A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Sipes family lines. Documented in 3 countries.
Reg. 8784 · French, T–V
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
arms pheon arrowheadReadiness for battle, and the broad arrow of the sovereign
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“De gu. à un fer de lance d'arg., posé en bande. C.: un chapeau de tournoi de gu., retr. d'arg., sommé de deux fers de lance d'arg.; ou, le fer de lance, posé en pal.”
Francec. 1663
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Map of France showing where the Sipes arms are recorded
The Sipes arms were recorded in France, c. 1663.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in Bretagne.
More families held coats of arms in Bretagne than anywhere else in France. The land was divided into many small estates rather than a few large ones, so far more households counted as gentry, and each needed a shield of its own to be told apart.
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 France in this period.
Louis XIV of France
Sovereign of the period
Louis XIV of France
1643–1715
Reigning in France when the Sipes arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in France
In France, a coat of arms was a mark of honor that passed down through the male line to all legitimate descendants. Families often used the same shield without changes to show their shared heritage. If a branch wanted to stand out, they could add a small mark to their shield to show their specific place in the family tree.
Granting authority
The Juge d'armes de France acted as the official authority that regulated and verified coats of arms across the country.
How they got arms
Families typically inherited their arms from ancestors, though they could also receive them through royal grants or by proving their noble status.
Where arms were recorded
Coats of arms were officially recorded in the Armorial Général de France, which began its main collection in the year 1696.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of France.
Origin & History of the Sipes Family in France
The history of the Sipes family in France is deeply rooted in the rugged landscape of the Brittany region during the mid-seventeenth century. By 1663, records confirm that members of the family were established within this coastal province, a time when Brittany functioned as a distinct cultural and linguistic stronghold within the French kingdom. Families living in this area during the 1600s often relied on the local maritime economy or small-scale agriculture to sustain themselves. Life in Brittany was shaped by the unique traditions of the Breton people and the influence of the Catholic Church, which kept meticulous parish registers of births, marriages, and deaths. These early Sipes ancestors lived through a period of significant transition as the French monarchy worked to centralize its control over regional territories. The presence of the family in these official records provides a clear link to the social fabric of seventeenth-century France and highlights their role as part of the local community long before the name spread to other parts of the world.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Colours
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“De sa. à une roue de moulin d'or. C.: la roue, sommée d'un panache de plumes de coq de sa.”
GermanySchwäbisch-Hall Wurt, c. 1765
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Map of Germany showing where the Sipes arms are recorded
The Sipes arms were recorded in Schwäbisch-Hall Wurt, c. 1765.
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 Germany in this period.
Francis I, Holy Roman Emperor
Sovereign of the period
Francis I, Holy Roman Emperor
1745–1765
Reigning in France when the Sipes arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in Germany
In the Holy Roman Empire, coats of arms were often granted to individuals by the Emperor or his representatives. These arms were then passed down through the generations to all legitimate descendants of the original holder. Younger branches of a family usually kept the same shield design without needing to change it, as the arms belonged to the entire lineage.
Granting authority
The Holy Roman Emperor held the sole power to grant new coats of arms throughout his vast imperial territories.
How they got arms
Families typically obtained their coats of arms through a formal imperial grant or by proving their noble status to the authorities.
Where arms were recorded
These grants were officially recorded in the Imperial Chancery registers, which began keeping formal records of such honors during the Middle Ages.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Germany.
Origin & History of the Sipes Family in Germany
The family name Sipes is rooted in the historical region of Swabia, where the name appears in records dating back to the mid-eighteenth century. By 1765, members of the family were established in the imperial city of Schwäbisch Hall, a town famous for its long history of salt production and trade. In the German naming tradition, surnames often evolved from specific occupations, nicknames, or geographic locations, and the Sipes name likely emerged as a localized variation of a descriptive term used to identify individuals within the community. During this period, families in the region were deeply connected to the local guild systems and the administrative structures of the Holy Roman Empire. The presence of the family in such a prominent trade center suggests they were part of the hardworking middle class that sustained the local economy through craftsmanship or commerce. These early ancestors lived through a time of significant social change in Germany, eventually setting the stage for the migration patterns that would carry the name across the Atlantic in later generations.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
lionCourage, strength and royalty
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“Parti d'or et de sa.; au lion de l'un en l'autre, tenant une hallebarde d'arg. C.: le lion, iss.”
TyrolTyrol, c. 1772
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Map of Austria showing where the Sipes arms are recorded
The Sipes arms were recorded in Tyrol, c. 1772.
Tyrol was mountain country in western Austria, where the valleys were held by families who had been there a very long time. Old tenure counted for more than money, and old families carried arms.
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.
Region
Tyrol
First recorded
1772
Granting Authority for the Sipes Arms
Imperial and Royal chancery
Sodacan · CC BY-SA 3.0
The body that granted and recorded arms in Austria in this period.
Joseph II, Holy Roman Emperor
Sovereign of the period
Joseph II, Holy Roman Emperor
1765–1790
Reigning in France when the Sipes arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in Austria
Austrian coats of arms were often linked directly to noble titles granted by the Emperor. These symbols belonged to the entire family line rather than just one individual. When a family grew, new branches kept the original design without needing to change it. This system allowed all members of a noble house to share the same identity across many generations.
Granting authority
The Imperial and Royal chancery managed all heraldic matters and controlled the official granting of arms throughout the Austrian lands.
How they got arms
Families typically received their arms through a formal imperial decree that often accompanied the elevation of a person to noble status.
Where arms were recorded
Official records of these grants were kept in the Imperial Register of Nobility which began its formal documentation process in 1453.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Tyrol.
Origin & History of the Sipes Family in Austria
The family name Sipes finds its early roots in the rugged landscape of the Austrian Tyrol. By the year 1772, historical records confirm that members of the family were well-established residents within this mountainous region. During this era, the Tyrol was a central hub for trade and agriculture, placing the Sipes family in a society defined by alpine traditions and local governance. Families in this area often lived in small, tight-knit communities where their surname became linked to the specific valleys or mountain passes they inhabited. As the eighteenth century progressed, the family likely participated in the local customs and economic life of the Habsburg Empire. Their presence in the 1772 records suggests they were part of a stable population that helped shape the cultural identity of the region before many families began to migrate further across Europe and beyond.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Scipio
Latin for staff or walking stick, symbolizing support or authority.
This name
SipesA patronymic surname derived from the personal name Scipio, indicating son of Scipio.
also spelled
Spees
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archives départementales d'Ille-et-Vilaine, Registres paroissiaux et d'état civil
Le Moyne de La Borderie, Arthur, Histoire de Bretagne, 1896
Meyer, Jean, La noblesse bretonne au XVIIIe siècle, 1966
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