Show ContentsTippett History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

While surnames were well-known during the English medieval period, Cornish People originally used only a single name. The way in which hereditary surnames came into common use is interesting. Under the Feudal System of government, surnames evolved and they often reflected life on the manor and in the field. Patronymic surnames were derived from given names and were the predominant type of surname among the Celtic peoples of Britain. However, the people of Cornwall provide a surprising exception to this rule, and patronymic surnames are less common among them than other people of Celtic stock, such as their Welsh neighbors. This type of surname blended perfectly with the prevailing Feudal System. One feature that is occasionally found in Cornish surnames of this type is the suffix -oe or -ow; this is derived from the Cornish plural suffix -ow. is a patronymic surname that came from the Germanic personal name Theobold, meaning bold people. 1

Early Origins of the Tippett family

The surname Tippett was first found in Cornwall in the parish of St. Wen. "Killignock was the seat of an ancient family of this name, by whose heiress it was carried in the reign of Henry VIII. to Nanskevil alias Typpet, with whom it remained until the reign of Charles II, when it was sold by Matthew Typpet to Mr. Joseph Hawkey." 2

Early History of the Tippett family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Tippett research. Another 107 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1616, 1660, 1664, 1668, 1672 and 1713 are included under the topic Early Tippett History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Tippett Spelling Variations

Cornish surnames are characterized by a multitude of spelling variations. The frequent changes in surnames are due to the fact that the Old and Middle English languages lacked definite spelling rules. The official court languages, which were Latin and French, were also influential on the spelling of a surname. Since the spelling of surnames was rarely consistent in medieval times, and scribes and church officials recorded names as they sounded rather than adhering to any specific spelling rules, it was common to find the same individual referred to with different spellings of their surname in the ancient chronicles. Moreover, a large number of foreign names were brought into England, which accelerated and accentuated the alterations to the spelling of various surnames. Lastly, spelling variations often resulted from the linguistic differences between the people of Cornwall and the rest of England. The Cornish spoke a unique Brythonic Celtic language which was first recorded in written documents during the 10th century. However, they became increasingly Anglicized, and Cornish became extinct as a spoken language in 1777, although it has been revived by Cornish patriots in the modern era. The name has been spelled Tippett, Tippet, Tippetts and others.

Early Notables of the Tippett family

Notable amongst the family at this time was John Tipper (1616-1713), an English mathematician and almanac-maker, now known as the founder of The Ladies' Diary. 3Sir John Tippets was Master-Shipwright in Portsmouth, England (1660-1668), and later became...
Another 37 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Tippett Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Tippett Ranking

In the United States, the name Tippett is the 9,889th most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 4 However, in Newfoundland, Canada, the name Tippett is ranked the 788th most popular surname with an estimated 52 people with that name. 5


Tippett migration to the United States +

A search of the immigration and passenger lists has shown a number of people bearing the name Tippett:

Tippett Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • Sara Tippett, who settled in Virginia in 1653
  • Philip Tippett, who arrived in Maryland in 1681 6
Tippett Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Mrs. Elizabeth Tippett, (b. 1831), aged 20, Cornish miner departing from Penzance aboard the ship "Mountaineer" arriving in the United States on 30 April 1851 7
  • Miss Elizabeth Tippett, (b. 1850), aged 7 months, Cornish settler departing from Penzance aboard the ship "Mountaineer" arriving in the United States on 30 April 1851 7

Tippett migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Tippett Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Mr. William Tippett, (b. 1808), aged 27, Cornish settler convicted in Cornwall, UK on 1st August 1835, sentenced for life for stealing cattle, transported aboard the ship "Recovery" on 26th October 1835 to New South Wales, Australia 8
  • Mary Ann Tippett, who arrived in Port Misery aboard the ship "Duchess of Northumberland" in 1839 9
  • Richard Tippett, who arrived in Port Misery aboard the ship "Duchess of Northumberland" in 1839 9
  • Mr. Richard Tippett, (b. 1823), aged 27, Cornish settler convicted in Bodmin, Cornwall, UK on 15th October 1850, sentenced for 10 years for housebreaking and larceny, transported aboard the ship "Sea Park" on 30th December 1853 to Western Australia, Australia 8
  • John Tippett, aged 24, who arrived in South Australia in 1854 aboard the ship "Thetis" 10
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Tippett migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Tippett Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • T. H. Tippett, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Countess of Kintore" in 1871
  • H. C. Tippett, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Countess of Kintore" in 1871
  • Richard Tippett, aged 23, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Schiehallion" in 1872
  • Mr. Henry Tippett, (b. 1853), aged 22, Cornish farm labourer departing on 12th October 1875 aboard the ship "Caroline" going to Napier, Hawkes Bay, New Zealand arriving in port on 31st January 1876 11
  • Mr. John Tippett, (b. 1839), aged 35, Cornish labourer departing on 10th April 1874 aboard the ship "Stonehouse" arriving in Lyttelton, Canterbury, New Zealand on 29th June 1874 12
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Tippett (post 1700) +

