In the early centuries of Welsh History, surnames as we know them today didn't exist. A man was known only by his first name or Christian name, which was followed by the first name of his father. The prefix"ap"(son of) was used to join the two names together. Thus Philip ap Evan would have been Philip son of Evan. Cadifor ap Colwyn, Lord of DYVETTE,Pembrookshire, who was called Cadifor VAWR, or the Great, is the progenitor of whom any authentic records exists in South Wales.  According to one source, Cadifor was Prince of Pembroke, and one of the 15 ancient Peers of Wales. His is said to have been a part of the same tribe as Vortigen, who was King of Britain 535-575, and it is recorded that he was paternally descended from Maximus King of Britain and Emperor of Rome 303-388. On of the recorded observations about Cadifor is by Sir Bernard Burke, who said "Welsh genealogies ascribe to this chief a most illustrious descent but whatever doubts may arise as to the authenticity of his Pedigree from obscurity of Ancient MSS and
traditions accounts, it may be conceded that his possessions and connections amongst a people so tenacious of the antiquity of their families afford reasonable proof of the nobility of his birth and station." Sir Aron Ap Reed, was the first of the family to be knighted.  During the Crusades, he attended Richard I to the Holy Land in the year 1190. It is recorded that "he behaved so gallantly against the Saracens that he received from Richard the Order of Knighthood, and the addition of a "Crown and Chain" to his Arms of a Lion rampart cable. The Philips coat of arms was not just adopted but it [earned}     

Cadifor VAWR married Helen, D/O Zlwch Llawen Vawr, Lord of South Wales, he died in 1089 and is buried in the Priory of Carmarthen in Wales, his son. Bledri Latimer, Lord of Kylsant married Clydwen d/oGriffith,Lord of Gwefy, Bledri being acquainted with the language of invaders of Dyvett, became interpreter betwix them and the Britons, and was therefore surnamed by them "Latimer" or the "Interpreter", be died in 1119, his son. Rees ap Bledri, Lord of Kylsant married Ancreta d/d Rees ap Gyrffydah, Prince of South Wales who was lineally descended from Cadwallader the last King of the British race, his son.  Sir Aron ap Rees, was the first of the family to be knighted. During the Crusades, he attended Richard I to the Holy Lands in the year 1190. It is recorded that "he behaved so gallantly against the Saracens that he received from Richard the Order of Knighthood, and the addition of a "Crown and Chain" to his Arms of a Lion rampant cable. The Philips coat of arms was not just adopted, but its form as we know it today is a proud emblem that was earned by our early ancestors. Sir Aaron married Tanylust d/o Edynfed Vychan, Prince of Wales. One of Sir Aaron's daughters became the wife of Jenkyn Herbert, a paternal ancestor to the Earl of Pembroke and to King Henry VII, his son. 

Gwyllym ap Aron of kylsant, married Jenette d/o Mayric ap Traharne of Garthunell, his son.

Madog ap Gwyllm, married Genet d/o Griffith apIvor of Casteldwn, his son.

Evan ap Madog of Kylsant, married Catherine d/o Sir Elidor Ddy, Knight of the Sepulcher, his son.

Phillip ap Evan, married Helen d/o William ap Cradog. Here we see the first event which was later to create to the Famly name of PHILIPS.
This simple act of naming a son Philip was the beginning of the Philips surname, his son.

Meredith Philips was the first to take the surname of PHILIPS, as have seen above, had he followed to old Welsh custom he would have gone by the name Meredith AP Philip. Instead Meredith dropped the "son of" and added an "s" and thereby becomes responsible for the creation of the family name PHILIPS and the variations which were to come into use hundreds of years later, his son.

Philip Philips, first child born with the surname of PHILIPS, married Jennie d/o Jenkins Lloyd Ychan, his son.

Sir Thomas PHILIPS, was the second of the family to be knighted during the reign of King Henry VIII, married Jane d/o Sir Henry Doune, his son.

John PHILIPS, married Elsbeth Griffith, they had two sons, William who died leaving no sons, and Morgan.

Morgan Philips, married Elizabeth FLETCHER, he died in the year 1585, his son.

Sir John PHILIPS was the second of the family to knighted, in 1621 he was made a Baronet, married Anne PERROT and his title was passed down to
succeeding generations.

History shows that the original spelling of the name of PHILIPS.  Sometime during the middle of the 16th Century, branches of the family began to adopt variations of the name. The first change in spelling was to PHILIPPS, then through usage, the "P' was dropped an additional "L" crept in and became predominate. The first spelling with two "pp" has been almost completely.

                                                                                                                                           By Walter Phillips, Florida