A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Lipe family of Switzerland.
Reg. 6239 · Swiss, J–L
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
cross symbolChristian faith and service
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
Colours
Green (Vert)Means: Hope
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“De sin. à une croix au pied enhendé, sommée d'une fleur-de-lis et posée sur un tertre, le tout d'or; à la bord. du même. C.: une roue de moulin d'or.”
SwitzerlandBâle, c. 1745
Where the Lipe Arms Were Recorded
Bâle
Map of Switzerland showing where the Lipe arms are recorded
The Lipe arms were recorded in Bâle, c. 1745.
This is where the arms were entered in the register. Families often moved to other parts of the country, so the same name can turn up in more than one region.
The body that granted and recorded arms in Switzerland in this period.
How Arms Worked in Switzerland
In Switzerland, coats of arms were not restricted to the nobility and were often adopted by common citizens and families. These symbols were passed down through generations to show family identity. When branches of a family grew, they often changed small details of the design to distinguish their own line from the original group.
Granting authority
Cantonal and civic authorities managed the use of coats of arms within their specific regions and local jurisdictions.
How they got arms
Families typically assumed their own coats of arms based on local custom rather than receiving them from a central monarch.
Where arms were recorded
Arms were recorded in various cantonal and civic registers starting from the fourteenth century throughout the Swiss region.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Switzerland.
Origin & History of the Lipe Family in Switzerland
The family name Lipe has roots that trace back to the German-speaking regions of Europe, with documented evidence placing members of the family in the city of Bâle, Switzerland, by the year 1745. During the eighteenth century, families with this surname were often associated with the skilled trades and merchant classes that helped define the economic life of the Upper Rhine valley. The name likely evolved as a topographic descriptor or a locational surname, referring to individuals who lived near specific landmarks or within distinct settlements known as a "Lipe." As the family moved throughout the region, they became part of the broader migration patterns that saw many people from the Swiss and German borderlands eventually seek new opportunities in other parts of Europe and across the Atlantic. This transition from established Swiss communities to wider international settings highlights the adaptability of the family during a period of significant social and political change.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Lippe
A Germanic term referring to a lip or a river bank.
This name
LipeA topographic name for someone who lived near a river bank or a nickname for a person with prominent lips.
also spelled
Lyppe
Lippee
Lipp
Lipe
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Staatsarchiv Basel-Stadt, Bürgerverzeichnisse und Einwohnerregister der Stadt Basel
Historisches Lexikon der Schweiz, Die Geschichte der Stadt Basel, 2014
Müller, Josef, Die Familiennamen des Kantons Basel-Stadt, 1928
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
cross symbolChristian faith and service
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
cross symbolChristian faith and service
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
