Surname McPhillips - Meaning and Origin
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McPhillips: What does the surname McPhillips mean?
The surname McPhillips is of Irish origin and predominantly found in the counties of Monaghan and Fermanagh. It is derived from the Gaelic name "MacPhilbin," which translates to "son of Philbin." The name Philbin itself comes from "Philb," a diminutive of the name "Phillip," and means "little Philip." Therefore, McPhillips could be interpreted to mean "son of little Philip." Like many surnames of Gaelic origin, the spelling of McPhillips has been altered over time due to anglicization, and variations include MacPhillips, McPhilips, and MacPhilips. The surname denotes lineage and was used to identify familial relationships in ancient society. Despite its origin in the specific regions in Ireland, it has now spread worldwide due to migration.
Order DNA origin analysisMcPhillips: Where does the name McPhillips come from?
The surname McPhillips is of Irish origin, derived from the Gaelic name MacPhilbin. The prefix "Mac" translates to "son of," while the "Philbin" portion is derived from the personal name Phillip, meaning "lover of horses”. So McPhillips can be interpreted as "son of Phillip".
Traditionally, the family was part of the native Gaelic sept (clan) located in County Roscommon and Mayo in Connacht, a province in the west of Ireland. They have been in existence since the Middle Ages and, despite many historical upheavals, have continued to be recognized by their surname.
Today, the McPhillips surname is common in countries where there have been significant Irish diaspora, including the United States, Canada, UK and Australia. However, it's most prevalent in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. The McPhillips name can be found on a range of businesses, public buildings, and institutions, suggesting the influence and respect for the family name.
Variations of the surname McPhillips
The surname McPhillips has its origins in the Celtic island regions, primarily Scotland and Ireland. It literally means "son of Philip", with the prefix "Mc" or "Mac" indicating "son of" in Gaelic. The name Philip means "lover of horses". Therefore, variances in the surname can occur due to phonetic spellings, different dialects, and translations.
Alternative spellings of the surname may include MacPhillips, McPhilips, MacPhilips, McFillips, MacFillips, McPhilipp and MacPhilipp. Other variations might include the surname without the patronymic prefix (Phillips, Philips, Fillips, Philps).
Sometimes, the surname has been Anglicized into completely different names, so it's possible that surnames such as Loveridge or Love could be of the same origin.
Surnames that have similar meanings could also be considered related, such as Farrar (which comes from the French word for 'blacksmith', similar to how Philip comes from the Greek for 'lover of horses') or Marshall (which comes from the old French for 'horse keeper').
In terms of geographical distribution, the surname McPhillips is most common in Northern Ireland, with considerable presence also in Scotland, Australia, Canada, and the United States. It's worth noting that different regions may have further variations in the spelling.
Famous people with the name McPhillips
- Seán McPhillips: An Irish Fianna Fáil politician who served as a Teachta Dála (TD) for the Cavan–Monaghan constituency.
- Tommy McPhillips: A member of the band Renaissance and played bass on their first four Island albums.
- Tim McPhillips: An English composer, known for his work in movies such as "Shrek," "The Full Monty" and "Cyrano Delayed."
- Matthew McPhillips: An American attorney who served as the U.S. Attorney for the District of North Dakota.
- Jeff McPhillips: A film producer, notable for his work on projects like "Candyman" (1992) and "Of Mice and Men" (1992).
- Martha McPhillips: An actress from the 1960s who is best known for her appearance in the movie "Pollyanna" (1960).
- James McPhillips: A scriptwriter and producer known for "It's a Wonderful Life: The Rest of the Story."
- Connor McPhillips: An English former rugby union player who currently serves as the Backs & Attack Coach for the Premiership Rugby club Bristol Bears. Please note, some of these individuals may not be widely recognized due to the relatively niche nature of their respective fields.