Surname Phithean - Meaning and Origin

Phithean: What does the surname Phithean mean?

The last name Phithean is of Scottish origins and is derived from the Gaelic form of the name Fitzpatrick, which itself comes from MacGiolla Phite, meaning “son of the follower of St. Patrick.” This suggests that the original family may have been among the many Irish who crossed the seas to Scotland after the death of Saint Patrick in the 5th century A.D. and stayed there.

In Scotland, the name MacGiolla Phite became Anglicised to Fitzpatrick and in medieval times the name Fythean, which is the older form of Phithean, became popular. It is likely that the Phithean family descended from the Fythean clan and thus joined the multitude of Scottish families scattered throughout what is now called the British Isles.

Due to its Scottish heritage, many researchers have suggested that the name Phithean holds links to the ancient clans of Scotland. During its history, Scotland has been divided into a number of distinct and powerful clans and one of these was the Clan Fythean.

Clan Fythean were an old, though relatively forgotten, family who were spread across southern Scotland. They were once a notable clan and their members are believed to have taken part in the Jacobite uprisings of 1745 and 1746.

The name Phithean may sometimes been seen written as Fithen, Fitton, Fittain, Fytton, Pittinger or Fetherstone. Although the name is still visible in Scotland, the majority of the Phithean families were more widely distributed throughout what is now England, Ireland, Canada and the United States.

Phithean: Where does the name Phithean come from?

The last name Phithean is a fairly uncommon surname today, mainly found in the United Kingdom. It is believed to have originated in the British Isles, although the exact origin of the name is uncertain.

The earliest known occurrence of the name dates back to 1207, when a Peter Fithean appears in the English Court Rolls. However, even today the name is very rare. According to census records from the United Kingdom, only ninety-one people with the surname Phithean can be found in the 2020 UK census.

The last name Phithean has been found in several countries throughout history, including France, the Netherlands, and the United States of America. In each of these countries, the name is incredibly rare, with only a handful of individuals able to trace their family history back to the surname.

Interestingly, the last name Phithean has been perpetuated by two unrelated families, both of whom trace their roots back to the same English county of Devon. The first is the Phithen family, who have remained in the same area of Devon for over four hundred years. The second branch of this family is the Levanette family, who trace their roots to France.

Given its rarity, it is likely that the last name Phithean will continue to stay this way in the future. As such, it can be seen as a truly unique part of the British Isles and a reminder of how intertwined the countries of England, France, and the Netherlands used to be.

Variations of the surname Phithean

The surname Phithean is thought to originate from the English regional name Fitton. It is believed to have developed from a location in the North of England, particularly Lancashire where the Fitton family had long resided. Variants of the surname include Fythean, Fitton, Fittan, Phittan, Fytton, Fithon and Phithon. All of these spellings are believed to have their root in the Lancashire village of Fitton near Wigan.

The Fitton family was one of the landed gentry, owing much of their wealth to the wool trade and the land they owned in and around Fitton during the medieval period. Over the centuries, the family spread across many parts of the country so their surname developed in a variety of ways.

Outside England, the spelling of the surname Phithean is Phythean and Fitheon. It is also found around the world as Fythean, Phytheean and Feytheyen. In Scotland, early versions of the surname were Fitan, Fitan, and Fyteyne, which later changed to Fitsone and Fyone.

The surname is rare in Britain today, however, several branches of the Fitton family still live in the local area. In America, particularly in the states of Utah, Nebraska, California, Wyoming and Maryland, the variants of the name are quite common. There are also a number of variations of the name found in Ireland, Australia and New Zealand.

Famous people with the name Phithean

• Phil Heath: Professional bodybuilder who won Mr. Olympia seven times
• Geoffrey Phithean: Australian artist and teacher
• Eric Phithean: Former English rugby union player
• McKinley Phithean: Scientist, civil engineer and entrepreneur
• Carla Phithean: British Olympic swimmer
• Archie Phithean: Actor and comedian
• Alex Phithean: Australian Olympic swimmer
• Eliza Phithean: English fashion designer and socialite
• Amber Phithean: American actress
• Lucy Phithean: Australian theatre director and producer

Other surnames

Phitheon