NameCensus.

UK surname

Philpotts

An English surname likely derived from the medieval village of Philpot in Kent.

In the 1881 census there were 315 people recorded with the Philpotts surname, ranking it #9,393 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 576, ranked #8,983, up from #9,393 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Churcham, Sandhurst, St Mary-de-Lode, St Catherine Longford, Barnwood, Wootton Ville, North Hamlet,, Bishops Frome and Minchinhampton. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Malvern Hills and Herefordshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Philpotts is 635 in 2002. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 82.9%.

1881 census count

315

Ranked #9,393

Modern count

576

2016, ranked #8,983

Peak year

2002

635 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Philpotts had 315 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #9,393 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 576 in 2016, ranked #8,983.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 497 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Philpotts surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Philpotts surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Philpotts 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 198 #10,483
1861 historical 170 #13,763
1881 historical 315 #9,393
1891 historical 356 #9,697
1901 historical 497 #8,090
1911 historical 491 #7,928
1997 modern 586 #8,283
1998 modern 597 #8,422
1999 modern 615 #8,307
2000 modern 614 #8,297
2001 modern 605 #8,249
2002 modern 635 #8,120
2003 modern 613 #8,191
2004 modern 600 #8,346
2005 modern 572 #8,559
2006 modern 565 #8,657
2007 modern 561 #8,766
2008 modern 571 #8,720
2009 modern 585 #8,747
2010 modern 597 #8,814
2011 modern 598 #8,718
2012 modern 565 #8,993
2013 modern 573 #9,034
2014 modern 579 #9,024
2015 modern 574 #9,015
2016 modern 576 #8,983

Geography

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Where Philpotts' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Churcham, Sandhurst, St Mary-de-Lode, St Catherine Longford, Barnwood, Wootton Ville, North Hamlet,, Bishops Frome, Minchinhampton, Cradley and Bidstone. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Malvern Hills and Herefordshire. 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 Churcham, Sandhurst, St Mary-de-Lode, St Catherine Longford, Barnwood, Wootton Ville, North Hamlet, Gloucestershire
2 Bishops Frome Herefordshire
3 Minchinhampton Gloucestershire
4 Cradley Herefordshire
5 Bidstone Cheshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Malvern Hills 007 Malvern Hills
2 Herefordshire 005 Herefordshire, County of
3 Herefordshire 009 Herefordshire, County of
4 Herefordshire 006 Herefordshire, County of
5 Malvern Hills 006 Malvern Hills

Forenames

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First names often paired with Philpotts

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Philpotts

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

Philpotts is most concentrated in decile 3 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.

3
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Philpotts falls in decile 5 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.

5
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Philpotts

The surname Philpotts is of English origin, derived from the medieval personal name Philip and the word "pot," referring to a maker or seller of pots. It likely originated as an occupational surname in the late 12th or early 13th century.

The earliest recorded instances of the Philpotts surname can be found in various ancient English records, such as the Pipe Rolls of Sussex from 1230, where a Thomas Philpot is mentioned. The Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire from 1273 also reference a William Philipot.

In the 14th century, the name appears in the Subsidy Rolls of Sussex from 1332, where a John Philpot is listed. The Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire from 1327 mention a Richard Phyllpot. These variations in spelling were common during this period.

One notable figure bearing the Philpotts surname was John Philpot (c. 1516-1555), an English Protestant martyr who was burned at the stake during the Marian Persecutions for his religious beliefs. He was born in Compton, Hampshire, and his father was Sir Peter Philpot.

Another prominent individual was John Philpott (1589-1645), an English lawyer and politician who served as Lord Mayor of London in 1645. He was born in Compton, Hampshire, and was a member of the same family as the martyr John Philpot.

In the 18th century, Thomas Philpotts (1739-1817) was a notable English churchman who served as Bishop of Exeter from 1807 until his death. He was born in Gloucester and was known for his advocacy of the abolition of slavery.

John Philpotts (1778-1870) was an English judge and lawyer who served as Lord Chancellor of Ireland from 1835 to 1841. He was born in Compton, Hampshire, and was a member of the same family as the earlier John Philpot and John Philpott.

In the 19th century, Henry Philpotts (1792-1869) was an influential English churchman who served as Bishop of Exeter from 1830 to 1869. He was a strong advocate of the Oxford Movement and was known for his opposition to liberal theological ideas.

While the Philpotts surname has its roots in England, it has since spread to other parts of the world, particularly through immigration and colonization. However, its origins and early history remain firmly grounded in the English counties of Hampshire, Sussex, Oxfordshire, and Worcestershire.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Philpotts families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Philpotts 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. Herefordshire leads with 108 Philpotts' recorded in 1881 and an index of 85.72x.

County Total Index
Herefordshire 108 85.72x
Gloucestershire 70 11.62x
Worcestershire 21 5.23x
Warwickshire 13 1.68x
Devon 10 1.56x
Middlesex 10 0.33x
Dorset 8 3.97x
Berkshire 7 3.04x
Staffordshire 7 0.67x
Sussex 7 1.35x
Kent 6 0.57x
Monmouthshire 6 2.70x
Surrey 5 0.33x
Cornwall 4 1.15x
Hampshire 4 0.64x
Oxfordshire 4 2.11x
Cheshire 3 0.44x
Radnorshire 3 12.10x
Shropshire 3 1.13x
Somerset 3 0.61x
Derbyshire 2 0.42x
Durham 2 0.22x
Glamorgan 2 0.37x
Wiltshire 2 0.74x
Bedfordshire 1 0.63x
Flintshire 1 1.21x
Hertfordshire 1 0.47x
Norfolk 1 0.21x
Yorkshire 1 0.03x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Cradley in Herefordshire leads with 43 Philpotts' recorded in 1881 and an index of 2336.96x.

