Contents [hide]

Philips History Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables Ranking

Ireland United States Canada Australia New Zealand

Contemporary Notables Historic Events Related Stories Motto Citations

Philips History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Wales
Ireland

The ancestors of the bearers of the name Philips were the ancient Britons that inhabited in the hills and Moors of Wales. This surname was derived from the personal name Philip. This name, which was usually Latinized as Philippus, was originally derived from the Greek name Philippos. This Greek name was composed of the words "philein," which means "to love," and "hippos," which means "horse." The personal name Philip owed its popularity to the medieval romances about Alexander the Great, whose father was Philip of Macedon.

Philip of Poiters (died 1208?) was Bishop of Durham and a favourite clerk of Richard I. He accompanied the latter on his crusade of 1189, and was present at his marriage with Berengaria of Navarre at Cyprus in 1191. 1

Early Origins of the Philips family

The surname Philips was first found in Kent, where legend has it that the family (but not the surname) is descended from Maximus, the Briton, Roman Emperor from 383 until his death in 388, and the King of Britain, when he married the daughter of Octavius, King of the Britons. Later the family was forced back into Wales by the invading Saxons, where they traditionally claim descent from Tudwal (c.AD 528-564) "of the wounded knee," a descendant of Rhodri Mawr, first King of Wales.

Early History of the Philips family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Philips research. Another 160 words (11 lines of text) covering the years 1275, 1279, 1500, 1533, 1543, 1560, 1566, 1568, 1570, 1586, 1587, 1588, 1594, 1599, 1604, 1613, 1614, 1620, 1629, 1630, 1631, 1638, 1640, 1644, 1653, 1662, 1674, 1675, 1676, 1680, 1696, 1699, 1701, 1706, 1709, 1720, 1721, 1724, 1749 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Philips History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Philips Spelling Variations

Although there are comparatively few Welsh surnames, they have a great many spelling variations. Variations of Welsh names began almost immediately after their acceptance within Welsh society. In the Middle Ages, it was up to priests and the few other people that recorded names in official documents to decide how to spell the names that they heard. Variations that occurred because of improper recording increased dramatically as the names were later transliterated into English. The Brythonic Celtic language of Wales, known by natives as Cymraeg, featured many highly inflected sounds that could not be properly captured by the English language. Spelling variations were, however, also carried out according to an individual's design: a branch loyalty within the family, a religious adherence, or even patriotic affiliations were all indicated by the particular variation of one's name. The spelling variations of the name Philips have included Phillips, Philips, Phillip, Philip, Pilip, Pillips, Fillip, Filip, Filips, Phillipes, Philipes, Phillup, Philups, Fillups, Filups, Pilups, Pillups, Fulop and many more.

Early Notables of the Philips family

Prominent amongst the family during the late Middle Ages was

Miles Philips (fl. 1587), was an English mariner with Captain John Hawkyns on his voyage of 1568. He and another 114 were put ashore near Panuco, Mexico. They were captured and indentured as domestic...
Sir Robert Phelips (c. 1586-1638), was an English politician who sat in the House of Commons between 1604 and 1629; Edward Phelips (c. 1613-1680), was an English landowner and politician, Member of Pa...
Ambrose Philips (1675-1749) was an English poet said to have descended from an old Leicestershire family

Philips Ranking

In the United States, the name Philips is the 4,797^th most popular surname with an estimated 4,974 people with that name. 2

Migration of the Philips family to Ireland

Some of the Philips family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 109 words (8 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Philips migration to the United States +

Many Welsh joined the great migrations to North America in the late 1800s and early 1900s. Like their Scottish and Irish neighbors, many Welsh families left their homeland hoping to find hope and prosperity in a land that the English did not exercise a tight rule over. Those Welsh immigrants that successfully traveled to North America went on to make significant contributions to the rapid development of both Canada and the United States in terms of the settling of land and the establishment of industry. They also added to the rich cultural heritage of both countries. An examination into the immigration and passenger lists has discovered a number of people bearing the name Philips:

Philips Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Mr. Thomas Philips, aged 26, who arrived in Virginia in 1618 aboard the ship "William and Thomas" 3
Alice Philips, who arrived in Maryland in 1648 4
Joseph Thom Philips, who arrived in Maryland in 1649-1650 4
Gisbert Philips, who landed in America in 1650 4
Gysbert Philips, aged 24, who landed in New York in 1651 4
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Philips Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Mary Philips, who landed in Virginia in 1701 4
Jacob Philips, who landed in Virginia in 1702 4
Katherine Philips, who landed in Virginia in 1703 4
Dorothy Philips, who landed in Virginia in 1704 4
Johan Philips, who landed in New York in 1709 4
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Philips Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

William Philips, who landed in Somerset County, Pennsylvania in 1802 4
Patrick Philips, aged 24, who landed in New York, NY in 1803 4
Aaron Philips, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1803 4
Abraham Philips, aged 35, who arrived in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1803 4
Benjamin Philips, aged 30, who arrived in New York, NY in 1803 4
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Philips Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

