This surname is derived from the name of an ancestor. 'the son of Philip.' There is little need of instances for this batch of familiar surnames. Philip ceased to be popular as a font-name after the reigns of Mary and Elizabeth for patriotic reasons. Nevertheless its earlier predominance has given it immortality in our directories.

Simon fil. Philippi, Kent, 1273. Hundred Rolls.

Henry Phelipe, Norfolk, ibid.

Alicia Philippes, Huntingdonshire, ibid.

Ellis fil. Philip, Huntingdonshire, ibid.

Cecilia Philipp. 1379: Poll Tax of Yorkshire.

1617. Hugh Fisher and Elizabeth Philipson: Marriage Lic. (London).

This surname is derived from the name of an ancestor. 'the son of Philip,' from the nick, or abbreviated form Philip: compare Peart for Perrot. A North-English and Border form; v. Phelps.

Philp Gledstanes, 1541: The History of Liddesdale and the Debatable Land.

Patnk Phylp, 1547: ibid.

John Philpe, c. Elizabeth: Calendar of Proceedings in Chancery, temp. Elizabeth I.

1714. Married — John Philip and Rebecca Snelgrove: St. James, Clerkenwell.

1790. — Sparks Philp and Martha Honnor: St. George, Hanover Square.

Originally a Greek personal name which has the meaning of "fond of horses" (Philippas). In old records the name is usually spelled Philp, which is also a current form. In some cases it may be an Englishing of Mackillop, which see. Walter, son of Philip the chamberlain, had a grant of the lands of Lundin in Fife, c. 1166-71 (SHSM., IV, p. 306), and Walter, son of Philip, granted four bovates in Ralcormok to the Abbey of Cambuskenneth (Cambus., 36). Rauf Phelippe of Berewyke rendered homage, 1296 (Bain, II, p. 205). Robert Philloppe, sheriff-clerk of Dumfries, 1629 (Dumfries). James Philip of Almerieclose was author of the Grameidos libri sex: an heroic poem on the campaign of 1689, published by the Scottish History Society.

Philip’s (Son), v. Philip.

The baptismal name. Like other scripture designations, this was introduced at the Norman Conquest. In succeeding centuries it became the parent of several others, such as Philips, Phillips, Phillipps, Philipson, Philp, Philps, Phelp, Phelps, Phipp, Phipps, Phipson, Phippen, Phillot, Philpott, Philpotts, Philcox, Philippo, Phillopson, Filkin, Philippe, &c. It is probable, however, that some of these forms, though derived from Philip originally, have come to us in later times from continental nations.

See Philip. More than 200 traders of this name are found in the Lond. Direct.

(Greek.) A lover of horses, from φίλος and ίππος.

Phillips: Phillips. Limiting our attention in the first place to the distribution of Phillips, the commonest form of Philip, we observe that it is confined to Wales and to the part of England south of a line drawn from the Humber to the Mersey, being by far the most numerous in the western half of this area, including Wales, and being much less frequent in the eastern part. Its great home is in South Wales and Monmouthshire, but it is also frequent in Herefordshire, Staffordshire, Cornwall, and Devonshire If we include the several other forms of the name, we find that Philip in its various shapes is still mainly confined south of the line above given, the Phillipsons of Northumberland being the only representatives of the name in the north of England. Philips is not an uncommon name in different parts of Scotland. It will also be remarked that the main features of the distribution are the same, its comparative scantiness in the eastern half of its area and its frequency in the western half, including Wales. In some counties the contractions and corruptions of Philip often take the place of Phillips, the commonest and least altered form, and are associated with it in others. Thus, the frequency of the name of Phelps gives Somerset a pre - eminence that it would not have obtained from Phillips alone. Phelps and Phipps similarly raise the counties of Gloucester and Worcester considerably in the scale. The absence or rarity of Phillips in Warwickshire and Northamptonshire is supplied, or compensated for, by Phipps; and Cornwall receives from Philp a further lift in position. Taking all the forms of the name of Philip together, we find that they distinguish different regions and counties in the following order: first comes South Wales and Monmouthshire, then Cornwall and Gloucestershire, then Herefordshire and Worcestershire, then Staffordshire, and after it Devon and Somerset There are a few distant derivatives of the names of Philip, which I think should be separately treated, to wit, Philpot and Philpots, which are chiefly south of England names. Phippen or Phippin is a Somerset form. However, I am now entering into debatable ground, and can only here remark that the more distant derivatives of Philip do not affect the main features of its distribution already discussed. The Philippos of Norfolk and Suffolk I have not included, there being something suspicious, indicating an independent origin, in the terminal o.