NameCensus.

UK surname

Philpot

A diminutive form of Philip, meaning "lover of horses," originating as a nickname for someone who resembled Philip.

In the 1881 census there were 2,010 people recorded with the Philpot surname, ranking it #2,188 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,422, ranked #4,292, down from #2,188 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, St Dunstan Stepney and Lambeth. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Tewkesbury, Harlow and Havering.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Philpot is 2,138 in 1901. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 29.3%.

1881 census count

2,010

Ranked #2,188

Modern count

1,422

2016, ranked #4,292

Peak year

1901

2,138 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Philpot had 2,010 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #2,188 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,422 in 2016, ranked #4,292.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 2,138 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Philpot surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Philpot surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Philpot 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 1,673 #1,720
1861 historical 1,547 #1,837
1881 historical 2,010 #2,188
1891 historical 1,851 #2,483
1901 historical 2,138 #2,516
1911 historical 2,059 #2,422
1997 modern 1,565 #3,771
1998 modern 1,595 #3,854
1999 modern 1,605 #3,866
2000 modern 1,581 #3,892
2001 modern 1,536 #3,910
2002 modern 1,577 #3,904
2003 modern 1,574 #3,829
2004 modern 1,559 #3,865
2005 modern 1,489 #3,986
2006 modern 1,459 #4,061
2007 modern 1,453 #4,108
2008 modern 1,443 #4,155
2009 modern 1,466 #4,188
2010 modern 1,494 #4,196
2011 modern 1,486 #4,182
2012 modern 1,434 #4,227
2013 modern 1,480 #4,194
2014 modern 1,472 #4,231
2015 modern 1,451 #4,244
2016 modern 1,422 #4,292

Geography

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Where Philpots are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, St Dunstan Stepney, Lambeth and St John Hackney. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Tewkesbury, Harlow, Havering, Tendring and Suffolk Coastal. 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 London parishes London 1
2 London parishes London 3
3 St Dunstan Stepney London (East Districts)
4 Lambeth London (South Districts)
5 St John Hackney London (North Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Tewkesbury 001 Tewkesbury
2 Harlow 005 Harlow
3 Havering 022 Havering
4 Tendring 013 Tendring
5 Suffolk Coastal 004 Suffolk Coastal

Forenames

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First names often paired with Philpot

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Philpot

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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs

Within London, Philpot is most associated with areas classed as Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs, 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

Mainly concentrated in suburban areas, these terraced and semi-detached developments are less overcrowded than the Supergroup average, and resident households are more likely to own two or more cars. There are fewer residents aged 25-44, and a larger share of residents employed in administrative and secretarial occupations. Residents are more likely to have been born in the UK, less likely to have been born in the EU or Africa, and much less likely to self-identify as Bangladeshi.

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

Philpot is most concentrated in decile 6 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.

6
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Philpot falls in decile 9 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.

9
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Philpot

The surname Philpot has its origins in England, tracing back to the 13th century. It is derived from the Old English words "philip" meaning lover of horses, and "pot" referring to a pot or vessel. The name likely originated as a descriptive nickname for someone who worked with horses and pots, possibly a blacksmith or potter.

In the Domesday Book of 1086, a record of landowners in England commissioned by William the Conqueror, there is an entry for a landowner named Philipot in Oxfordshire. This is one of the earliest recorded instances of the name.

The name has also been associated with various place names in England, such as Philpot Lane in London and Philpot End in Hertfordshire. These locations may have been named after individuals with the surname Philpot, or the name may have derived from the place names themselves.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the surname Philpot was John Philpot (c. 1516-1555), an English Protestant martyr who was burned at the stake for his religious beliefs during the Marian Persecutions.

Another notable figure was John Philpot (1589-1645), an English barrister and politician who served as a Member of Parliament and was involved in the English Civil War on the Parliamentarian side.

In the 17th century, George Philpot (1628-1707) was an English lawyer and politician who served as Lord Mayor of London from 1696 to 1697.

John Philpot (1735-1808) was an English clergyman and educator who served as the headmaster of Westminister School in London and was known for his writings on education.

More recently, Olga Philpot (1881-1951) was a British author and playwright known for her novels and plays set in rural England.

