Phelps Surname Meaning & Origin
What the Phelps last name means, where the surname began and how it spread.
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Meaning and origin of the Phelps last name
Meaning of the Phelps last name: son of Philip. Phelps is an English surname meaning "son of Phelp", a medieval form of the given name Philip, from Greek for "lover of horses". It is common in Gloucestershire and the west of England. The swimmer Michael Phelps, with 23 Olympic golds, made this last name famous worldwide.
Arms associated with the Phelps name
Coats of arms associated with the Phelps last name belong to the English heraldic tradition, each with its own blazon.
Get your full Phelps family history
This is only a glimpse of the Phelps story. The full Phelps history report goes much deeper into where the name began, who carried it and how the family spread, and it comes with a museum-style painted Phelps coat of arms. Get the full Phelps report.
Phelps name FAQ
What does the Phelps name mean?
Son of Philip. Common variants include Phelp, Philps.
Where does the Phelps surname come from?
It originates in England, and is also found in the United States, Canada and Australia.
Is there a Phelps coat of arms?
Arms were granted to individuals rather than to everyone with a surname. Herald Lab paints a personalized Phelps coat of arms in museum style, based on historic heraldry.
Sources: Reaney & Wilson, Dictionary of English Surnames; Dictionary of American Family Names (Oxford).