Current region Ulster | ||
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Ethnicity Irish, Scottish, Celtic Earlier spellings MacPhilip, MacPhillip, McPhilip, MacPhillips Members PoliticsAlbert DeBurgo McPhillips (born 1904), Canadian politicianAlbert Edward McPhillips (1862–1938), Canadian Politician & BarristerJack McPhillips (1910–2004), Australian communist and trade unionistMary McPhillips, US politicianSportsBill McPhillips, former Newcastle United goalkeeperColin McPhillips, American surferConor McPhillips (born 1981), Irish rugby playerFrank McPhillips, former Dublin Gaelic footballerKyle McPhillips (born 1994), American tennis playerLee-Ann McPhillips (born 1964), former long-distance runner from New ZealandPaul McPhillips, former Scottish snooker playerTerry McPhillips (born 1968), former professional footballerCultureJoseph A. McPhillips III (1937–2007), American schoolteacherFilm/TelevisionAndrew McPhillips, British director; CGI artistHugh McPhillips, (1920–1990) American actor, directorMary Helen McPhillips(1931–1998), American/Canadian television personalityMusicCohesion, Kevin McPhillips is founding member & lead guitarist of the Manchester BandThe Coronas, Dave McPhillips is lead guitarist of the Irish Indie Rock BandJohn McPhillips, Irish composerOtherJulian L. McPhillips (born 1946), US lawyer | ||
Although some historians claim the McPhillips surname is of Scottish origin, the surname is found predominantly in Ireland, in Cavan, Fermanagh and Monaghan counties. In Ulster, the McPhillips are in Gaelic MacPilib or MacPhilib. Other historians claim they are a branch of the McMahons clan of Oriel, descendants of the coarb of Clones Abbey, Philip MacMahon.
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Etymology and early Irish origins
The Christian name Philip was brought to Britain and Ireland by the Normans in the 12th century and was soon gaelicised to Pilib. The surname is of patronymic form and derives from the Gaelic Mac Pilib, meaning "son of Philip", which was adopted by many Irish clans. The surname is particularly common in the Irish Annals, in South Ulster and used interchangeably among the McMahons of Oriel, O'Reillys of Breifne & Maguire's of Fermanagh between the 14th–17th centuries. Seán mac Pilib Uí Raghallaigh (of the O'Reilly clan) was ruler of East Breifne from 1392–1400 and was succeeded by Giolla Iosa mac Pilib. Tomas Mór mac Pilib Mac Uidhir (of the Maguire Clan) ruled County Fermanagh from 1395–1430 and his grandson, Seán mac Pilib meic Thomáis Mhóir was ruler from 1486–1503.
Historian Peadar Livingstone also claims it is possible that some Maguire's of Fermanagh may have anglicised to McPhillips, but generally the surname owes its origins to Pilib mac Séamus Mac Mathghamhna (Philip MacJames MacMahon). He was related to the Kings of Oriel and he was the coarb of Clones Abbey up until his death in 1486. His son, Séamus mac Pilib Mac Mathghamhna, was Bishop of Derry from 26 November 1503 until his death in 1519.
The McPhillips surname was found to be the 31st most numerous in its homeland of County Monaghan in 1970. It is almost exclusive in Dartry where it is the 7th most common surname. In Connacht, Phillips is an Anglicisation of McPhilbin which is one of the Hibernicised branches of the Burke clan. The surname was used interchangeably with Mac Philib & McPhillips, but most later dropped the Mc/Mac prefix.
Early Scottish origins
In Scotland, different variations of the surname can be found in Inverness-shire and Argyllshire. The most common version is McKillop, which can be represented in Scottish Gaelic as MacFhilib and MacPhilip. The McPhillips surname is largely found in the Scottish Lowlands around Lanarkshire and West Lothian, where the surname is the 37th most common surname; the 1841 Scotland Census records indicated that most were of Irish origin at that time.
17th century and the Flight of the Earls
On 14 September 1607, mention by Tadhg Ó Cianáin is made of an attendant called Seán Mac Philib. He fled Ireland with the O'Donnells. He and 13 others chose to remain in Leuven, and followed Owen Roe O'Neill into the Spanish Army of Flanders, while the rest travelled to Rome. The regiment were fighting the Dutch during the Eighty Years' War. The McPhillips clan of Dartry in County Monaghan were also involved in the Irish Rebellion of 1641.