These are just a few examples of individuals throughout history who have borne the surname Philpot, highlighting its long-standing presence and varied backgrounds within English society.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Philpot families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Philpot 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 451 Philpots recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.30x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 451 2.30x
Kent 252 3.77x
Surrey 180 1.88x
Hampshire 108 2.69x
Essex 101 2.61x
Suffolk 93 3.89x
Sussex 88 2.66x
Wiltshire 74 4.27x
Hertfordshire 66 4.88x
Norfolk 66 2.19x
Yorkshire 62 0.32x
Warwickshire 59 1.19x
Staffordshire 50 0.76x
Shropshire 42 2.48x
Lancashire 40 0.17x
Glamorgan 37 1.08x
Bedfordshire 36 3.55x
Gloucestershire 28 0.73x
Monmouthshire 24 1.69x
Somerset 17 0.54x
Durham 16 0.27x
Buckinghamshire 14 1.18x
Northamptonshire 13 0.70x
Dorset 12 0.93x
Worcestershire 12 0.47x
Leicestershire 11 0.51x
Renfrewshire 8 0.53x
Berkshire 7 0.48x
Cambridgeshire 7 0.56x
Carmarthenshire 6 0.73x
Derbyshire 6 0.20x
Devon 6 0.15x
Lincolnshire 5 0.16x
Herefordshire 4 0.50x
Caernarfonshire 2 0.25x
Cumberland 2 0.12x
Cheshire 1 0.02x
Midlothian 1 0.04x
Northumberland 1 0.03x
Ross-shire 1 0.19x
Royal Navy 1 0.43x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Bethnal Green London in Middlesex leads with 53 Philpots recorded in 1881 and an index of 6.22x.

Place Total Index
Bethnal Green London 53 6.22x
Hackney London 45 4.09x
Poplar London 38 10.27x
Bromley London 36 8.35x
Camberwell 33 2.63x
Battersea 31 4.30x
Lambeth 31 1.81x
Mile End Old Town 30 9.69x
Islington London 25 1.32x
Burston 24 869.57x
St Pancras London 22 1.39x
Brentwood 21 88.98x
Hastings St Mary 21 25.53x
Luton 21 11.95x
Canterbury St Paul 19 158.20x
Diss 18 69.66x
Shoreditch London 18 2.12x
Stoke Upon Trent 18 2.56x
West Ham 18 2.11x
Ramsgate 16 14.65x
Whitby 16 24.43x
Bermondsey 15 2.57x
Hammersmith London 15 3.11x
Paddington London 15 2.08x
Plumstead 15 6.73x
Portsea 15 1.90x
St Marylebone London 15 1.43x
Southampton St Mary 14 5.54x
Bow London 13 5.21x
Elmsted 13 446.74x
Harrow On The Hill 13 33.19x
Kensington London 13 1.19x
Tonbridge 13 5.39x
Walsall Foreign 13 3.80x
Brighton 12 1.80x
Clerkenwell London 12 2.59x
Cratfield 12 360.36x
Kelsale 12 181.00x
Llanover 12 24.79x
Northampton St Sepulchre 12 12.79x
Whitstable 12 36.57x
Bishops Itchington 11 230.61x
Chediston 11 452.67x
Chipping Barnet 11 46.53x
Ibsley 11 674.85x
St Lawrence 11 23.91x
West Overton 11 243.36x
Birmingham 10 0.61x
Bromley 10 9.81x
Croydon 10 1.89x
Deal 10 17.53x
Hunsdon 10 282.49x
Leicester St Margaret 10 1.89x
Millbrook 10 9.88x
Stockbury 10 239.81x
Winterbourne Dantsey 10 943.40x
Bramfield 9 213.78x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 9 2.49x
Codicote 9 111.66x
Finchley 9 11.97x
Gayhurst 9 1475.41x
Great Baddow 9 65.36x
Minster In Sheppey 9 8.12x
Neen Savage 9 403.59x
Penge 9 7.19x
Rotherhithe 9 3.72x
Sherborne 9 23.75x
Aston 8 0.59x
Bradford 8 1.70x
Deptford St Paul 8 1.55x
Greenwich 8 2.56x
Hampstead London 8 2.62x
Harrow 8 26.69x
Liverpool 8 0.57x
Margate St John Baptist 8 6.53x
Mitcham 8 13.25x
Ruardean 8 92.06x
Totternhoe 8 168.42x
Westoe 8 2.42x
Wimbledon 8 7.46x

Top female names

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

Name Count
William 120
John 97
George 81
James 68
Charles 53
Thomas 48
Henry 45
Frederick 35
Arthur 33
Edward 30
Alfred 22
Richard 21
Joseph 19
Harry 18
Robert 18
Samuel 17
Walter 16
Albert 14
David 14
Stephen 12
Benjamin 10
Francis 10
Herbert 9
Daniel 5
Frank 5
Fred 5
Chas. 4
Edwin 4
Fredrick 4
Philip 4
Thos. 4
Alexander 3
Ernest 3
Horace 3
Isaac 3
Jno. 3
Robt. 3
Tom 3
Cornelius 2
Edmond 2
Edwd. 2
Fredk.A. 2
Geo. 2
Harold 2
Leonard 2
Nelson 2
Nicholas 2
Percy 2
Phillip 2
Sidney 2

FAQ

Philpot surname: questions and answers

How common was the Philpot surname in 1881?

In 1881, 2,010 people were recorded with the Philpot surname. That placed it at #2,188 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Philpot surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,422 in 2016. That gives Philpot a modern rank of #4,292.

What does the Philpot surname mean?

A diminutive form of Philip, meaning "lover of horses," originating as a nickname for someone who resembled Philip.

What does the Philpot map show?

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