NameCensus.

UK surname

Philo

A surname derived from the Greek word 'philos', meaning lover or friend.

In the 1881 census there were 126 people recorded with the Philo surname, ranking it #17,245 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 300, ranked #14,738, up from #17,245 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Harwich Dovercourt, London parishes and All Saints Poplar. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Swale, Westminster and Vale of White Horse.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Philo is 309 in 2011. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 138.1%.

1881 census count

126

Ranked #17,245

Modern count

300

2016, ranked #14,738

Peak year

2011

309 bearers

Map years

7

1881 to 2016

Key insights

  • Philo had 126 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #17,245 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 300 in 2016, ranked #14,738.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 243 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Philo surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Philo surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Philo 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 90 #18,317
1861 historical 88 #22,554
1881 historical 126 #17,245
1891 historical 151 #18,242
1901 historical 202 #15,010
1911 historical 243 #13,163
1997 modern 290 #13,832
1998 modern 300 #13,877
1999 modern 305 #13,808
2000 modern 302 #13,848
2001 modern 296 #13,842
2002 modern 303 #13,909
2003 modern 292 #14,065
2004 modern 277 #14,644
2005 modern 260 #15,250
2006 modern 273 #14,804
2007 modern 277 #14,818
2008 modern 285 #14,647
2009 modern 294 #14,628
2010 modern 304 #14,591
2011 modern 309 #14,322
2012 modern 307 #14,288
2013 modern 305 #14,577
2014 modern 305 #14,678
2015 modern 295 #14,935
2016 modern 300 #14,738

Geography

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Where Philos are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Harwich Dovercourt, London parishes, All Saints Poplar, Swaffham and Harwich St Nicholas. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Swale, Westminster, Vale of White Horse, Redcar and Cleveland and Great Yarmouth. 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 Harwich Dovercourt Essex
2 London parishes London 3
3 All Saints Poplar London (East Districts)
4 Swaffham Norfolk
5 Harwich St Nicholas Essex

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Swale 004 Swale
2 Westminster 014 Westminster
3 Vale of White Horse 016 Vale of White Horse
4 Redcar and Cleveland 004 Redcar and Cleveland
5 Great Yarmouth 003 Great Yarmouth

Forenames

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First names often paired with Philo

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Philo

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

Rural Amenity

Nationally, the Philo surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Philo 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 comprises older parents or retirees, with no resident dependent children, and with the lowest residential densities in this Supergroup. Predominantly UK-born, residents typically live in detached houses, although others do live in semi-detached and terraced properties. The level of multiple car ownership is the highest in this Supergroup. Most houses are owner occupied although social renting is also present. Many concentrations occur in high amenity rural locations, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Philo is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. 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

Scattered across London’s Inner and Outer suburbs, residents of these neighbourhoods are typically housed in the social rented sector. Although terraced and semi-detached houses predominate, more residents live in flats than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Neighbourhoods are more ethnically diverse than the Supergroup average. Those identifying as of Bangladeshi, Pakistani and some Black ethnicities are more prevalent. Europeans born in a overseas non-EU countries make up more of the lower proportion of residents identifying as White. Few residents are very old (85+). Employment in distribution, hotels and restaurants is more common than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Philo 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

Philo falls in decile 7 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

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

7
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Philo

The surname Philo has its origins in Greece and can be traced back to ancient times. It is derived from the Greek word "philos," which means "lover" or "friend." The name likely originated as a nickname or a descriptive term for someone who was considered friendly or affectionate.

In ancient Greek literature, the name Philo appears in various forms, such as Philokles, Philokleon, and Philomenos. These names were often given to individuals who were known for their affectionate nature or their love for a particular pursuit or discipline.

One of the earliest recorded references to the name Philo can be found in the writings of the Jewish philosopher Philo of Alexandria, who lived from approximately 20 BC to 50 AD. He was a prominent figure in the Hellenistic Jewish community and wrote extensively on the allegorical interpretation of the Hebrew Bible.

During the Middle Ages, the name Philo was relatively uncommon in Europe, but it resurfaced during the Renaissance period. One notable individual with this surname was Philo Judaeus (c. 20 BC - c. 50 AD), a Hellenistic Jewish philosopher who lived in Alexandria, Egypt.

In the 17th century, the name Philo appeared in various spellings, such as Philoe and Phylo, in various parts of Europe. One notable person with this surname was Philo Farnese (1589-1642), an Italian nobleman and military commander who served as the Governor of the Duchy of Parma and Piacenza.

In the 18th century, the name Philo became more widespread in the English-speaking world. One famous bearer of this surname was Philo Taylor Farnsworth (1906-1971), an American inventor credited with developing the first fully functional all-electronic television system.

Another notable individual with the surname Philo was Philo T. Farnsworth (1906-1971), an American inventor best known for his work on the development of the first fully functional all-electronic television system.

In the 19th century, the name Philo was relatively uncommon, but it did appear in various records and documents from that time period. One notable person with this surname was Philo Penfield Stewart (1838-1919), an American lawyer and politician who served as the 47th Governor of Vermont.

Overall, the surname Philo has a rich history that spans centuries and can be traced back to its Greek origins. While it may not be as common as some other surnames, it has been borne by numerous notable individuals throughout history, from philosophers and inventors to military leaders and politicians.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Philo families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Philo 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. Middlesex leads with 47 Philos recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.79x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 47 3.79x
Essex 18 7.36x
Surrey 18 2.98x
Norfolk 12 6.30x
Kent 11 2.60x
Cambridgeshire 9 11.47x
Hampshire 7 2.76x
Sussex 3 1.44x
Suffolk 2 1.33x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Islington London in Middlesex leads with 17 Philos recorded in 1881 and an index of 14.16x.

Place Total Index
Islington London 17 14.16x
Dovercourt 12 1395.35x
Bromley London 9 33.03x
Camberwell 8 10.11x
Chesterton 7 289.26x
St Anne Soho London 7 99.01x
Holdenhurst 6 90.09x
Deptford St Paul 5 15.34x
Lambeth 5 4.63x
Barnes 4 156.86x
Hampton London 4 196.08x
Heigham 4 39.14x
Limehouse London 4 29.41x
Minster In Sheppey 4 57.14x
Norwich St George Tombland 4 1212.12x
Poplar London 4 17.11x
Harwich St Nicholas 3 158.73x
Preston 3 82.19x
Buckland In Dover 2 142.86x
East Dereham 2 82.99x
St Edward Cambridge 2 800.00x
Swaffham 2 129.03x
West Ham 2 3.71x
Aldershot 1 11.75x
Bury St Edmunds St James 1 24.81x
Clerkenwell London 1 3.42x
Colchester St Botolph 1 48.08x
Guildford St Mary 1 135.14x
Ipswich St Margaret 1 19.53x
St Pancras London 1 1.00x

Top female names

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

Name Count
James 9
George 6
Robert 5
Arthur 4
Charles 4
Joseph 4
William 4
Frederick 3
Henry 3
John 3
Thomas 3
Frank 2
Philip 2
Alexander 1
Alfred 1
Archie 1
Edward 1
Edwin 1
Ernest 1
Harry 1
Infant 1
J. 1
Joe 1
Jos.T. 1
Robt.Hy. 1
Willie 1

FAQ

Philo surname: questions and answers

How common was the Philo surname in 1881?

In 1881, 126 people were recorded with the Philo surname. That placed it at #17,245 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Philo surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 300 in 2016. That gives Philo a modern rank of #14,738.

What does the Philo surname mean?

A surname derived from the Greek word 'philos', meaning lover or friend.

What does the Philo map show?

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