Phillis History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

Etymology of Phillis

What does the name Phillis mean?

Phillis is a name that first reached England following the Norman Conquest of 1066. It comes from the ancient given name Phillip. Phillip derives from the Greek name Phillipos, which derives from the words philein, meaning to love, and hippos, meaning horse.

Early Origins of the Phillis family

The surname Phillis was first found in Berwickshire. However some of the family were also found in the parish of Windermere in Westmorland. "The church [of Windermere], situated at Bowness, is a simple and venerable edifice, of which the east window of stained glass is said to have been brought from Furness Abbey: there are several curious memorials of the Philipson family, once the owners of Rayrigg, Calgarth, and the Island; and among the monuments of modern date." 1

Early History of the Phillis family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Phillis research. Another 168 words (12 lines of text) covering the years 1296, 1305 and 1450 are included under the topic Early Phillis History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Phillis Spelling Variations

Before the advent of the printing press and the first dictionaries, the English language was not standardized. Sound was what guided spelling in the Middle Ages, so one person's name was often recorded under several variations during a single lifetime. Spelling variations were common, even among the names of the most literate people. Known variations of the Phillis family name include Phillipson, Phillippson, Philippson, Philipson and others.

Early Notables of the Phillis family

More information is included under the topic Early Phillis Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Phillis migration to Australia +

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

First Fleet

Mr. John Phillis, British settler convicted at London, England in 1788, sentenced to 7 years for stealing, transported aboard the ship "Neptune, Scarborough or Surprize" leaving in 1789 arriving in New South Wales, Australia in 1790 2

Following the First Fleet, other convicts and early settlers arriving in Australia include:

Phillis Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

James Phillis, who arrived in Port Misery aboard the ship "Duchess of Northumberland" in 1839 3
Susannah Phillis, who arrived in Port Misery aboard the ship "Duchess of Northumberland" in 1839 3
George Phillis, who arrived in Port Misery aboard the ship "Duchess of Northumberland" in 1839 3
Charlotte Phillis, who arrived in Port Misery aboard the ship "Duchess of Northumberland" in 1839 3
Eliza Phillis, who arrived in Port Misery aboard the ship "Duchess of Northumberland" in 1839 3
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Phillis (post 1700) +

Sir Robert Weston Phillis (1945-2009), British media executive, Deputy Director General of the BBC (1993), Chief Executive of the Guardian Media Group (1997-2006)
Jodi Christine Phillis (b. 1965), Australian singer-songwriter-guitarist
Dennis Keith "Fred" Phillis (b. 1948), Australian rules footballer
Thomas Edward Phillis (1934-1962), Australian Grand Prix motorcycle road racer
Rob Phillis (b. 1956), Australian retired motorcycle road racer, active in the late 1990s
Phillis Wheatley (1753-1784), American poet, born in Africa, sold into slavery at the age of seven in 1761 and transported to America, house slave for Boston merchant John Wheatley from who she took the surname, considered the first important black writer in the United States, eponym of Wheatley, a Venusian crater

Sources +

Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
Convict Records of Australia. Retrieved 4th February 2021 from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships
State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) THE DUCHESS OF NORTHUMBERLAND - 1839. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1839DuchessOfNorthumberland.htm