NameCensus.

UK surname

Phillpotts

An English locational surname derived from a place name meaning "son of Philpot" or "Philip's meadow".

In the 1881 census there were 196 people recorded with the Phillpotts surname, ranking it #13,006 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 252, ranked #16,699, down from #13,006 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Mynyddyslwyn, Wolverhampton and Churcham, Sandhurst, St Mary-de-Lode, St Catherine Longford, Barnwood, Wootton Ville, North Hamlet,. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include West Devon, West Somerset and Basingstoke and Deane.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Phillpotts is 290 in 2002. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 28.6%.

1881 census count

196

Ranked #13,006

Modern count

252

2016, ranked #16,699

Peak year

2002

290 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Phillpotts had 196 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #13,006 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 252 in 2016, ranked #16,699.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 289 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Phillpotts surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Phillpotts surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Phillpotts 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 109 #16,212
1861 historical 125 #17,678
1881 historical 196 #13,006
1891 historical 215 #14,155
1901 historical 220 #14,245
1911 historical 289 #11,738
1997 modern 269 #14,543
1998 modern 280 #14,550
1999 modern 280 #14,630
2000 modern 286 #14,385
2001 modern 287 #14,131
2002 modern 290 #14,314
2003 modern 268 #14,897
2004 modern 269 #14,955
2005 modern 265 #15,048
2006 modern 257 #15,448
2007 modern 260 #15,476
2008 modern 260 #15,648
2009 modern 263 #15,843
2010 modern 264 #16,163
2011 modern 258 #16,284
2012 modern 251 #16,467
2013 modern 270 #15,911
2014 modern 266 #16,213
2015 modern 260 #16,361
2016 modern 252 #16,699

Geography

Back to top

Where Phillpotts' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Mynyddyslwyn, Wolverhampton, Churcham, Sandhurst, St Mary-de-Lode, St Catherine Longford, Barnwood, Wootton Ville, North Hamlet,, Tormoham with Torquay and London parishes. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to West Devon, West Somerset, Basingstoke and Deane, Cornwall and Harrogate. 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 Mynyddyslwyn Monmouthshire
2 Wolverhampton Staffordshire
3 Churcham, Sandhurst, St Mary-de-Lode, St Catherine Longford, Barnwood, Wootton Ville, North Hamlet, Gloucestershire
4 Tormoham with Torquay Devon
5 London parishes London 1

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 West Devon 005 West Devon
2 West Somerset 005 West Somerset
3 Basingstoke and Deane 020 Basingstoke and Deane
4 Cornwall 037 Cornwall
5 Harrogate 019 Harrogate

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Phillpotts

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Phillpotts

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Phillpotts, 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 Phillpotts surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ageing Communities, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Phillpotts 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

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Phillpotts 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

Phillpotts is most concentrated in decile 1 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy 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.

1
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Phillpotts falls in decile 10 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

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

10
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Phillpotts

The surname Phillpotts is of English origin and dates back to the medieval period. It is a locational name derived from various places called Philpot in counties like Dorset, Hampshire, and Kent. The name is thought to have originated from the Old English words "phil" meaning a deep valley and "pot" referring to a hollow or pit.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Philipot" and "Filipot." This suggests that the name was well-established in various parts of England by the late 11th century.

In the 13th century, the name was often spelled as "Philpot" or "Philpott," and it appeared in numerous historical records and documents. For example, a Richard Philpot is mentioned in the Assize Rolls of Somerset in 1278.

During the 14th and 15th centuries, the name began to take on the spelling "Phillpotts" as well. In 1379, a John Phillpotts is recorded as living in Dorset. Another notable bearer of the name was Sir John Phillpotts, a prominent member of the English gentry who lived in the 16th century.

In the 17th century, Henry Phillpotts (1591-1666) was a noted English clergyman and theologian who served as the Bishop of Exeter. His son, also named Henry Phillpotts (1619-1681), was a Member of Parliament and a strong supporter of the Royalist cause during the English Civil War.

In the 18th century, John Phillpotts (1678-1745) was a respected English lawyer and judge who served as the Chief Justice of Chester. His grandson, Henry Phillpotts (1778-1869), followed in the family's tradition of clergy and became the Bishop of Exeter, a position he held for over 50 years.

Other notable individuals with the surname Phillpotts include Sir John Phillpotts (1810-1887), a British politician and judge, and Eden Phillpotts (1862-1960), a prolific English author known for his novels and plays set in the Devon countryside.

Throughout its history, the surname Phillpotts has been associated with various professions, including the clergy, law, politics, and literature, reflecting the diverse backgrounds and achievements of those who have borne this name over the centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Phillpotts families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Phillpotts 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. Gloucestershire leads with 38 Phillpotts' recorded in 1881 and an index of 10.13x.