  • Phil Tippett (b. 1951), American animator and visual effects supervisor, known for his work in stop motion and the special effects classic, The Seventh Voyage of Sinbad
  • Mary Elizabeth Whitney Person "Liz" Tippett (1906-1988), American philanthropist, a champion horsewoman and for more than fifty years, a prominent owner/breeder of Thoroughbred racehorses
  • James Sterling Tippett (1885-1958), American educator and children's writer, probably best known for his poem "Sunning" written in 1947
  • Krista Tippett (b. 1960), American host of Speaking of Faith radio show, awarded the National Humanities Medal by U.S. President Barack Obama
  • Andre Bernard Tippett (b. 1959), American NFL football player, inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2008
  • W. Lyndo Tippett, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from North Carolina, 1996
  • C. Edward Tippett, American Republican politician, Candidate in primary for Lieutenant Governor of Ohio, 1926
  • Keith Tippett (1947-2020), born Keith Graham Tippetts, an English pianist known for work with King Crimson
  • Sir Michael Kemp Tippett OM CH CBE (1905-1998), English composer, best known for his A Child of Our Time, the orchestral Fantasia Concertante on a Theme of Corelli, and the opera The Midsummer Marriage
  • Leonard Henry Caleb "L. H. C." Tippett (1902-1985), English physicist and statistician, he published "Random Sampling Numbers" in 1927 and invented the random number table
  • ... (Another 2 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

SS Newfoundland
  • Mr. Abel Tippett (1858-1914), Newfoundlander from Little Catalina, who on the 30th March 1914 he was part of the Seal Crew of the "SS Newfoundland" leaving the ship to intercept the Stephano which took him to the hunting grounds, he disembarked to begin sealing, but was caught in a thickening storm, attempting to return to the Newfoundland he and the 132 crew made camp for two days the sealers were stranded on the ice in a blizzard attempting to return to the ship, he died during this time
  • Mr. Edward Tippett (1890-1914), Newfoundlander from Little Catalina, who on the 30th March 1914 he was part of the Seal Crew of the "SS Newfoundland" leaving the ship to intercept the Stephano which took him to the hunting grounds, he disembarked to begin sealing, but was caught in a thickening storm, attempting to return to the Newfoundland he and the 132 crew made camp for two days the sealers were stranded on the ice in a blizzard attempting to return to the ship, he died during this time
  • Mr. Norman Tippett (1887-1914), Newfoundlander from Little Catalina, who on the 30th March 1914 he was part of the Seal Crew of the "SS Newfoundland" leaving the ship to intercept the Stephano which took him to the hunting grounds, he disembarked to begin sealing, but was caught in a thickening storm, attempting to return to the Newfoundland he and the 132 crew made camp for two days the sealers were stranded on the ice in a blizzard attempting to return to the ship, he died during this time
  • Mr. William J. Tippett (1883-1914), Newfoundlander from Little Catalina, who on the 30th March 1914 he was part of the Seal Crew of the "SS Newfoundland" leaving the ship to intercept the Stephano which took him to the hunting grounds, he disembarked to begin sealing, but was caught in a thickening storm, attempting to return to the Newfoundland he and the 132 crew made camp for two days the sealers were stranded on the ice in a blizzard attempting to return to the ship, he died during this time


The Tippett Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: Non robore sed spe
Motto Translation: Not with strength but with hope.


  1. Smith, Eldson Coles, New Dictionary of American Family Names New York: Harper & Row, 1956. Print
  2. Hutchins, Fortescue, The History of Cornwall, from the Earliest Records and Traditions to the Present Time. London: William Penaluna, 1824. Print
  3. Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print
  4. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  5. The order of Common Surnames in 1955 in Newfoundland retrieved on 20th October 2021 (retrieved from Family Names of the Island of Newfoundland by E.R. Seary corrected edition ISBN 0-7735-1782-0)
  6. Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
  7. Cornwall Online Parish Clerks. (Retrieved 2018, April 30). Emigrants to New York 1820 - 1891 [PDF]. Retrieved from http://www.opc-cornwall.org/Resc/pdfs/emigration_new_york_1820_1891.pdf
  8. Cornwall Online Parish Clerks. (Retrieved 30th May 2018). Retrieved from http://www.opc-cornwall.org/Resc/pdfs/emigration_australia_convicts.pdf
  9. State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) THE DUCHESS OF NORTHUMBERLAND - 1839. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1839DuchessOfNorthumberland.htm
  10. South Australian Register Friday 1st September 1854. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) Emigrant 1854. Retrieved http://www.theshipslist.com/ships/australia/thetis1854.shtml
  11. Cornwall Online Parish Clerks. (Retrieved 2018, April 30). Emigrants to other ports, 1872 - 84 [PDF]. Retrieved from http://www.opc-cornwall.org/Resc/pdfs/new_zealand_assisted.pdf
  12. Cornwall Online Parish Clerks. (Retrieved 2018, April 30). Emigrants to Lyttelton 1858-84 [PDF]. Retrieved from http://www.opc-cornwall.org/Resc/pdfs/new_zealand_assisted.pdf


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