Recorded in various spelling forms including Liepins, Leipins, and Liepen, this is a surname of Germanic origins. It is or rather was, either locational for one who dwelt at one of the several places called Liepe or Lippe, meaning the lime trees, or it derives from the ancient Hebrew word "lipe", meaning "the dear one", as such originally a personal name. The diminutive suffix as -en, -in, or -ins implies little or small or more particularly the son or sometimes the daughter of in this case Li(e)p(p)e. Th surname is well recorded in Germany, and is occasionally found in the Baltic States and Poland. It is also recorded heraldically in Riestapt's Armorial General for Europe with Kaspar von de Liepen, of Lippe, in the (former) state of Brandenberg, appearing in 1462. Amongst the Latvian recordings is Kristjan Leipin of Vindava, who was possibly an orphan, he was christened on January 30th 1863, whilst Janis Liepins, was baptised at Tukuns, Latvia, on May 23rd 1894. This was during the reign of Pope Leo X111, February 20th 1878 - July 20th 1903. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation and throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop," often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.