Nicholas Philips, who arrived in New York in 1907 4

Philips migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Philips Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century

Robert Philips, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1749
Mrs. Elizabeth Philips U.E. who arrived at Port Roseway, [Shelbourne], Nova Scotia on December 13, 1783 was passenger number 541 aboard the ship "HMS Clinton", picked up on November 14, 1783 at East River, New York, USA 5
Mrs. Miley Philips U.E. who arrived at Port Roseway, [Shelbourne], Nova Scotia on December 13, 1783 was passenger number 540 aboard the ship "HMS Clinton", picked up on November 14, 1783 at East River, New York, USA 5
Mr. Peter Philips U.E. who settled in Fredericksburgh [Greater Napanee], Ontario c. 1784 he served in the Royal Regiment of New York 5
Mr. Thomas Philips U.E. who settled in St. Andrews, Charlotte County, New Brunswick c. 1784 5
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Philips Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

Archibald Philips, who landed in Canada in 1819
Ralph Philips, who landed in Canada in 1830
Joseph Philips, aged 20, a farmer, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1834 aboard the schooner "Sarah" from Belfast, Ireland
John Philips, aged 20, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick aboard the ship "Ranger" in 1834
James Philips, aged 18, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick aboard the ship "Ranger" in 1834
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Philips migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Philips Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Mr. Walter Philips, Cornish seaman who immigrated to New South Wales, Australia in 1837 convicted at Sydney Gaol on 11th November 1837 6
Mr. Bernard Philips, Scottish convict who was convicted in Glasgow, Scotland for 7 years, transported aboard the "Egyptian" on 5th April 1839, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 7
Mr. Dennis Philips, English convict who was convicted in Kent, England for 14 years, transported aboard the "Duncan" on 10th December 1840, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 8
Thomas Philips, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Birman" in 1840 9
Mary Philips, English convict from Kent, who was transported aboard the "Angelina" on April 25, 1844, settling in Van Diemen's Land, Australia 10
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Philips migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Philips Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Mr. James Philips, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Slains Castle" arriving in Wellington, New Zealand on 1st December 1852 11
William Philips, aged 31, a labourer, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Steinwarder" in 1864
Elizabeth Philips, aged 27, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Steinwarder" in 1864
James Philips, aged 6, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Steinwarder" in 1864
Elizabeth Philips, aged 4, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Steinwarder" in 1864
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Philips (post 1700) +

Emo Philips (b. 1956), born Phil Soltanek, an American comedian
Chuck Philips, American reporter who co-won (with Michael A. Hiltzik) the 1999 Pulitzer Prize for Beat Reporting
David P. Philips Jr., American fighter pilot and flying ace in the U.S. Navy, during World War II, credited with 5 aerial victories
Charles Philips (1708-1747), Welsh portrait painter who was much patronised by Frederick, prince of Wales
Sir George Philips (1789-1883), 2nd Baronet, a British Whig politician, High Sheriff of Warwickshire (1859–1860)
Sir George Philips (1766-1847), 1st Baronet, an English textile industrialist and politician
Frederik Jacques "Frits" Philips (1905-2005), Dutch fourth chairman of the board of directors of the Dutch electronics company Philips
Ambrose Philips (1674-1749), English poet and politician
Sir Charles Philips Trevelyan (1870-1958), 3rd Baronet, a British politician and landowner, President of the Board of Education in 1924
Katherine Philips Edson (1870-1933), American social worker and feminist

Historic Events for the Philips family +

Ibrox disaster

William Mason Philips (1957-1971), Scottish football supporter, from Fife who was at the Ibrox disaster on 2nd January 1971 when a human crush among the crowd killed 66 and injured 200 people he died of his injuries 12

The Philips Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: Ducit amor patriae
Motto Translation: Patriotism leads me.

Citations +

Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print
"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
Pilgrim Ship's of 1600's Retrieved January 6th 2023, retrieved from https://www.packrat-pro.com/ships/shiplist.htm
Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
Rubincam, Milton. The Old United Empire Loyalists List. Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc, 1976. (Originally published as; United Empire Loyalists. The Centennial of the Settlement of Upper Canada. Rose Publishing Company, 1885.) ISBN 0-8063-0331-X
Cornwall Online Parish Clerks. (Retreived 3rd May 2018). Retrieved from http://www.opc-cornwall.org/Resc/pdfs/emigration_nsw_gaol_admissions.pdf
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 26th January 2022). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/egyptian
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 11th August 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/duncan
State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) BIRMAN 1840. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1840Birman.htm
State Library of Queensland. (Retrieved 2014, November 27) Angelina voyage to Van Diemen's Land, Australia in 1844 with 171 passengers. Retrieved from http://www.convictrecords.com.au/ships/angelina/1844
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 26th March 2019). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
Bradford City Football Club In memory (retrieved 22nd March 2021). Retrieved from https://www.bradfordcityafc.com/club/in-memoriam/