Surname Phips - Meaning and Origin

Phips: What does the surname Phips mean?

The surname "Phips" is of Welsh origin. It is a patronymic name, which means it is derived from the name of the original bearer's father or from a male ancestor. The name Phips is derived from the personal name "Philip", meaning "lover of horses" in Greek. Over time, 'Philip' was altered to 'Phip' and the suffix 's' was added, indicating "son of Phip". Thus, Phips can be translated to "son of Philip" or "descendant of Philip". The name was typically bestowed upon boys whose fathers were known for being horse lovers.

Please note that surname meanings can vary due to regional differences, dialects and evolutions in language, thereby they may have many derivations and meanings across different cultures and regions.

Phips: Where does the name Phips come from?

The last name Phips is most commonly found in the United States today. It is particularly concentrated in the states of New England, especially Massachusetts where the original Phips family first settled. The Phips family originated in Devon, England but emigrated to America in the 17th century. The first recorded mention of the name Phips in America was in 1630 when Robert Phips set sail from Devon, arriving in the newly-formed Massachusetts Bay Colony.

The Phips family, in all forms, has been in New England since that time. Today, Phips is one of the several hundred thousand surnames being researched and celebrated by the New England Historic Genealogical Society in Boston.

Despite being concentrated in New England, the last name Phips can be found scattered throughout the United States in states such as California, Texas, and Florida. It is also common in other countries, particularly Canada and Australia.

The meaning of the last name Phips is unclear but it may be derived from the ancient Anglo-Saxon word “pheap” which means “plantation”. It could also be a variation of the more common name Phillips, with the prefix “ph” signifying son of; as with many English surnames the true meaning may remain unknown.

Variations of the surname Phips

The surname Phips is an anglicized form of the Irish and Scottish surname MacPhilip, a patronymic meaning "son of Philip." Variants or spellings of this surname can include Phipps, Phillip, Phillips, Philups, Phibbs, Philibs, and Phipp.

MacPhilip is derived from the ancient Greek given name Phillippos, which is derived from the Greek words "philein" meaning "to love" and "hippos" meaning "horse." The anglicization of MacPhilip provides several additional spellings, including Phips, Phipps, Philip, Phillips, Philups, Phibbs, Philibs and Phipp.

The Phips surname is most commonly found in England, Wales, Ireland and Scotland, as a result of the movement of immigrants from those countries to the United States and Canada. Phips can also be found in many other countries whose immigrants originated from those four countries.

The Phips spelling of the surname is most commonly associated with the American states of Massachusetts, Maine and Vermont. During The Revolutionary War, Sir William Phips was appointed Governor of Massachusetts Government and a statue of his erected in his honor stands in the east entrance of the Massachusetts State House.

In addition to the many variants of the surname Phips, some surnames of similar origin include Fipps, Fibbs, Fyffe, Fife, Feaphs and Fips. Despite the different spellings, all of these surnames share the same root, MacPhilip.

Famous people with the name Phips

• Sir William Phips: A 17th-century colonial governor of the Massachusetts Bay Colony. He was also crowned the first royal military governor of the territory and played a vital role in the founding of Harvard University.
• Lord Thomas Phips: A British peer and politician. He was a prominent figure in the Parliament of Great Britain in the 18th century.
• Peter G. Phips: Hollis Professor of Divinity at Harvard Divinity School from 1805 to 1838. A noted British Unitarian, he advocated for the separation of church and state.
• Fitz Stephen Phips: A Loyalist in the American Revolutionary War, he served on the staff of General Henry Clinton.
• Lord Wallace Phipps: A British lawyer and Conservative politician who held several positions in Parliament during the 19th century.
• Sir John Phips: A prominent member of the British Royal Navy during the mid-18th century. He is best remembered for his successful campaigns in the Second Jacobite Rebellion and in the American Revolutionary War.
• John Tabor Phips: Known as "Phips the Reader", he was a prominent 18th-century Baptist preacher in New England.
• Sarah Phips: An 18th-century Colonial American poet, she was the wife of Sir William Phips and close friend of the American poet Phillis Wheatley.
• Paul Phips: A radial tire designer and engineer, he is the founder of the Phips Tire Company.
• Lawrence Phips: An English judge in the 17th century, he served on the Court of King's Bench and presided over some of the most notorious trials of the time.

Other surnames

Phipps