Surname MacPhillips - Meaning and Origin
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MacPhillips: What does the surname MacPhillips mean?
The surname MacPhillips is of Irish origin and is primarily found in areas of Northern Ireland. The name is derived from two words: "Mac" which means "son of" in Gaelic, and “Phillips,” a personal name which is derived from the Greek name "Philippos," meaning "lover of horses.” Thus, MacPhillips, could be interpreted as the "son of a horse lover." Bearing this surname might indicate that the family lineage includes someone who was known for this fondness. Like many surnames that have patronymic origins, MacPhillips would have evolved and been passed down through generations, irrespective of the direct relevance of the meaning to the descendants. Alternate spelling variations of this Irish surname include McPhilips, McPhillips and others.
Order DNA origin analysisMacPhillips: Where does the name MacPhillips come from?
The last name MacPhillips is most commonly found today in Ireland, the United Kingdom, and North America, with the highest concentrations in the British Isles. The MacPhillips surname originated in Scotland and was adopted by settlers in both Ireland and England, and later by immigrants to the United States, Canada, and other English-speaking countries. Spelling variations of MacPhillips include McPhillips, McPhillip, MacPhill starting from the late 17th and 18th century.
In Ireland, the last name MacPhillips is primarily located in County Galway, where families originating in the U.K. may have migrated or been pushed over centuries, as in the Irish diaspora of the 1800s. In the U.K., the MacPhillips name is seen most often in Scotland, especially in the Highlands, although there is also a presence in England, particularly in Lancaster, Lancashire.
The MacPhillips family in North America is largely composed of descendants of first-generation immigrants from the British Isles. There are several American states where the surname MacPhillips is particularly prominent, notably Pennsylvania, New York, Michigan, and California.
As of 2019, there were approximately 8,000 people in the United States with the surname MacPhillips, and 13,500 people in the U.K. with the same last name, making it one of the more widespread family names in both countries.
Variations of the surname MacPhillips
MacPhillips is a patronymic or clan-name of Irish origin, derived from the Gaelicname Mac Philbhiadha, meaning “son of Philbhiadha”. Variations of this surname include MacPhillips, MacPhilips, MacPhillip, MacPhilip, MacPhilbhiadha, MacPhilpe, MacPhilp, and MacPilip.
The shortened version of the surname is Phillips, which is the most common spelling today. While this spelling is shared with a much larger population of English-origin Phillips, those individuals don’t necessarily share a common ancestor.
MacPhillips can also be found as Phillpott, Phippitt, Phillup, Philipott, and even Shepherd depending on the location.
Other variations include MacPhilipson, MacFilippson, MacFilipps, MacFillipson, MacFillips, MacFilipe, MacPilips, and MacPhilipsons. These spellings are found primarily in Scotland, where the clan originally hailed from.
A less common spelling is MacPhelps, which is mainly used in Canada and parts of the United States. This spelling is derived from the name given to immigrants who had settled in America and given new names by English settlers.
MacPhillips is also found as Klinfelps, Klynphillips, Clamphill, Kilfelps, and Clifford as these names developed through various different local phonetic spelling.
Overall, the majority of spellings all reflect a common ancestor and share the Clan history of the Irish MacPhilbhiadha family, a sept of the historic Ulaidh.
Famous people with the name MacPhillips
- David MacPhillips: well-known dancing instructor and original choreographer for the hit musical show Cats.
- David MacPhillips: a British lawyer and barrister who served as an advocate for former Chilean President Salvador Allende.
- Henry MacPhillips: an accomplished Canadian surgeon and medical researcher.
- James MacPhillips: a renowned American professional golfer with numerous wins on the PGA Tour.
- Michael MacPhillips: a Canadian television producer and two-time Primetime Emmy Award winner.
- Patrick MacPhillips: a British actor who appeared in films and television shows such as The Spy Who Loved Me (1977), The Princess Bride (1987), and Doctor Who (2005).
- Robert MacPhillips: a U.K. television director and producer known for his work on The Bill (1987-2001).
- William MacPhillips: a British illustrator and graphic designer known for his work on films such as The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975) and The Claws of Axos (1971).