Billups
A surname most likely built from the medieval name Billip or Philip, with an English family-name ending added over time.
The #5,375 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 47,683 Americans shares it.
Etymology
Billups is generally understood as a surname formed from the medieval personal name Billip, a familiar or dialect form related to Philip. Philip ultimately comes from the Greek name Philippos, meaning “lover of horses.” The final -s can function like a patronymic ending, suggesting “son of” or simply a family-name form that developed from a nickname or given name.
History
The surname is found in English-speaking records and later becomes established in the United States, where it is now relatively uncommon but clearly present. Like many surnames derived from popular given names, it may have arisen independently in more than one family line. Spellings could vary historically, especially before standardization of surnames and spelling.
Origin
Regions
Variant spellings
Fun fact
Because it likely comes from Philip, Billups is part of a very large surname family ultimately linked to the ancient Greek love of horses.
Notable people named Billups
- Chauncey Billups (b. 1976)
Sourced from Wikidata; linked to their Wikipedia page.