Meaning and origin
The surname Phillips originates from the given name Philip, derived from the Greek name Philippos, meaning "lover of horses." Introduced to England after the Norman Conquest in the 11th century, the name gained popularity due to its association with Saint Philip the Apostle.
Surname origins are rarely settled: one spelling can have several sources, and families often took a name for reasons nobody wrote down. Check it against the sources below before you rely on it.
#52
Phillips was the 52nd most common surname in the 2010 US Census, with 360,802 people, about 122 in every 100,000.
Who carries it
Surnames like Phillips
Names it is linked with, then names with the same origin and a similar standing.
Check the sources
- Forebears: where Phillips is found around the world
- The Internet Surname Database: a second opinion on the origin
- US Census Bureau: the 2010 surname figures used here
For a name you are serious about, compare the dictionaries: Reaney and Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames; Hanks, Dictionary of American Family Names.