I descend from Philippi (also written as Philippe) from the Moselle area of France. This area went back and from with Germany. Today it is French. (Lorraine vs German Lothrian). Mine are from Montbronn and Soucht in the Moselle area and married into well known glass and crystal making families. I have seen some show up in the BW area of Germany which is adjacent to Eastern France. http://genealogytrails.com/penn/lebanon/Schaefferstown/Luthe... shows a Mary Catherine Phillipi born in 1775. Might be worth checking out.