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Phelps History Etymology Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables Ranking

United States Canada Australia New Zealand

Contemporary Notables Historic Events Related Stories Suggested Reading Citations

Phelps History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Wales

Etymology of Phelps

What does the name Phelps mean?

The Phelps surname was derived from the personal names Phelp or Philp, which were pet-forms of the personal name Philip. This name, usually Latinized as Philippus, was originally derived from the Greek name Philippos. This Greek name was composed of the words "philein," which means "to love," and "hippos," which means "horse." The personal name Philip owed its popularity to the medieval romances about Alexander the Great, whose father was Philip of Macedon.

Early Origins of the Phelps family

The surname Phelps was first found in Monmouthshire (Welsh: Sir Fynwy), where they held a family seat from early times and their first records appeared on the early census rolls taken by the early Kings of Britain to determine the rate of taxation of their subjects.

Early History of the Phelps family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Phelps research. Another 76 words (5 lines of text) covering the year 1283 is included under the topic Early Phelps History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Phelps Spelling Variations

Although there are not an extremely large number Welsh surnames, there are an inordinately large number of spelling variations of those surnames. This variety of spellings began almost immediately after the acceptance of surnames within Welsh society. As time progressed, these old Brythonic names were eventually were recorded in English. This process was problematic in that many of the highly inflected sounds of the native language of Wales could not be properly captured in English. Some families, however, did decide to modify their own names to indicate a branch loyalty within the family, a religious adherence, or even a patriotic affiliation. The name Phelps has seen various spelling variations: Phelps, Phellps, Phelpe, Phelpes, Phelphes and others.

Early Notables of the Phelps family

Prominent amongst the family during the late Middle Ages was

Sir Edward Phelps

Phelps Ranking

In the United States, the name Phelps is the 493^rd most popular surname with an estimated 57,201 people with that name. 1

Phelps migration to the United States +

The Welsh migration to North America in the late 19th and early 20th centuries contributed greatly to its rapid development. These migrants were in search of land, work, and freedom. Those Welsh families that survived the long ocean journey were critical to the development of new industries and factories, and to the quick settlement of land. They also added to an ever-growing rich cultural heritage. A search of the immigration and passenger lists has shown a number of people bearing the name Phelps:

Phelps Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Thomas Phelps, who arrived in Jamestown, Va in 1608 aboard the ship "Second Supply" 2
Richard and Sarah Phelps, who settled in Nantucket, Massachusetts in 1630
George Phelps, who landed in Dorchester, Massachusetts in 1630 2
Mr. William Phelps, aged 35, who arrived in Dorchester, Massachusetts in1630 aboard the ship "Mary & John" 3
Mrs. Ann Phelps, (nee Dover), aged 33, who arrived in Dorchester, Massachusetts in1630 aboard the ship "Mary & John" 3
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Phelps Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Roger Phelps, who arrived in Virginia in 1714 2

Phelps Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Lewis Phelps, who landed in Mississippi in 1853 2
Andrew Phelps, who arrived in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1876 2

Phelps migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Phelps Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century

Mr. Edward Phelps U.E. who settled in Parr Town, Saint John, New Brunswick c. 1784 4
Mr. Elijah Phelps U.E. who settled in Home District [York County], Ontario c. 1786 he served in Butler's Rangers 4
Amos Phelps, who arrived in Quebec in 1793

Phelps Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

Hiram Phelps, who landed in Canada in 1833
Orson Phelps, who arrived in Canada in 1834
Calvin Phelps, who landed in Canada in 1839
Oliver Seymour Phelps, who landed in Canada in 1840

Phelps migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Phelps Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Mr. Thomas Phelps, English convict who was convicted in Wiltshire, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Dromedary" on 11th September 1819, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 5
Mr. John Phelps, English convict who was convicted in Wiltshire, England for 14 years, transported aboard the "Emma Eugenia" on 2nd November 1837, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 6
Miss. Ann Elizabeth Phelps, English convict who was convicted in London, England for 10 years, transported aboard the "Baretto Junior" on 5th April 1850, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 7
John Phelps, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Anglia" in 1851 8
John Phelps, aged 48, who arrived in South Australia in 1854 aboard the ship "William Hammond" 9
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Phelps migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Phelps Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Mr. Phelps, Australian settler travelling from Port Phillip Bay, Victoria aboard the ship "Earl Stanhope" arriving in Wellington, New Zealand in 1840 10
J. Phelps, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Lady Nugent" arriving in Wellington, New Zealand on 17th March 1841 10
James Phelps, aged 35, a farm labourer, who arrived in Port Nicholson aboard the ship "Lady Nugent" in 1841
Mary Ann Phelps, aged 23, who arrived in Port Nicholson aboard the ship "Lady Nugent" in 1841
Benjamin Phelps, aged 41, a shoemaker, who arrived in Bluff, New Zealand aboard the ship "Adamant" in 1875 10
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Phelps (post 1700) +

