Surname Phythian - Meaning and Origin

Phythian: What does the surname Phythian mean?

Phythian is a surname of English origin. It is believed to be locational, originating from the old village of Pethy in Cornwall, England, which is now lost and absorbed into the surrounding landscape. The name would have been adopted by individuals or families who moved away from the village as a form of identity. The exact meaning of Phythian is not clear, but like many English surnames, it could refer to a geographical feature, trade or profession related to the original location. It follows the pattern of Cornish surnames ending in "ian", which is typically added to place-names. There is also a possibility that Pythian (another variant) could be related to the Pythian games or Pythian Oracle of Ancient Greece, signifying a connection to historical events or locations. However, this connection to Ancient Greece is purely speculative and lacks definitive evidence.

Phythian: Where does the name Phythian come from?

The last name Phythian is originally a surname originating from Yorkshire in northern England. It is currently most common in the United Kingdom, particularly the counties of Lancashire, Cheshire, Yorkshire, and Durham. It is also found in the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.

In the United Kingdom, the surname can be found among individuals living in northern England in areas like the town of Lancaster. It is also popping up in London with some frequency. The surname is also quite common in Australia primarily among those with origins in England.

In the United States, immigrants from the United Kingdom have carried the Phythian surname to states along the east coast but primarily to states like New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Massachusetts. Some other cities in the US that have a population of people with the last name Phythian include Cincinnati and Austin, Texas.

The surname is also found in some areas of Canada and New Zealand. The Ponca First Nation in Canada claims the surname as part of their heritage and there are records of it being present in Canada as early as 1793. The New Zealand Prime Minister Gordon Coates was Prime Minister from 1925-19NZ and has the Phythian surname.

Despite its spread among different countries, the Phythian surname is still most commonly found in the northern parts of England and the UK as a whole.

Variations of the surname Phythian

The surname Phythian is derived from an Anglicized form of the Old Irish name Phethain, which is a proud ancient Celtic name. Its variants, spellings and surnames of similar origin include Phythian, Fythan, Phathan, Fithan, Fythean, Fytheon, Fythin, Fythion, Faithan, Feathan, Feithan, Feythan, and Feythen.

In England, the record of the Phythian surname dates back to around 1150 in the counties of Lancashire and Yorkshire. It was possibly derived from Fychan, a Welsh form of Phethain. An early bearers of this surname includes Morice Phythian who was born in Lancashire in the year 1576.

The origin of this name can also be traced to Scotland. The spelling of Phythian was also used in some Scottish records, particularly in Fifeshire and Lanarkshire. The surnames Phetean, Fythean, and Faithan are derived from the same source and were known among border families in Scotland.

The names Feythan and Feythen are derived from a Gaelic form of the name Phethain, and were found mainly in Ulster in Northern Ireland.

In North America, the spelling Feythan was adopted by many of the immigrants with this name. The spelling Phythian was also found in some records in the 1700s and 1800s, especially in Canada. The surnames were common among early settlers in Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, and Ohio.

Thus, the different variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin of the surname Phythian have been used for centuries by families in England, Scotland, Ireland, and North America.

Famous people with the name Phythian

• Maxwell Phythian: a Canadian track and field athlete, who represented his country in the 800m event at the 2016 Summer Olympics.
• Melissa Phythian: an American professional tennis player who competed mainly in doubles events. Her career highlights included reaching the US Open quarterfinals and semifinal of the French Open.
• Jack Phythian: an English cricketer who played for Worcestershire County Cricket Club and Nottinghamshire County Cricket Club.
• John Phythian: an English amateur footballer who made five appearances for England between 1871 and 1872.
• Christina Phythian: an actress who has appeared in major British television dramas such as ‘Downton Abbey’, ‘Call the Midwife’, and ‘Holby City’.
• Stephen Phythian: a Conservative party politician and former MP for Rutland & Melton.
• Ryan Phythian: a Scottish professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for League One side Accrington Stanley.
• L. A. Phythian: an English novelist, often referred to as the ‘Renderstreet Cowboy’ after her book series.
• Peter Phythian: a British actor who has appeared in numerous West End productions including ‘Cats’ and ‘Spamalot’.
• Allan Phythian: a Canadian screenwriter and director best known for his work on the television series ‘Orphan Black’.

Other surnames

Phythion