Surname Ship - Meaning and Origin

Ship: What does the surname Ship mean?

The surname Ship or Shipps is a variant of the surname 'Skipp' which is of English medieval origins. It is considered to be a metonymic or job descriptive term derivating from the Olde English pre-7th Century 'Scip', meaning a Ship. This surname possibly referred to someone who was a ship builder, ship owner, or sailor by profession. It could have also been given to someone who lived in an area close to a shipyard or dock. Over the centuries, surnames have been subject to spelling changes and regional adaptations, leading to the creation of variants such as Ship or Shipps from Skipp. As with many surnames, the exact origin and meaning may differ based on different families and lineages, however, it generally carries a connection to shipping or maritime occupations.

Ship: Where does the name Ship come from?

The last name Ship is most commonly found in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, and France. In the United States, it is most commonly found in the states of Texas, California, New York, and Florida. Specifically, within Texas is has a very high frequency in the Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington metropolitan area, followed by the Houston-Sugar Land-Baytown, San Antonio-New Braunfels, and Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos metropolitan areas.

In the United Kingdom, the majority of the bearers of the Ship last name are found in the London metropolitan area. Within this area, the suburbs with the highest frequencies of Ship are found in the City of Westminster, Kensington and Chelsea, and the City of London.

In Canada, the highest frequency of the Ship last name is in the Greater Toronto Area, with the Mississauga and Brampton suburbs being the highest metropolitan areas for its occurrence. Other Canadian cities with a high frequency of the Ship name are Calgary and Ottawa.

In France, the last name Ship is most commonly found in the northeastern region of Lorraine as well as Paris and its surrounding suburbs.

Overall, the geographic origins of the Ship last name can generally be traced back to northern Europe, particularly the Low Countries and Germany. The surname was likely used among families as an indication of occupation, being that it derives from the verb 'to ship' which pertains to sailing.

Variations of the surname Ship

The surname Ship has several variants in spelling and origin across the world. Some of the more common variations include Shipp, Schipp, Schippe, Schippmann, Schipper, and Schippel. Beyond these variations, there are several other versions derived from the original Germanic "Schipper," which translates to a person who sails or transports goods on a ship or vessel. For instance, Shippee is an alternate spelling of the surname derived from this German word.

In England, Scotland, and Ireland, the surname Ship could have originated from a person who was a sea captain or sailor. The derivation of such a surname could have been from the Old English word "scipmann" or "sceapmann" which means "shipman." Similarly, in Germany, the surname Schipper could have derived from a profession in the priesthood or a landed proprietor. Additionally, this could have been a nickname for a person who was exceptionally active and energetic.

In France, the Ship surname could have originated from the Old French word "chepier," which is a derivative of the Latin word "capitaneus," meaning captain. Variants of the Ship surname could have also originated from the Old French term "schippier," which describes a person who was a driver or overseer of a horse-drawn coach.

In other parts of Europe, the Ship surname could have been derived from words associated with the sea. For example, in Polish, the surname Schipper is derived from the word "skib," which means ship. In Dutch, the Ship surname could have been derived from the word "schipper," which means captain of a boat.

Overall, the surname Ship consists of several variants, spellings, and surnames around the world which each have different origins. Whether it be derived from the sea, land, priesthood, or coach-driving, this surname has several potential origins which makes it diverse and unique.

Famous people with the name Ship

• BenShip: Actor
• PhilipShip: Actor
• DavidShip: Actor
• PattyShip: Actress
• MandyShip: Actress
• AshleyShip: Actress
• EmmaShip: Actress
• MarkShip: Musician
• DavidShip: Musician
• ChrisShip: Musician
• JamesShip: Musician
• RogerShip: Musician
• AnthonyShip: Singer
• BrianShip: Singer
• LeonardShip: Singer
• StephenShip: Singer
• JohnShip: Author
• ThomasShip: Historian
• RobertShip: Political Analyst
• JosephShip: Economist

Other surnames

ShibataShickShicksShielShieldShieldsShiellShielsShiffleShiffletShifflettShiffletteShifletShiflettShifrinShilesShimShimerShimizuShinabargerShindelShindellShindelmanShindlemanShinerShingletonShinrodShiplettShipleyShipman