I've just found another huge website devoted to the history of Romany people in the UK, I thought you might like to know about it, apologies if you already knew it. This site is the trimmed-down Family History "offshoot" off the original site which also contains history, photos etc etc. I have used the site's own search engine looking for "Tippings, "Ruardean and "Walford" but sadly all without success. However its an impressive site and I'm sure will benefit from further research... Good luck !

http://romanygenes2.webeden.co.uk/#

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UPDATE Jan 2024 - sadly the above website is now in archive mode, so not so easy to use, see
https://web.archive.org/web/20210423045021/http://romanygenes2.webeden.co.uk/

However there are links to other Romany/Gipsy sites here
https://www.ukgdl.org.uk/category/travellers

And last but def not least, I see this FoDFH site now includes a link for "Gypsy" research, see under G here
https://forest-of-dean.net/joomla/index.php/links/24-genealogy-research

(Altho in my defence I always acknowledge such sites where possible)

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UPDATE Jan 2024,
that Tippins etc forum link posted over ten years ago is now broken, this will hopefully work in it's place
https://forum.forest-of-dean.net/index.php?id=657

Google also found this old Rootslink thread which maybe of interest, interestingly wrt the above it discusses Tippins as Romany sweeps in the Forest. It also lists some old census returns of Tippins households in the Ruardean hence Walford areas.
http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php/topic,555069.msg4084411.html

which was lifted from this site !

http://www.forum.forest-of-dean.net/index.php?id=657

My Tippins family lived in and around Walford from the 1600s. An aunt told me that her sister went to visit her cousins and returned saying that she would never go again as "they were black Welsh devils". It seems that they were Welsh speaking but were they Gypsies. Does anyone know if Tippins is a Romany name?

Year: 1810
Month: May
Day: 5
Parents_Surname: TIPPINS
Child_Forenames: Richard
Fathers_Forenames: Richard
Mothers_Forenames: Mary
Mothers_Surname:
Residence: [not stated]
Occupation: [not stated]
Officiating_Minister: [not stated]
Event: Baptism
Memoranda:
Notes:
Register_Reference: AO19/3
Page_Number: 0
Parish_Chapel: Walford

Year: 1832
Month: Aug
Day: 6
Grooms_Surname: TIPPINS
Grooms_Forenames: Richard
Grooms_Age: [not stated]
Groom_Condition: Bachelor
Grooms_Occupation: [not stated]
Grooms_Residence: Walford
Grooms_Fathers_Surname:
Grooms_Fathers_Forenames:
Grooms_Fathers_Occupation:
Brides_Surname: WHITING
Brides_Forenames: Sarah
Brides_Age: [not stated]
Brides_Condition: Spinster
Brides_Occupation: [not stated]
Brides_Residence: Walford
Brides_Fathers_Surname:
Brides_Fathers_Forenames:
Brides_Fathers_Occupation:
Licence_or_Banns: Banns
Date_of_Banns:
Signature_or_Mark: He marks she signs
Witness_1: Mark of Thomas Parsons
Witness_2: Mark of Martha Williams
Other_Witnesses:
Officiating_Minister: T. D. Fosbroke Vicar
Event: Marriage
Memoranda:
Notes: Bride signed Whiteing
Register_Reference: AO19/6
Page_Number: 84
Parish_Chapel: Walford

1841
Richd Tippins abt 1811 Herefordshire, England Walford, Herefordshire
Sarah Tippins abt 1812 Herefordshire, England Walford, Herefordshire
Jane Tippins abt 1833 Herefordshire, England Walford, Herefordshire
William Tippins abt 1838 Herefordshire, England Walford, Herefordshire

1851
Richard Tippins abt 1812 Walford, Herefordshire, England Head Walford, Herefordshire
Sarah Tippins abt 1812 Walford, Herefordshire, England Wife Walford, Herefordshire
William Tippins abt 1839 Walford, Herefordshire, England Son Walford, Herefordshire
Mary Tippins abt 1842 Walford, Herefordshire, England Daughter Walford, Herefordshire
George Tippins abt 1844 Walford, Herefordshire, England Son Walford, Herefordshire
Edwin Tippins abt 1847 Walford, Herefordshire, England Son Walford, Herefordshire
Henry Tippins abt 1850 Walford, Herefordshire, England Son Walford, Herefordshire

