Phelps surname meaning

Phelps is an English patronymic surname meaning “son of Philip.” It is a regional form related to Phillips and Philps, with particular historical strength in southwestern England. Philip comes from Greek Philippos, traditionally interpreted as “lover of horses,” but that older gloss belongs to the ancestor’s given name rather than describing a Phelps family. Phelpes is an older spelling found in records. The surname could arise independently wherever Philip was used, so the patronymic pattern is more secure than a single genealogy. The catalog uses parent’s name with high confidence.