Almira Lincoln Phelps (1793-1884), née Hart, an American scientist, educator, author, and editor, known for her inspirational botany writings which influenced more early American women to be botanists
Thomas Stowell Phelps (1822-1901), United States Navy officer, eponym of the destroyer USS Phelps (DD-360)
Cathy LaTulipe Phelps, American location manager, known for her work on Fake (2011) and Harvest (2010)
Jake Phelps (1962-2019), American skateboarder and editor-in-chief for Thrasher for 26 years
Brigadier-General Joseph Vinvil Phelps (1898-1981), American Senior Instructor to Pennsylvania National Guard (1948-1949) 11
John Wolcott Phelps (1813-1885), Union Army general in the American Civil War
John Jay Phelps (1810-1869), American railroad Baron and financier, one of the founders of the Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Railroad
William Wines Phelps (1792-1872), early American leader of the Latter Day Saints
Edmund Strother Phelps Jr. (b. 1933), American economist, winner of the 2006 Bank of Sweden Prize in Economic Sciences in Memory of Alfred Nobel
Michael Fred Phelps (b. 1985), American Olympic swimmer, winner of 18 gold, two sliver, and two bronze Olympic medals 12
... (Another 8 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Historic Events for the Phelps family +

HMS Dorsetshire

Eddie Phelps, British aboard the HMS Dorsetshire (1945) when she was struck by air bombers and sunk; he survived the sinking 13

HMS Hood

Mr. Henry F Phelps (b. 1901), English Blacksmith 1st Class serving for the Royal Navy from Plymouth, Devonshire, England, who sailed into battle and died in the HMS Hood sinking 14

HMS Prince of Wales

Mr. Phelps, British Corporal, who sailed into battle on the HMS Prince of Wales (1941) and survived the sinking 15

HMS Royal Oak

Cyril Edgar Phelps (1909-1939), British Leading Telegraphist with the Royal Navy aboard the HMS Royal Oak (1939) when she was torpedoed by U-47 and sunk; he died in the sinking 16

USS Arizona

Mr. George Edward Phelps, American Seaman First Class from New York, USA working aboard the ship "USS Arizona" when she sunk during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on 7th December 1941, he died in the sinking 17

Citations +

"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
Pilgrim Ship's of 1600's Retrieved January 6th 2023, retrieved from https://www.packrat-pro.com/ships/shiplist.htm
Rubincam, Milton. The Old United Empire Loyalists List. Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc, 1976. (Originally published as; United Empire Loyalists. The Centennial of the Settlement of Upper Canada. Rose Publishing Company, 1885.) ISBN 0-8063-0331-X
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 16th July 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/dromedary
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 29th March 2022). https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/emma-eugenia
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 16th September 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/baretto-junior
State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) ANGLIA 1851. Retrieved http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1851Anglia.gif
South Australian Register Wednesday 20th January 1854. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) Willaim Hammond 1854. Retrieved http://www.theshipslist.com/ships/australia/williamhammond1854.shtml
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
Generals of World War II. (Retrieved 2014, March 26) Joseph Phelps. Retrieved from http://generals.dk/general/Phelps/Joseph_Vinvil/USA.html
Athletes - Famous Olympic Athletes, Medalists, Sports Heroes. (Retrieved 2010, December 14) Michael Phelps. Retrieved from http://www.olympic.org/michael-phelps
Force Z Survivors HMS Dorsetshire Crew List, (Retrieved 2018, February 13th), https://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/biographies/listdorsetshirecrew.html
H.M.S. Hood Association-Battle Cruiser Hood: Crew Information - H.M.S. Hood Rolls of Honour, Men Lost in the Sinking of H.M.S. Hood, 24th May 1941. (Retrieved 2016, July 15) . Retrieved from http://www.hmshood.com/crew/memorial/roh_24may41.htm
HMS Prince of Wales Crew members. (Retrieved 2014, April 9) . Retrieved from http://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/biographies/listprincecrew.html
Ships hit by U-boats crew list HMS Royal Oak (08) - (Retrieved 2018 February, 9th) - retrieved from https://uboat.net/allies/merchants/crews/ship68.html
Pearl Harbour: USS Arizona Casualties List Pearl Harbour December 7, 1941. (Retrieved 2018, July 31st). Retrieved from http://pearl-harbor.com/arizona/casualtylist.html