Jane 1833 marries a BARTON
son
Name: George William Barton
Date of Registration: Jul-Aug-Sep 1860
Registration district: Cardiff
Inferred County: Glamorgan, Monmouthshire
Volume: 11a
Page: 235

1861
Richard Tippins abt 1810 Walford, Herefordshire, England Head Walford, Herefordshire
Sarah Tippins abt 1811 Walford, Herefordshire, England Wife Walford, Herefordshire
Edwin Tippins abt 1846 Walford, Herefordshire, England Son Walford, Herefordshire
Henry Tippins abt 1849 Walford, Herefordshire, England Son Walford, Herefordshire
George Barton abt 1860 Cardiff Grandson Walford, Herefordshire

1861
Jane Barton abt 1833 ??Eford, Herefordshire, England Servant Whitchurch, Glamorgan

Name: Jane Barton
Name: Samuel Davey
Date of Registration: Oct-Nov-Dec 1864
Registration district: Ross
Inferred County: Herefordshire
Volume Number: 6a
Page Number: 131 / 951 ?

Year: 1864
Month: Nov
Day: 6
Grooms_Surname: DAVEY
Grooms_Forenames: Samuel
Grooms_Age: full age
Groom_Condition: Bachelor
Grooms_Occupation: Furnaceman
Grooms_Residence: Whitchurch near Cardiff
Grooms_Fathers_Surname: Davey
Grooms_Fathers_Forenames: Job
Grooms_Fathers_Occupation: Laborer
Brides_Surname: BARTON
Brides_Forenames: Jane
Brides_Age: full age
Brides_Condition: Widow
Brides_Occupation: [not stated]
Brides_Residence: Walford
Brides_Fathers_Surname: Tippins
Brides_Fathers_Forenames: Richard
Brides_Fathers_Occupation: Laborer
Licence_or_Banns: Banns
Date_of_Banns: [not stated]
Signature_or_Mark: both sign
Witness_1: Mark of Richard Tippins
Witness_2: Mary Lane
Other_Witnesses:
Officiating_Minister: Arthur Stonhouse Vicar
Event: Marriage
Memoranda:
Notes:
Register_Reference: AO19/11
Page_Number: 122
Parish_Chapel: Walford

Year: 1869
Month: Oct
Day: 22
Surname: TIPPINS
Forenames: Richard
Residence: Walford
Age_at_death: 59
Officiating_Minister: Arthur Stonhouse Vicar
Event: Burial
Cause_of_death:
Memoranda:
Notes:
Register_Reference: AO19/11
Page_No: 147
Parish_Chapel: Walford

<><><>

1871 Whitchurch Cardiff
Samuel Davey 35 workier in sheet iron works
Jane Davey 38
John Harry Davey 5
Richard T Davey 2

1881
Samuel Davey abt 1837 Whitchurch, Glamorgan, Wales Head Whitchurch, Glamorgan
Jane Davey abt 1833 Walford, Hereford, England Wife Whitchurch, Glamorgan
Geo.W. Barton abt 1861 Cardiff, Glamorgan, Wales Step Son Whitchurch, Glamorgan
John H. Davey abt 1866 Whitchurch, Glamorgan, Wales Son Whitchurch, Glamorgan
Richard T. Davey abt 1869 Whitchurch, Glamorgan, Wales Son Whitchurch, Glamorgan
Mary J. Davey abt 1872 Whitchurch, Glamorgan, Wales Daughter Whitchurch, Glamorgan

1891
Samuel Davey abt 1836 Whitchurch, Glamorgan, Wales Head St John, Glamorgan
Jane Davey abt 1833 Walford, Herefordshire, England Wife St John, Glamorgan
John Davey abt 1865 Whitchurch, Glamorgan, Wales Son St John, Glamorgan
May Davey abt 1872 Whitchurch, Glamorgan, Wales Daughter St John, Glamorgan
Mary Saunders abt 1820 Cardiff; St John Cousin St John, Glamorgan

1901
Samuel Davey abt 1837 Whitchurch, Glamorgan, Wales Head Roath, Glamorgan
Jane Davey abt 1833 Ross, Herefordshire, England Wife Roath, Glamorgan
Mary Jane Davey abt 1872 Whitchurch, Glamorgan, Wales Daughter Roath, Glamorgan

Name: Jane Davey
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1834
Date of Registration: Jan-Feb-Mar 1908
Age at Death: 74
Registration district: Cardiff
Inferred County: Glamorganshire
Volume: 11a
Page: 257

The reason Google found this site for me was it found this Tippins, the only one on the whole site and in our area, is he any relation/ancestor to you ??