County Total Index
Gloucestershire 38 10.13x
Lancashire 30 1.32x
Staffordshire 20 3.10x
Devon 19 4.77x
Herefordshire 14 17.86x
Bedfordshire 11 11.11x
Middlesex 11 0.58x
Monmouthshire 8 5.79x
Brecknockshire 7 18.31x
Cornwall 7 3.23x
Worcestershire 6 2.40x
Shropshire 5 3.03x
Surrey 5 0.54x
Oxfordshire 3 2.54x
Warwickshire 3 0.62x
Wiltshire 3 1.77x
Hampshire 2 0.51x
Berkshire 1 0.70x
Lincolnshire 1 0.33x
Nottinghamshire 1 0.39x
Pembrokeshire 1 1.65x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Farnworth in Lancashire leads with 15 Phillpotts' recorded in 1881 and an index of 110.38x.

Place Total Index
Farnworth 15 110.38x
Bedford St Paul 11 162.00x
Kingskerswell 8 1212.12x
Wigan 8 25.24x
Hempstead 7 1521.74x
Lamerton 7 921.05x
Liverpool 7 5.08x
West Bromwich 7 18.95x
Blakemere 6 5454.55x
Gloucester Barton St Mary 6 87.46x
Wolverhampton 6 12.09x
Horsley 5 301.20x
Kingswinford 5 21.34x
Llangunider 5 210.08x
Mynyddyslwyn 5 91.74x
South Hamlet 5 215.52x
Bisley 4 117.65x
Gloucester St John Baptist 4 165.29x
Oldbury 4 32.57x
Ross 4 128.21x
St Gluvias 4 330.58x
Aston 3 2.26x
Helston 3 133.33x
Kensington London 3 2.82x
Kinlet 3 1071.43x
Newton Abbot St Mary 3 89.82x
Paddington London 3 4.27x
Skenfrith 3 731.71x
St Marylebone London 3 2.94x
Stokenchurch 3 283.02x
Swindon 3 22.88x
Carisbrooke 2 36.76x
Hentland 2 526.32x
Hopton Wafers 2 714.29x
Llanelly 2 43.76x
Newnham 2 208.33x
Reigate Borough 2 93.02x
St George Hanover 2 8.02x
Tipton 2 10.12x
Tretire With 2 2000.00x
Bermondsey 1 1.76x
Bristol St Augustine 1 16.53x
Camberwell 1 0.82x
Cholsey 1 87.72x
Claines 1 14.60x
Compton Gifford 1 80.00x
Dursley 1 64.94x
Great Grimsby 1 5.15x
Kingston On Thames 1 4.47x
Littleworth 1 277.78x
Llanstadwell 1 50.25x
North Nibley 1 185.19x
Nottingham St Peter 1 34.84x
Powick 1 57.80x
Stroud 1 13.70x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 11
Elizabeth 7
Sarah 6
Alice 4
Catherine 4
Ellen 4
Emily 3
Florence 3
Jane 3
Annie 2
Eliza 2
Hephzibah 2
Martha 2
Susan 2
Thirza 2
Adelaide 1
Ann 1
Anne 1
Annette 1
Augusta 1
Bertha 1
C. 1
Charlotte 1
Clara 1
Comfort 1
Dorothea 1
Edith 1
Eleanor 1
Fanny 1
Georgina 1
Gertrude 1
Hannah 1
Harriet 1
Heneritta 1
Lickins 1
Lily 1
Louisa 1
Lucy 1
Margaret 1
Margret 1
Marian 1
Marjory 1
Maud 1
May 1
Minnie 1
Rebecca 1
Rose 1
Sibylla 1
Susannah 1
Sushannah 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 14
James 9
John 8
Thomas 8
George 7
Joseph 6
Alfred 5
Edward 4
Henry 4
Charles 3
Frederick 3
Richard 2
Seymour 2
Sidney 2
Adrian 1
Albert 1
Andrew 1
Arthaw 1
Arthur 1
Barrington 1
Brian 1
Cecil 1
David 1
Edwd. 1
Edwin 1
Geo. 1
Geoffrey 1
H. 1
Herbert 1
Isaac 1
Jabez 1
Kaleb 1
Louis 1
Mark 1
Owen 1
Robert 1
Samuel 1
Septimus 1
Sydney 1

FAQ

Phillpotts surname: questions and answers

How common was the Phillpotts surname in 1881?

In 1881, 196 people were recorded with the Phillpotts surname. That placed it at #13,006 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Phillpotts surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 252 in 2016. That gives Phillpotts a modern rank of #16,699.

What does the Phillpotts surname mean?

An English locational surname derived from a place name meaning "son of Philpot" or "Philip's meadow".

What does the Phillpotts map show?

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