This interesting surname with variant spellings Tippins, Typpens, etc., is a patronymic of the name Tippin, itself a diminutive of Tibb, a pet-form of the French personal name Theobald, from a Germanic personal name composed of the elements "theudo" meaning "people, race" plus "bald", "bold, brave". The surname dates back to the early 14th Century (see below). Further recordings include one Jane, daughter of Johis and Janae Tippins who was christened on March 1st 1639 at St. Martin-in-the-Fields, Westminster. Rowland, son of Robert and Elizabeth Tippins who was christened on May 17th 1702 at St. Andrew by the Wardrobe, London and Thomas, son of Ralph and Protitia Tippins was christened on January 22nd 1804 at St. Dunstan's, Stepney London. A Coat of Arms was granted to a Tippen family in Gloucestershire during the reign of King Henry V111 (1509 - 1547), consisting of a silver shield depicting three red lion's heads erased with gold crowns. Between the heads is a chevron with a central bezant (gold coin). The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Seman Typoun, which was dated 1327, "The Subsidy Rolls of Suffolk", during the reign of King Edward 111, "The Father of the Navy", 1327 - 1377. 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.