Surname Philipowitz - Meaning and Origin

Philipowitz: What does the surname Philipowitz mean?

The last name Philipowitz is of German origin and is derived from the name Philipp. The name translates roughly to "lover of horses," with "philipp" originating from the Greek "philos," meaning "loving," and "hippos," meaning "horse."

Historically, the name Philipowitz is believed to have started as an occupational name for someone who was a professional horse breeder or dealer, or for someone who owned a vineyard where horses were kept. The surname may also have been adopted by a family with the possession of a shield with a horse depicted on it.

The exact origin of the name is not known, though it has been suggested that the name is derived from the city of Philippsburg, located along the Rhine in Germany. It is believed that the city was founded by William, Duke of Nassau, sometime in the thirteenth century. As the city was a center of horse breeding, it is likely that those living in the city adopted the name Philipowitz to reflect their heritage and occupation.

The surname Philipowitz is not particularly common and is believed to be mostly concentrated in Germany, though some other countries are home to a few Philipowitzes. Today, people with the name Philipowitz tend to be proud of their German heritage and honored to carry a name with such a meaningful origin.

Philipowitz: Where does the name Philipowitz come from?

The last name Philipowitz is most commonly found today in Eastern Europe, particularly countries within the former Eastern bloc such as Poland, Ukraine, Bulgaria, Lithuania, and Russia, as well as Romania and some former Soviet republics. This is likely because the last name is believed to have originated in Eastern Europe. Philipowitz, also spelled Philippovitz, was primarily used as an occupational surname, derived from the Old High German word “folk”, meaning people. It was likely given to those in a leadership or public position, such as a mayor or village elder.

In the United States, the last name Philipowitz is most common in Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, California, Florida, Illinois, and New York. Within the U.S., many descendants of Philipowitz immigrants are concentrated on the Eastern seaboard, particularly within New York City and its surrounding suburbs. In the UK, the surname is particularly found in Greater London and Manchester, likely from Jewish immigrants that left Eastern Europe in the late 19th century and early 20th century.

The last name Philipowitz is also present throughout Israel, Australia, and South America, much of which is the result of diaspora from Ukraine and other Eastern European countries during the late 19th century.

In total, it is estimated that well over one million people carry the surname of Philipowitz today.

Variations of the surname Philipowitz

Philipowitz is a surname originating from Middle European countries, likely stemming from Yiddish or German. Alternatives and spellings of the surname include Philipovitz, Philipovits, Philipovitch, Philipovvitz, Filipovitz, Filipovits, Filipovitch, and Filipovvitz.

In many languages, Philipowitz is a patronymic form, implying family or heritage. It is a compound surname composed of two words: Phillip and witz. Philip is from the Greek word “philipos”, meaning “lover of horses”, while witz is of German or Hebrew origin, meaning “wise”. Thus, the surname translates to “lover of horses who is wise”.

Several variants and spellings of the surname have developed over time due to cultural and geographical variations. For example, the sh prefix, meaning “son of” in Yiddish, is often added in some areas, thus forming the surname Shippela Philipowitz, which can quickly become Shepilotz, Seplowitz, Shiplewitz or Shippelowitz. Likewise, the yiddish suffix es may be added, resulting in named such as Philipowites or Philipowitzes.

In other languages, Philipowitz may be translated to Filipowicz, Filipovitz or Filippovits with the addition of the Polish suffix “wicz”, which implies family or lineage. Similarly, the Portuguese “es” suffix and the French “eau” suffix may give the surname Philipowitzeau and Philipowites respectively.

Ultimately, the variations in spelling and pronunciation of Philipowitz are numerous and largely depend on local dialects, spelling conventions and the cultural context.

Famous people with the name Philipowitz

• Rob Philipowitz: American television producer and director.
• Michael Philipowitz: German football player.
• Sergei Philipowitz: Soviet volleyball player.
• Robert Philipowitz: Emmy-winning American television director.
• Oscar Philipowitz: American actor and writer.
• August Philipowitz: German physicist and mathematician.
• Bartel Philipowitz: Dutch painter and sculptor.
• Steve Philipowitz: American voice actor.
• Isaac Philipowitz: American rabbi and author.
• Susanna Philipowitz: German painter and printmaker.
• Stephen Philipowitz: American playwright and director.
• Felix Philipowitz: British novelist and playwright.
• Peter Philipowitz: Austrian physicist and philosopher.

Other surnames

Philipowicz