 754.72x
Stoke Newington London 4 21.49x
Lambeth 3 1.44x
Litchurch 3 19.92x
Micheldever 3 352.94x
River 3 576.92x
Cardiff St John 2 14.72x
Chapel Allerton 2 56.50x
Charlton 2 36.90x
Culham 2 454.55x
Newick 2 224.72x
St George Hanover 2 6.41x
Up Nately 2 2000.00x
Basingstoke 1 17.76x
Bramley 1 270.27x
Brenenden 1 95.24x
Cardiff St Mary 1 4.36x
Cliddesden 1 370.37x
Egham 1 13.99x
Gillingham 1 5.95x
Hastings St Mary 1 9.97x
Hastings St Mary In The 1 11.63x
Holme On Spalding Moor 1 64.52x
Lee 1 8.45x
Llangathen 1 140.85x
Merrow 1 204.08x
Plymouth Charles The 1 4.56x
Potter Newton 1 23.92x
Reading St Giles 1 5.68x
Royal Navy 1 4.11x
Snenton 1 7.90x
St Bartholomew Hyde 1 85.47x
Theydon Garnon 1 92.59x
Ulverscroft 1 1250.00x
Walton On Thames 1 18.69x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Elizabeth 14
Mary 11
Alice 8
Sarah 8
Ann 7
Eliza 6
Ellen 6
Annie 5
Emma 4
Charlotte 3
Emily 3
Florence 3
Harriet 3
Louisa 3
Ada 2
Caroline 2
Jane 2
Kate 2
Maria 2
Rhoda 2
Susan 2
Alaice 1
Anne 1
Anney 1
Beatrice 1
Bessie 1
Bridget 1
Clara 1
Dorothy 1
Edith 1
Elizth. 1
Fanny 1
Hannah 1
Harriett 1
Harriott 1
Henrietta 1
Hester 1
Jessie 1
Kathlane 1
Leah 1
Louise 1
Lucy 1
Margaret 1
Martha 1
Matilda 1
Nelly 1
Norah 1
Rebbecca 1
Rebecca 1
Susannah 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 17
William 14
James 8
Albert 6
Charles 6
George 6
Henry 5
Harry 4
Joseph 4
Alfred 3
Robert 3
Thomas 3
Walter 3
Arthur 2
Benjamin 2
Chas. 2
Edward 2
Francis 2
Fred 2
Frederick 2
Jacob 2
Richard 2
A.E. 1
Charls.F. 1
Daniel 1
Earnest 1
Edwin 1
Enos 1
Frederic 1
Frederica 1
Jessie 1
Jonas 1
Levi 1
Lloyd 1
Peter 1
Sidney 1
Wm. 1
Wm.George 1

FAQ

Phillis surname: questions and answers

How common was the Phillis surname in 1881?

In 1881, 244 people were recorded with the Phillis surname. That placed it at #11,258 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Phillis surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 333 in 2016. That gives Phillis a modern rank of #13,670.

What does the Phillis surname mean?

A surname possibly derived from the Greek name "Phillis," meaning "lover of horses or foliage."

What does the Phillis map show?

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