This is a Norse-Viking locational name of 8th century origin and derives from the words 'skip' meaning a 'ship' and 'sae' a lake or harbour. The place, Skipsea, is in the East Riding of Yorkshire and was probably so named because the Vikings used it as a landing area for their ships. The name is first recorded in the latter half of the 12th century. Alternate spellings of the name have included Scipse (1226) and Shipse (1294). In the modern idiom the name is spelt Skipsea, Skpsey, Scipsey and Scibsey. The Skipsey Coat of Arms is ermine, charged with three red pheons or spearheads, denoting power on behalf of nobility. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Skipse which was dated C.1170 'Early Yorkshire Charters' during the reign of King Henry 11 the Builder of Churches 1154-1189 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.