Place Total Index
Cradley 43 2336.96x
Minchinhampton 31 645.83x
Stroud 13 110.83x
Allensmore 9 1475.41x
Birmingham 8 3.10x
Bisley 8 146.52x
Kinson 8 203.05x
Leominster 8 153.55x
Winforton 8 6153.85x
Bishops Frome 7 921.05x
East Grinstead 7 95.50x
Molland 7 1320.75x
Tipton 7 22.04x
Droitwich St Nicholas 6 402.68x
Wokefield 6 4285.71x
Aston 5 2.34x
Claines 5 45.41x
Droitwich St Andrew 5 495.05x
Marden 5 561.80x
Wigmore 5 1136.36x
Croydon 4 4.81x
Gloucester St Mary Lode 4 283.69x
Mersham 4 526.32x
Monmouth 4 67.91x
Tadmarton 4 1052.63x
Ashperton 3 697.67x
Chiswick 3 17.87x
Gloucester Kingsholm St 3 133.33x
Hambledon 3 141.51x
Hereford St Owen 3 72.12x
Lindridge 3 297.03x
Old Radnor Evenjobb 3 909.09x
Shoreditch London 3 2.25x
Stanford Bishop 3 1666.67x
Tranmere 3 12.03x
Worfield 3 163.04x
Yarkhill 3 638.30x
Avenbury 2 465.12x
Bristol St James St Paul 2 9.96x
Codnor Loscoe 2 52.49x
Dursley 2 80.65x
Harton 2 55.40x
Holmer 2 88.11x
Islington London 2 0.67x
Kington 2 64.10x
Longhope 2 196.08x
Lugwardine 2 250.00x
Newent 2 65.36x
Salisbury St Thomas 2 93.02x
St Gluvias Penryn 2 71.68x
St Marylebone London 2 1.22x
Stretton Sugwas 2 625.00x
Wiveliscombe 2 72.46x
Alfrick 1 212.77x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 1 1.76x
Brixham 1 13.50x
Budock 1 38.17x
Chertsey 1 10.34x
Devonport 1 13.61x
Gloucester St Nicholas 1 35.84x
Greenwich 1 2.04x
Hawarden 1 15.41x
Hertford St John 1 31.65x
Holdenhurst 1 6.05x
Holme Hale 1 232.56x
Hunslet 1 2.11x
Huntington In Kington 1 370.37x
Lewisham 1 1.79x
Luton 1 3.63x
Mabe 1 140.85x
Monckton Combe 1 63.29x
Mynyddyslwyn 1 11.42x
Neath 1 9.18x
Sandhurst 1 22.37x
Shelsley Beauchamp 1 322.58x
St Maughans 1 526.32x
Swansea St Thomas 1 18.62x
Tewkesbury 1 18.59x
Uplyme 1 104.17x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 19
Elizabeth 14
Sarah 9
Ann 8
Eliza 8
Alice 7
Caroline 6
Emma 5
Jane 5
Fanny 4
Harriett 4
Maria 4
Annie 3
Edith 3
Frances 3
Hannah 3
Ada 2
Amelia 2
Anne 2
Charlotte 2
Harriet 2
Julia 2
Margaret 2
Matilda 2
Minnie 2
Rose 2
Agnes 1
Alvina 1
Bertha 1
Bessie 1
Betsy 1
Birtha 1
Clara 1
Eleanor 1
Elen 1
Ellen 1
Emily 1
Gertrude 1
H. 1
Infant 1
Isabella 1
Jenny 1
Kate 1
Leah 1
Levinia 1
Lilly 1
Lizabeth 1
Lucy 1
Marion 1
William 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 16
George 14
William 14
James 13
Thomas 11
Charles 10
Henry 7
Alfred 4
Joseph 4
Walter 4
Albert 3
Arthur 3
Edward 3
Frank 3
Caleb 2
David 2
Levi 2
Martin 2
Matthew 2
Samuel 2
Abraham 1
Alford 1
Allan 1
Allen 1
Andrew 1
Arthor 1
Benjamin 1
Chas. 1
Daniel 1
Dean 1
Edwin 1
Francis 1
Frederic 1
Frederick 1
Harold 1
Harry 1
Hedley 1
Henery 1
Job 1
Joshua 1
Josiah 1
Lanfear 1
Mark 1
Mathew 1
Obed 1
Other 1
Richard 1
Robert 1
Tho. 1
Thos. 1

FAQ

Philpotts surname: questions and answers

How common was the Philpotts surname in 1881?

In 1881, 315 people were recorded with the Philpotts surname. That placed it at #9,393 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Philpotts surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 576 in 2016. That gives Philpotts a modern rank of #8,983.

What does the Philpotts surname mean?

An English surname likely derived from the medieval village of Philpot in Kent.

What does the Philpotts map show?

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