Surname Philbrick - Meaning and Origin
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Philbrick: What does the surname Philbrick mean?
The last name Philbrick is derived from the Old English words 'fil' and 'brec,' which means an area with a stream where one can find plenty of beavers. This family name was likely given to a person who inhabited a house in or near such a place.
The Philbrick surname is typically associated with the southwestern English regions of Devon and Dorset, where it was first recorded in the 12th Century. It also found its way into various other English and American records, primarily immigration records beginning in the 17th century.
Today, the name Philbrick is most common in the United States, where it ranks somewhere in the 5,000th spot on the list of the most common surnames. This suggests that many American family lines with the Philbrick name trace their roots to a single ancestor.
Because of its beaver-related root, the Philbrick coat of arms often contains beavers, as well as other natural symbols such as the oak tree. The colors of the Philbrick coat of arms are typically yellow, green and blue. This interesting combination of colors and natural symbols gives the Philbrick name a unique twist and recognition in the world of genealogy.
Order DNA origin analysisPhilbrick: Where does the name Philbrick come from?
The Philbrick surname is most commonly found today in the United States, especially New England. It can also be found in Canada, England, Scotland, and Australia, among others. In the US, the Philbrick name is particularly common in several original New England settlements, dating back to the early colonial days when the family first arrived in the region.
The origin of the Philbrick surname is thought to be English. An early spelling of the last name was Philbricke, originating in an old English given name. It can still be found in several English counties today, such as Norfolk, Bedfordshire, and Devon. In the US, the Philbrick family originated from Massachusetts and other states in the New England area, likely coming from some of these same English counties.
More recent Philbricks have spread across the US, and the surname is represented in all states today. Many Philbricks participate in family and surname research groups to connect with distant relatives. Others use websites such as ancestry.com and geni.com to search for their ancestors and learn more about their history.
No matter where a person with the Philbrick surname is from, the common thread uniting them is their family history and the legacy of the name. It's a beautiful thing that the Philbrick name is still so present in today's world, and that many of its members still hold their last name close to their heart.
Variations of the surname Philbrick
The surname Philbrick is of Anglo Saxon origin and derives from the Olde English pre 7th Century personal name "Fulebric" or "Fulbryc", meaning "highbrook" or "strong stream". Variants, spellings and other family names of the same origin include Philbrook, Fullbrook and Philbrick.
Philbrook is common variant of Philbrick, although it is geographically spread around the United States of America. The spelling of the name, specifically the "r" being between the "l" and the "b", varies from place to place. The original variant of the surname Philbrick was as Philbrook, however some families later changed the spelling of the surname with the addition of the extra "r".
Other surnames that are derivatives of the Philbrick surname are the English surnames Fullbrook, which is derived from the same Olde English pre 7th Century personal name, and Fullbrook is found most prevalently in the midland counties. Sometimes the spelling of the surname is Fulbrook and this family name is found mainly in the county of Kent.
Some examples of other surnames that may be of the same origin are Filbrook, Fillbrook and Philbric, which is found throughout the British Isles and the United States of America. All of these spelling variants are based on the original spelling of the surname, Philbrick.
Additionally, variant spellings of the surname Philbrick have been found with other variations in spelling which include Fulbric, Phelbric, Fullbrick and Pilbric.
A number of variations in the spelling of Philbrick are a result of original recordings. This is due to the illiteracy of individuals, when officials to hand registered and transcribed further variations of the surname.
Famous people with the name Philbrick
- Nathaniel Philbrick: A New York times bestselling author and National Book Award Winner. He is best known for his nonfiction works relating to maritime and American history.
- Steve Philbrick: A professional musician who is a founding member of the rock band, The Fixx.
- Rebekah Philbrick: A professional ballerina with the Boston Ballet.
- Avery Philbrick: An American actor and writer who has been featured in a variety of films and TV shows.
- William Philbrick: An Academy Award winning director and producer of feature films.
- Kary Philbrick: A stand-up comedian and actor who has appeared on several late-night talk shows.
- James Philbrick: An American entrepreneur and businessman. He is the founder and CEO of the successful software development company, FlowTechnology.
- Elihu Philbrick: A Pulitzer Prize winning journalist who has written for a variety of publications, including The New York Times.
- John Philbrick: An American race car driver who has enjoyed success in the IndyCar Series and Formula One.
- Richard Philbrick: An American artist who is best known for his abstract expressionist paintings.