Show ContentsShippin History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The name Shippin has been recorded in British history since the time when the Anglo-Saxons ruled over the region. The name is assumed to have been given to someone who was 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 Shippin family

The surname Shippin 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 Shippin family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Shippin 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 Shippin History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Shippin Spelling Variations

The first dictionaries that appeared in the last few hundred years did much to standardize the English language. Before that time, spelling variations in names were a common occurrence. The language was changing, incorporating pieces of other languages, and the spelling of names changed with it. Shippin has been spelled many different ways, including Shipman, Shippman, Chipman, Shipham and others.

Early Notables of the Shippin 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. 4Edward 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 Shippin Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Shippin family

Thousands of English families in this era began to emigrate the New World in search of land and freedom from religious and political persecution. Although the passage was expensive and the ships were dark, crowded, and unsafe, those who made the voyage safely were rewarded with opportunities unavailable to them in their homeland. Research into passenger and immigration lists has revealed some of the very first Shippins to arrive in 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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