Recorded in over one hundred spellings ranging from Philip, Phillip and Filip, to Lippi, Filippeli, Filipichov, and Khilkov, and found in the relevant spellings throughout Europe from Spain to the Russian Steppes, in the Medieval period, this famous surname is of Ancient Greek origin. It derives from the word 'philippos', a compound made up of two elements 'philein' meaning 'to love, and 'hippos, a horse, hence ' lover of horses'. In the great Christian revival period of the 11th and 12th centuries, a large number of expeditions were launched to 'free' the Holy Land and specifically Jerusalem, from the control of the 'infidel Muslim'.
These expeditions were lead by the kings of the various participating Christian countries, the most famous being Richard, Coeur de Leon, King of England 1189 - 1199. Soldiers returning from these 'Crusades' took to naming their children after biblical characters or ones associated with Christianity. In this case the association appears to be more romantic than actual, since the most famous 'Philip' of ancient times was the father of Alexander, the Great, whose activities were barely Christian. Even though all Crusader expeditions were ultimately unsuccessful, the biblical names largely replaced the earlier (often) pagan names throughout Europe, and formed the root of many modern surnames, such as this one. Early examples of the surname recording taken from authentic early European registers include: Wernherus Philippi of Worms in Germany in 1274, and in England in the following year Henry Philip, in the famous charters known as 'The Hundred Rolls' for the county of Norfolk. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.
Research into the possible origins of phillp leads us to learn more about those who bear this surname. The origin, the coat of arms or the different heraldic shields, and the bibliography in which the surname phillp is mentioned are part of this exciting investigation. Adhering to what we know about the way surnames originated, it is possible to offer a realistic explanation of the origins of phillp.
There is a considerable probability that phillp has crossed the borders of its place of origin to establish itself, to a greater or lesser extent, in other parts of the world. With all the information we have today, it can be said that the countries where phillp is most abundant are the following. The list of countries with a higher presence of people with the surname phillp provides us with a perspective on the history of the surname, beyond its origins, focusing on its migrations.
The deeds, the way of life, the places they lived, the family relationships they had, the jobs they held by those who were the first to be named phillp are found in every look back in the history of this lineage. For those like you, who are interested in the history hidden behind the surname phillp, it is essential to find all kinds of information, both direct and tangential, that helps to construct a solid narrative of how the birth and expansion of phillp developed. In the following lines, you will find everything we have been able to gather about the surname phillp.
It is common for genealogy and surname enthusiasts to provide us with information of special value, so the data we offer about the origins of phillp could be modified. We keep our website updated through our own research and also thanks to contributions from people like you, after verification; so if you have information about phillp and send it to us, we will update it on this website.
We assume that there have been significant contributions to humanity made by individuals with the surname phillp, even though not all have been documented to our present day. Sadly, not all the contributions of those who bore the surname phillp were recorded by the chroniclers of the time. If you or someone you know bears the surname phillp, you could potentially build illustrious lineages through your efforts and virtues. It is our desire to highlight in this section those individuals with the surname phillp who, for various reasons, have left their mark on the course of history.
The bibliography collects information related to the surname phillp, which allows us to learn more about its meaning. The origin, history, coat of arms or different coats of arms, and the heraldry of phillp are recorded in a wide variety of sources and documents that are essential to know for better compilation. Accessing the archives of the town or towns where your ancestors were born and lived is, of course, a good way to trace the origins of phillp.
These sources are essential for initiating the understanding of phillp, and at the same time, of surnames in general.