Show ContentsSheipmend History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The saga of the name Sheipmend follows a line reaching back through history to the days of the Anglo-Saxon tribes in Britain. It was a name for someone who worked as a person who worked as a mariner or as a ship-builder. [1] [2] Occupational names frequently were derived from the principal object associated with the activity of the original bearer, such as tools or products. These types of occupational surnames are called metonymic surnames. The most common suffixes for occupational names are maker, herd, hewer, smith, er, ing, and man.

Early Origins of the Sheipmend family

The surname Sheipmend was first found in Rutland, where we find the Latin version of the name Schipemannus in the Pipe Rolls of 1130. Later in Norfolk, Scipmanus was found c. 1250 and in Huntingdonshire, Hubert Scipman was found in 1221. Essex records show Simon le Sipman Schipman in 1267 and 1290. Ironically William Scipman who was found in the Assize Rolls for Somerset in 1243 "drowned from a boat in the water of the Parret." [3]

Richard le Schepman was registered in Hertfordshire in 1296 and later, Adam le Schepman was found in Essex in 1316. [3]

The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 included an entry for William Schippeman, Lincolnshire. In Yorkshire, the Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379 revealed: Willelmus de Seyton, schypmane; Robertus Shypman; Richard Harman, shippeman; and Willelmus Shipman. [1]

The famous Shippen family in America originated in Monk Fryston, North Yorkshire. Edward Shippen (1639-1712) was born in Methley, now in the city of Leeds, West Yorkshire after his parents moved there in 1626. Edward was appointed to a one-year term by William Penn in 1701 as Mayor of Philadelphia.

Early History of the Sheipmend family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Sheipmend research. Another 56 words (4 lines of text) covering the years 1603, 1632, 1635, 1639, 1653, 1658, 1662, 1664, 1665, 1667, 1670, 1673, 1676, 1678, 1680, 1693, 1712 and 1743 are included under the topic Early Sheipmend History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Sheipmend Spelling Variations

Before the last few hundred years, the English language had no fast system of spelling rules. For that reason, spelling variations are commonly found in early Anglo-Saxon surnames. Over the years, many variations of the name Sheipmend were recorded, including Shipman, Shippman, Chipman, Shipham and others.

Early Notables of the Sheipmend family

Distinguished members of the family include Abraham Shipman (d. 1664), English first Governor and General of the city of Bombay (1662-1664.)Thomas Shipman (1632-1680), as a Royalist poet, eldest son of William Shipman (1603-1658), an ardent Royalist with a small estate in Nottinghamshire. [4]Edward Shippen (1639-1712), was an English-born immigrant to Boston who was whipped for being a Quaker, after which he was invited by William Penn to the new city of Philadelphia where he rose to become the second mayor of Philadelphia and progenitor to Continental Congressman William Shippen, Edward Shippen II, another...
Another 92 words (7 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Sheipmend Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Sheipmend family

To escape oppression and starvation at that time, many English families left for the "open frontiers" of the New World with all its perceived opportunities. In droves people migrated to the many British colonies, those in North America in particular, paying high rates for passages in cramped, unsafe ships. Although many of the settlers did not make the long passage alive, those who did see the shores of North America perceived great opportunities before them. Many of the families that came from England went on to make essential contributions to the emerging nations of Canada and the United States. Research into various historical records revealed some of first members of the Sheipmend family emigrate to North America: William Shipman settled in Virginia in 1635; Edward Shipman settled in Saybrook in 1639; and he was from the Nottingham branch of the name, and he was the sire of the distinguished U.S. family of Connecticut.



  1. Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
  2. Smith, Eldson Coles, New Dictionary of American Family Names New York: Harper & Row, 1956. Print
  3. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
  4. Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print


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