This interesting and unusual name is of English locational origin from "Hipswell", in Yorkshire, recorded "Hiplewelle" in the Domesday Book, 1086, "Hipleswell" in the Curia Rolls, 1203, and "Hepleswell", in the Feet of Fines 1228. The place name itself is composed of the initial element "hyppels", the Old English pre seventh Century word for stepping-stones, (a derivative of "hyppan", to hop) plus the second element "wel", Old English name for a whirlpool, deep place, or the Old English "wella", "waella", a spring or stream, hence a "stream with stepping stones". Johannes de Hypeswelle was recorded in the Poll Tax records of York in 1379. The earliest recording of the name in London church records is on November 4th 1610, when Elizabeth daughter of Bennet Hipwell was christened at Allhallows, London Wall. Williame Ipwell married Grace Killbye at St. Peter Paul's Wharf, London on December 29th 1612. Benjamin, son of Benjamin and Mary Hipwell was christened at St. Michael-le-Belfry, Yorkshire on October 12th 1774. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Thomas de Ippewell, which was dated 1273, in the Hundred Rolls of Oxford, during the reign of King Edward 1, known as "The Hammer of the Scots", 1272 - 1307. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was known as Poll Tax. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.

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