"Theresa Philo" as first names?

[chasbaz]

"Theresa Philo" is a pair of first names used extensively in my family, starting around 1800, but I don't know where this originated.  I wondered if the Philo was originally short for Philomena, indicating a likely Catholic origin, but my lot all seem to have been C of E. 

Otherwise parhaps PHILO was a surname - anyone seen any of these?
[Just seen that there are discussion boards on PHILO/FILLOW surnames, but I don't know of any family connection with these]

Still, any experience of Philo as a middle name?


Have a great day!

[carol8353]

Check out this website.Hugh has transcribed all those he has come across with 'odd'  middle names,quite often where a mothers maiden name has been used.
As in my family where a lot of the boys were given Pearce as a middle name.

http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~hughwallis/

Hopefully there might be a Philo or two you can claim 

All the best

Carol

[XPhile2868]

Ancestry.com gives one meaning for the first name and surname Philo -

 Philo
English and German: from the Late Greek personal name Philon, a derivative of the element phil- love, in part as a short form of the various compound names containing this element. The name was borne by a 2nd-century saint, a deacon of St Ignatius.

[Mobo]

 

I am inclined to think your first assumption may be the correct one Chas.  ie. non-catholics would hardly have been inclined to use the name 'Theresa' in those days.

Also, in Ireland, it is quite common to shorten christian names like Dec = Declan, Con = Conlan, Ant = Anthony, so why not Philo = Philomena

 

[chasbaz]

Thanks a lot everyone for your suggestions.

Carol - I looked at the middle names website and found a few [apart from mine] which bear looking at, but I'm not sure if I will find a connection. Good site I would say for those who used surnames as middle names.

Charles

[colinjohn]

Otherwise perhaps PHILO was a surname - anyone seen any of these?
[Just seen that there are discussion boards on PHILO/FILLOW surnames, but I don't know of any family connection with these]

My grandmother had PHILO as her surname; I think that it originated in Norfolk, certainly many came from that area. There is also a PHILO one name study registered with GOONS, if you're interested I can pass your details on.

Colin

 

[chasbaz]

Colin,
Thanks for your posting.

As it happens I have recently been contacted by descendents of a related family, the Piltons, and the Theresa Philo name came down several generations of their line as well.  I am waiting to hear from them further - perhaps they will be able to shed some light on this phenomenon (or philomenon, sorry).

Charles