"William Tippins , Bc 1867 Mitchel Dean, Gloucestershire, England Adapted Son Newland, Gloucestershire."

I assume this should maybe read "Adopted Son" ?

Google also found this old Rootslink thread which maybe of interest, interestingly wrt the above it discusses Tippins as Romany sweeps in the Forest. It also lists some old census returns of Tippins households in the Ruardean hence Walford areas.
http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php/topic,555069.msg4084411.html

It opens "i came across an article called 'Gypsies in the Forest of Dean' the lady who wrote it said "A lot of gypsies camped in the Forest especially over the winter. A favourite place was the woods behind Crump Meadow Colliery. My Dad remembers three families, the Tingles, Tippins and Tingles. He knows a good bit of Romany from playing with the children."

That article also mentions a painting by Bernard Ninnes called 'The Severn near Lydney' which was exhibited at the Royal Academy in 1936. It shows some gaily-painted gypsy caravans with the Severn in the background, search the net and you'll find an image. It's likely the location "near Lydney" refers to Viney Hill, which was a popular spot for The King of the Gypsies' Xavier Petulengro who is buried at Viney Hill church, which has apparently always been known as the Gypsies Church. He was a horse trader, violinist, writer, broadcaster and an astrologer. His paternal Grandfather was Jasper Petulengro, immortalised in George Borrows books 'Lavengro' and 'The Romany Rye'. The name Petulengro means Blacksmith.
https://www.sungreen.co.uk/Viney_Hill/Gypsy_King.html
https://www.sungreen.co.uk/Viney_Hill/Gypsy_King.html

Another comment was " Try Tappin(s). I remember somewhere that this is a variation on Tapsell (Gypsy). Given the degree of illiteracy, a small change of accent can sometimes be the key."

Searching this site's PRs for these gives
Year Surname First Name Event Parish/Chapel More detail
1901 TAPSELL Daisy Gertrude Baptism Christchurch More detail
1904 TAPSELL Lilian May Baptism Christchurch More detail
1936 TAPSILL Ada Burial Christchurch More detail
1924 TAPSELL Daisy Gertrude Marriage Christchurch More detail
1939 TAPSELL May Lillian Marriage Christchurch More detail
1797 TAPPIN Robert Baptism Staunton near Newent More detail
1917 TAPPENS Gerard William Baptism Drybrook More detail
1917 TAPPENS Iris Eva Baptism Drybrook More detail

???

In the unlikely event you haven't already searched this forum, this prior thread re Romanies discusses the Ruardean Tippins & will hopefully be of interest. One poster comments "All the Tippins that I could find were born in the Forest but some did move to Wales.... I was sent some info on the Tippins family by some family who emigrated to New Zealand."
https://forum.forest-of-dean.net/index.php?id=19512

I hope at least some of this is of interest.
It all suggests to me that yes Tippins may well be a Romany name.

atb Jeff

However a quick "Google" also gave sites believing it was of Lancashire origin, or Devon, but without giving their reasoning !!??.

My preferred site states
"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....."
The site adds "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)."
So this supports it being a local surname of some importance.

http://www.surnamedb.com/Surname/Tipens

So, no specific mention of Romany origins although maybe it is from "travelling" people if it has French-Germanic origins via Lancs and/or Devon ??

# "interesting" = it seems it's almost anyone's guess !?!?

http://website.lineone.net/~rtfhs/gypsy.html

http://www.forum.forest-of-dean.net/index.php?id=35662

1871 Pillowell
Edward Worgan 35
Elen Lippins 31
Elizabeth Worgan Tepperman 11
Harriett M Worgan Tepperman 9
Henry Worgan Tepperman 6
Julia Worgan Tippen 1