NameCensus.

UK surname

Philpott

Derived from a medieval nickname meaning "pot belly," likely referring to a rotund or stout individual.

In the 1881 census there were 2,285 people recorded with the Philpott surname, ranking it #1,955 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 3,945, ranked #1,712, up from #1,955 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Dover St James, Dover St Mary and Hythe St Leonard, Cheriton, Newington, Saltwood, West Hythe, Burmarsh. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Shepway, Great Yarmouth and Dover.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Philpott is 4,263 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 72.6%.

1881 census count

2,285

Ranked #1,955

Modern count

3,945

2016, ranked #1,712

Peak year

1999

4,263 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Philpott had 2,285 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #1,955 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 3,945 in 2016, ranked #1,712.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 3,685 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Philpott surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Philpott surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Philpott 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 1,142 #2,467
1861 historical 1,325 #2,164
1881 historical 2,285 #1,955
1891 historical 2,676 #1,778
1901 historical 3,127 #1,793
1911 historical 3,685 #1,414
1997 modern 4,089 #1,584
1998 modern 4,236 #1,586
1999 modern 4,263 #1,587
2000 modern 4,257 #1,577
2001 modern 4,145 #1,583
2002 modern 4,230 #1,583
2003 modern 4,080 #1,613
2004 modern 4,057 #1,620
2005 modern 3,925 #1,659
2006 modern 3,909 #1,668
2007 modern 3,911 #1,685
2008 modern 3,952 #1,674
2009 modern 4,005 #1,698
2010 modern 4,117 #1,684
2011 modern 4,075 #1,678
2012 modern 3,975 #1,692
2013 modern 4,045 #1,694
2014 modern 4,058 #1,702
2015 modern 3,970 #1,714
2016 modern 3,945 #1,712

Geography

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Where Philpotts are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Dover St James, Dover St Mary, Hythe St Leonard, Cheriton, Newington, Saltwood, West Hythe, Burmarsh and Hawkinge, Folkestone. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Shepway, Great Yarmouth, Dover, Thanet and Swale. 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 Dover St James, Dover St Mary Kent
4 Hythe St Leonard, Cheriton, Newington, Saltwood, West Hythe, Burmarsh Kent
5 Hawkinge, Folkestone Kent

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Shepway 003 Shepway
2 Great Yarmouth 011 Great Yarmouth
3 Dover 011 Dover
4 Thanet 013 Thanet
5 Swale 014 Swale

Forenames

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First names often paired with Philpott

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Philpott

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

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Philpott is most associated with areas classed as London Fringe, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. 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

Predominantly located in neighbourhoods on the outskirts of Greater London, residents of these neighbourhoods typically have their highest qualifications below degree (Level 4) level, with those still in work engaged in skilled trades and occupations in distribution, hotels and restaurants. There is low ethnic diversity in these neighbourhoods and high levels of Christian religious affiliation. Detached or terraced houses predominate, often with spare rooms.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Philpott 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

Philpott falls in decile 6 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.

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Philpott

The surname Philpott originated in England during the late medieval period. It is a locational surname derived from the Old English words "philippes" and "cot," meaning "Philip's cottage." This suggests that the name arose from a place where someone named Philip or a family with the name Philip once resided.

The earliest recorded spelling of the name can be found in the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire in 1273, where it appears as "Philipotescote." This indicates that the name was already well-established in the region by the 13th century.

In the Domesday Book of 1086, a place called "Philippescote" is mentioned, which is believed to be the origin of the Philpott surname. This entry provides evidence of the name's long history in England, dating back to the Norman conquest.

One of the earliest recorded bearers of the name was John Philpott, who was born in Hartland, Devon, in 1516. He was a prominent figure during the English Reformation and served as the Archdeacon of Winchester from 1551 to 1555.

Another notable figure with the surname was Sir John Philpot (1585-1645), an English landowner and politician who served as Lord Mayor of London in 1624. He played a significant role in the early years of the English Civil War.

In the 18th century, Joseph Philpott (1706-1789) was a renowned English poet and clergyman. He was born in Compton, Berkshire, and is best known for his religious poetry and sermons.

The Philpott name also has connections to the city of Bristol, where a prominent family bearing the surname resided in the 16th and 17th centuries. One member of this family, Richard Philpott (1590-1662), was a merchant and served as Mayor of Bristol in 1642.

Another notable figure with the Philpott surname was Sir Herbert Philpott (1884-1960), a British diplomat and author. He served as the British Ambassador to Argentina from 1936 to 1939 and wrote several books on foreign affairs and international relations.

The Philpott surname has a rich history deeply rooted in England, with its origins dating back to the medieval period. The name's locational derivation and early appearances in historical records, such as the Domesday Book, highlight its long-standing presence in the country.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Philpott families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Philpott 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. Kent leads with 924 Philpotts recorded in 1881 and an index of 12.09x.

