Surname Phillipson - Meaning and Origin

Phillipson: What does the surname Phillipson mean?

The surname Phillipson is of English origin and is a patronymic name, meaning it is derived from the first name of a father or male ancestor. Phillipson translates to "son of Philip." The personal name Philip is derived from the Greek name "Philippus," which is composed of two elements: "Philein," meaning "to love," and "hippos," meaning "horse." Therefore, in a broader sense, the name Phillipson could carry the connotation of "son of the horse lover." This name became popular in the medieval period, after it was borne by one of Christ’s apostles, who was possibly named Philip. Over time, the name Philip and its derivative Phillipson, have been used in various forms in several countries across Europe.

Phillipson: Where does the name Phillipson come from?

The last name Phillipson is most commonly found in North America, particularly in the United States. It has experienced a steady presence in the county, but experienced a rise in popularity with the influx of Scandinavian immigrants in the 19th and early 20th centuries.

Phillipson is particularly popular in the Mid-Atlantic region, including North and South Carolina, Virginia, and Maryland. It is found further north in the states of Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Connecticut, and Rhode Island, and is also scattered throughout the Midwest, including Wisconsin and Minnesota.

Elsewhere in the United States, the name is found in pockets in Montana, Wyoming, and Utah, while in Canada, it is particularly widespread in Ontario and British Columbia. Phillipson can also be found throughout Australia, especially in the states of New South Wales, Victoria, and Queensland.

Meanwhile, internationally, the name is most widely represented in New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and South Africa, as well as throughout Southeast Asia, India, and the Middle East.

Variations of the surname Phillipson

Phillipson is an English surname that has multiple variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin. It is thought to have originated either from two Old French given names, Phillip and Philippe, or from the surname Phillips. Other variants include Phillips, Philps, Philipps, Philippson, Phillups, Philison, Philipson, Philpsson, Philpson, and Philp.

Surnames of a similar origin include Philippson, Philipsen, Phillipsen, Philips, Philipson, Philipps, Phillipps, Phillippy, Philippsonne, Philipsone, Philipsoen, Phillipsone, Philippson, Philipsohn, Philippe, Philipsen, Phillippone, Phillippson, Philppsen, Philpsohn, and Phillps.

The spelling of Phillipson is thought to have first been used as a surname in England during the 12th century.

Phillipson is one of the oldest and most commonly found English surnames. During the 19th and 20th centuries, the name spread to many countries, including the US and Australia.

The name is taken to mean “one who is like Phillip” or “son of Phillip”. It is derived from the given name Phillip, which itself comes from the Greek philippos, meaning “lover of horses". The German form of the name is Philippi, which is also related to the Greek word for “horse".

Due to its wide spread, Phillipson is a difficult surname to trace in terms of its origin and meaning. However, its various spellings and related surnames give us an insight into its rich and varied history.

Famous people with the name Phillipson

• Ben Phillipson: British actor most famous for playing Baines in Channel 4’s Misfits.
• J. C. Phillipson: British literary scholar and theologian who wrote extensively on the 19th century religion, philosophy and literature of the Victorian era.
• Rob Phillipson: American actor known for his guest roles on The West Wing, Without a Trace and Law and Order: Criminal Intent.
• Eilon Phillipson: Israeli-Canadian computer scientist, inventor and entrepreneur, credited for inventing the public domain software Weka.
• Thalia Phillipson: Argentinian-American filmmaker and visual artist best known for her feature-length documentary, The Wind Will Sing the Song of Sadness.
• Raphael Phillipson: British entrepreneur, investor, and philanthropist behind The Phillipson Foundation, which provides funding to innovative charities and startups.
• Liza Phillipson: American theater and film actress, best known for her work in stage productions of Death of a Salesman and The Way of the World.
• Mark Richard Phillipson: English architect and graphic and industrial designer, credited for the design of dozens of public buildings, including the Basingstoke Cathedral.
• Ariel Phillipson: Israeli-American photographer and professor of photography at the Academy of Art University in San Francisco.
• Jack Phillipson: Australian cricketer who has represented regional and state teams from The Northern Territory in Australia.

Other surnames

PhillipPhillipeitPhillipekPhillippPhillippiPhillippoPhillippsPhillipsPhillipskötterPhillipusPhillipzig