An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Annotated/Sippe

by Friedrich Kluge

Sippe, feminine, ‘kin, kindred, family,’ from Middle High German sippe, Old High German sippa, feminine, ‘consanguinity’; corresponding to the equivalent Old Saxon sibbea, Anglo-Saxon sibb, Gothic sibja. The pre-historic form sebhyâ indicates a kinship with Sanscrit sabhâ, ‘tribe, tribal union, kin.’ In Old Icelandic mythology Sif is worshipped as the goddess of the family, and especially of marriage.