County Total Index
Kent 924 12.09x
Middlesex 226 1.01x
Hampshire 172 3.75x
Surrey 134 1.23x
Sussex 87 2.30x
Gloucestershire 84 1.91x
Worcestershire 65 2.22x
Herefordshire 64 6.97x
Essex 56 1.27x
Shropshire 39 2.02x
Wiltshire 39 1.97x
Yorkshire 36 0.16x
Lancashire 31 0.12x
Warwickshire 30 0.53x
Hertfordshire 27 1.75x
Staffordshire 27 0.36x
Bedfordshire 26 2.24x
Somerset 23 0.64x
Glamorgan 20 0.51x
Dorset 17 1.16x
Carmarthenshire 16 1.70x
Suffolk 15 0.55x
Devon 14 0.30x
Channel Islands 12 1.81x
Cornwall 11 0.43x
Midlothian 10 0.33x
Monmouthshire 10 0.62x
Northumberland 10 0.30x
Derbyshire 7 0.20x
Cheshire 6 0.12x
Leicestershire 6 0.24x
Oxfordshire 6 0.43x
Anglesey 5 1.26x
Angus 5 0.24x
Berkshire 5 0.30x
Buckinghamshire 5 0.37x
Norfolk 5 0.15x
Rutland 5 3.04x
Northamptonshire 4 0.19x
Durham 3 0.05x
Cambridgeshire 2 0.14x
Lincolnshire 2 0.06x
Royal Navy 2 0.75x
Montgomeryshire 1 0.19x
Pembrokeshire 1 0.14x
Radnorshire 1 0.55x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Folkestone in Kent leads with 78 Philpotts recorded in 1881 and an index of 52.62x.

Place Total Index
Folkestone 78 52.62x
Ramsgate 50 40.08x
St Lawrence 48 91.36x
Cheriton 47 150.88x
Bromyard 38 314.05x
Herne 36 106.41x
Hythe St Leonard 29 107.41x
Kensington London 29 2.33x
Margate St John Baptist 27 19.30x
Deal 26 39.89x
Maidstone 26 11.42x
Southampton St Mary 23 7.97x
Charlton 22 43.35x
Eling 21 45.16x
Bermondsey 20 3.00x
Bethnal Green London 19 1.95x
Hougham 19 41.81x
Eastchurch 18 238.73x
Lambeth 18 0.92x
Brabourne 17 296.68x
Croydon 17 2.81x
Lindfield 17 106.52x
St Pancras London 16 0.89x
West Grinstead 16 140.47x
Whitstable 16 42.69x
Dover St Mary Virgin 15 20.28x
Luton 15 7.47x
Chartham 13 68.28x
Faversham 13 17.84x
Great Mongeham 13 361.11x
Maghull 13 117.97x
Braintree 12 30.23x
Camberwell 12 0.84x
Fordingbridge 12 48.08x
Lower Halstow 12 216.61x
Portsea 12 1.33x
St George Hanover 12 4.10x
Ash Next Sandwich 11 65.05x
Bow London 11 3.86x
Dover St James 11 32.85x
Limehouse London 11 4.47x
Smeeth 11 231.09x
Tonbridge 11 3.99x
Ashford 10 13.44x
Bowling 10 4.55x
Brighton 10 1.31x
Bristol St George 10 4.92x
Dudley 10 2.81x
Elham 10 109.53x
Elswick 10 3.76x
Hackington St Stephen 10 204.08x
Hastings St Mary 10 10.64x
Hursley 10 93.90x
Kingston On Thames 10 3.81x
Milton Bryant 10 584.80x
North Nibley 10 158.98x
Ockley 10 207.47x
Southwark St George Martyr 10 2.22x
St Marylebone London 10 0.84x
St Peters 10 28.29x
West Ardsley 10 37.44x
Worfield 10 74.46x
Battersea 9 1.09x
Bromley London 9 1.83x
Canterbury St Dunstan 9 68.23x
Cranbrook 9 27.80x
Great Sampford 9 189.47x
Horfield 9 20.36x
Kings Norton 9 3.43x
Michelmersh 9 101.12x
Stoke Upon Trent 9 1.12x
Welwyn 9 67.31x
Willesborough 9 43.80x
Aberystruth 8 5.61x
Birmingham 8 0.43x
Frindsbury 8 27.78x
Great Malvern 8 13.11x
Hitchin 8 11.48x
Mile End Old Town 8 2.26x
Thanington Wilton In 8 223.46x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 126
Elizabeth 80
Sarah 78
Jane 48
Emily 44
Annie 42
Ellen 35
Alice 34
Eliza 34
Ann 33
Emma 33
Charlotte 26
Louisa 23
Martha 23
Maria 22
Caroline 21
Harriet 17
Fanny 16
Kate 14
Frances 13
Ada 11
Catherine 11
Edith 11
Esther 11
Agnes 10
Anne 10
Florence 10
Hannah 10
Harriett 10
Rose 10
Eleanor 9
Clara 8
Julia 8
Margaret 8
Sophia 8
Susannah 8
Lucy 7
Rosa 7
Bertha 5
Ethel 5
Lizzie 5
Rosina 5
Susan 5
Isabella 4
Lydia 4
Marian 4
Maud 4
Olive 4
Rachel 4
Rhoda 4

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 137
John 119
George 104
James 63
Thomas 62
Henry 56
Charles 50
Frederick 34
Richard 33
Edward 29
Alfred 28
Albert 26
Arthur 22
Stephen 22
Robert 21
Walter 14
Ernest 13
Harry 13
Samuel 13
Joseph 12
Francis 9
Herbert 9
Wm. 9
Frank 8
Edmund 6
Edwin 6
Fredk. 6
Geo. 6
Benjamin 5
Daniel 5
David 5
Edmond 5
Sidney 5
Isaac 4
Horace 3
J. 3
Jabez 3
Montague 3
Nehemiah 3
Percy 3
Thos. 3
Ebenezer 2
Edgar 2
Geo.J. 2
Hezekiah 2
Reginald 2
Rowland 2
Vaughan 2
Willis 2
Willm. 2

FAQ

Philpott surname: questions and answers

How common was the Philpott surname in 1881?

In 1881, 2,285 people were recorded with the Philpott surname. That placed it at #1,955 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Philpott surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 3,945 in 2016. That gives Philpott a modern rank of #1,712.

What does the Philpott surname mean?

Derived from a medieval nickname meaning "pot belly," likely referring to a rotund or stout individual.

What does the Philpott map show?

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