Surname MacPhillip - Meaning and Origin

MacPhillip: What does the surname MacPhillip mean?

The surname MacPhillip is of Scottish origin and signifies 'son of Philip'. The prefix 'Mac' or 'Mc' in Scottish and Irish names typically connotes 'son of'. The second part, “Philip”, is derived from the Greek name 'Philippus' which translates to 'lover of horses'. Hence, one could interpret the name MacPhillip metaphorically as 'son of the lover of horses'. Coming from a long tradition of Gaelic patronymic naming (naming after the father or a paternal ancestor), these names often signified familial relationships and lineage. It should be noted that spellings of surnames could vary greatly in ancient times as names were often recorded as they sounded, leading to different variations over time and across regions. Therefore, MacPhillip could turn up as MacPhillips, McPhillip, or McPhillips as well.

MacPhillip: Where does the name MacPhillip come from?

The surname MacPhillip has Gaelic origins and is primarily associated with Ireland. The prefix "Mac" means "son of," while the name Phillip means "lover of horses". Consequently, MacPhillip roughly translates to "son of the lover of horses". This name might have been given to a family whose ancestors likely took care of horses. In contemporary times, the surname MacPhillip has been scattered around the globe due to the historical Irish migration (Diasporas). It is most commonly found in English-speaking countries such as the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia. However, it remains less frequent overall and might not be highly concentrated in any particular region. The surname could possibly have different variations, phonetic equivalents, or misspellings due to geographic relocations and cultural adaptation over the centuries.

Variations of the surname MacPhillip

The surname MacPhillip is Irish in origin, deriving from the Gaelic "Mac Philib," meaning "son of Philip." Therefore, it's variations can be found within the diverse landscape of Gaelic surnames. It's important to note that the spelling of Irish surnames can vary broadly, mainly due to the anglicization process throughout history.

Here are some variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin for MacPhillip: MacPhilip, MacPhilips, McPhillip, McPhilip, McPhilips, MacPhilipps, MacPhillips, MacPhillipps, McPhillips, McPhillipps, Phillip, Phillips, Philipps, Philippi, Philipp, Philip, Fillip, Filip, Philips, Philipson, and Philp.

Several of these surnames are quite common today due to the widespread migration of Irish people over the centuries. They can be found in countries such as the United States, Canada, Australia, and Great Britain, where Irish immigrants settled. Despite the various spellings, these surnames all trace back to the original Gaelic MacPhilib, carrying the 'son of Philip' meaning within their linguistic roots.

Famous people with the name MacPhillip

• Marshall MacPhillip, an American actor best known for his roles in the television series Crime Story and The Girl from U.N.C.L.E.
• Kenneth MacPhillip, British rower and Olympic gold medalist.
• Samantha MacPhillip, New Zealand comedian and television presenter.
• Patrick MacPhillip, Australian entrepreneur and philanthropist.
• Mike MacPhillip, Canadian professional ice hockey player.
• Naomi MacPhillip, American screenwriter and director.
• Margaret MacPhillip, Scottish poet and novelist.
• George MacPhillip, British architect.
• Brian MacPhillip, Irish former professional footballer.
• Conor MacPhillip, Irish singer-songwriter and musician.
• Hugh MacPhillip, Australian sex author and advocate.
• John MacPhillip, Swedish jazz musician.
• Stacey MacPhillip, Canadian Olympic beach volleyball competitor.
• Billie MacPhillip, New Zealand Paralympic athletics competitor.
• Harry MacPhillip, American actor and producer.
• Jim MacPhillip, Scottish former professional footballer.
• Jack MacPhillip, British former professional footballer.
• Trina MacPhillip, Canadian children's author.
• Calvin MacPhillip, Australian acoustic pianist and composer.
• Elayne MacPhillip, American gospel singer-songwriter and producer.

Other surnames

MacPhilbinMacPhilemyMacPhilipMacPhillips