This surname is formed from the personal name Philip, itself coming from the Greek Philippos, a compound of the elements "Philein" to love, plus "hippos", horses. Hence, "a lover of horses". The name is first recorded in England as Philipus c.1150 in "The Gilbertine Houses Charters of Lincolnshire". The surname appears in the latter half of the 13th Century, (see below). The popularity of the name is revealed by the wide variety of pet forms and derivatives. The surname has over twenty variant spellings including Philip, Philipp(s), Phelips, Phelp, Phillott, Philpott etc. "Phalp" is a particularly French influenced form of the name, deriving from the Old French "Phalip". One "Elizabeth Phalpe" was married to "Rafe Quarterman" at Great Milton, Oxfordshire, in 1586. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Henry Philip. which was dated 1275, in the "Hundred Rolls of Norfolk". during the reign of King Edward 1, known as "The Hammer of the Scots", 1272 - 1307. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was known as Poll Tax. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.

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