An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Sippe

by Friedrich Kluge

Sippe, f., ‘kin, kindred, family,’ from MidHG. sippe, OHG. sippa, f., ‘consanguinity’; corresponding to the equiv. OSax. sibbea, AS. sibb, Goth. sibja. The pre-historic form sebhyâ indicates a kinship with Sans. sabhâ, ‘tribe, tribal union, kin.’ In OIc. mythology Sif is worshipped as the goddess of the family, and espec. of marriage.