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Sibley History Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables Ranking

United States Canada Australia New Zealand

Contemporary Notables Historic Events Related Stories Suggested Reading Citations

Sibley History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

Early Origins of the Sibley family

The surname Sibley was first found in Suffolk where they held a family seat. The name is said to have been derived from the ancient Sibbelee, a woman's Christian name, and has been traced through Sibilla, Sybbly, and finally Sibley. Sibilla was the name of a Greek princess who uttered the ancient oracles, and is represented on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel. The present Christian name Sybil is also from the same source. In 1273, Geoffrey Sibilie held lands in Suffolk. William, Duke of Normany's son married a Sibylla.

Early History of the Sibley family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Sibley research. Another 63 words (4 lines of text) covering the year 1604 is included under the topic Early Sibley History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Sibley Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Sibley, Siblee, Sibbills, Sibleigh, Siblie, Sibly, Sibbly, Sible, Sibely, Sibili, Sebley, Sibble, Sibbles, Sybly and many more.

Early Notables of the Sibley family

More information is included under the topic Early Sibley Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Sibley Ranking

In the United States, the name Sibley is the 3,413^rd most popular surname with an estimated 9,948 people with that name. 1

Sibley migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Sibley Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

John Sibley who was recorded as having arrived in Virginia in 1623
John Sibley, who arrived in Massachusetts in 1630 2

Sibley Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Hans Sibley, aged 30, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1748 2
Richard Sibley, who arrived in America in 1765 2

Sibley Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Roelof Sibley, aged 4, who landed in New York, NY in 1847 2
J Sibley, aged 7, who landed in New York, NY in 1847 2
Figby Sibley, aged 10, who landed in New York, NY in 1847 2
H Sibley, aged 43, who arrived in New York, NY in 1847 2
Roelof Sibley, who arrived in New York, NY in 1847
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Sibley Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

Ada Gertrude Sibley, aged 24, who immigrated to the United States from North Allerton, in 1906
Albert Sibley, aged 24, who landed in America from Devonport, England, in 1906
Alice Sibley, aged 20, who immigrated to the United States from Brighnel, England, in 1908
Alfred Sibley, aged 25, who landed in America from Middlesboro, England, in 1910
Albert Sibley, aged 30, who immigrated to America from Southampton, in 1923

Sibley migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Sibley Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century

Henry Sibley, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1749
Henry Sibley, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1750
David and Henry Sibley, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1750
Ann Sibley, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1750
Corns Sibley, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1750
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Sibley Settlers in Canada in the 20th Century

Arthur Sibley, aged 39, who settled in Carsland Alta, Canada, in 1924

Sibley migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Sibley Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Mr. John Sibley, (b. 1821), aged 23, English convict who was convicted in Taunton, Somerset, England for 15 years for stealing, transported aboard the "Equestrian" on 25th January 1844, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Island) 3
Jane Sibley, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Harpley" in 1848 4
Thomas Sibley, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Harpley" in 1848 4
Louise Sibley, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Harpley" in 1848 4
William Sibley, English Convict from Hertfordshire, who was transported aboard the "Aboukir" on December 24, 1851, settling in Van Diemen's Land, Australia 5
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Sibley migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Sibley Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Joseph Sibley, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Telegraph" in 1863
Elizabeth Sibley, aged 17, a servant, who arrived in Lyttelton, New Zealand aboard the ship "Siberia" in 1870
Miss Elizabeth Sibley, (b. 1852), aged 17, English geenral servant, from Middlesex travelling from London aboard the ship "Siberia" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 21st February 1870 6

Contemporary Notables of the name Sibley (post 1700) +

Solomon Sibley (1769-1846), American politician, Delegate to Congress and Supreme Court Justice for Michigan Territory
Marilyn McAdams Sibley (1921-2006), American historian, president of the Texas State Historical Association (1981 to 1982)
Hiram Sibley (1807-1888), American entrepreneur who founded Sibley College of Mechanical Engineering and Mechanic Arts, Ithaca, New York
Henry Hopkins Sibley (1816-1886), Confederate brigadier general
Henry Hastings Sibley (1811-1891), first Governor of Minnesota (1858 to 1860)
David McAdams Sibley Sr. (b. 1948), Texas politician and lobbyist
David Allen Sibley (b. 1962), American ornithologist, author and illustrator of The Sibley Guide to Birds
Charles Sibley (1917-1998), American ornithologist and molecular biologist
Celestine Sibley (1914-1999), American writer
Alexander Hamilton Sibley (1817-1878), American-born, Canadian businessman, president of the Silver Islet Mining Company which operated the first silver mine in Ontario
... (Another 41 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Historic Events for the Sibley family +

HMS Royal Oak

Cyril Sibley (d. 1939), British Stoker 1st Class with the Royal Navy aboard the HMS Royal Oak (1939) when she was torpedoed by U-47 and sunk; he died in the sinking 7
Arthur Sibley (1920-1939), British Stoker 2nd Class with the Royal Navy aboard the HMS Royal Oak (1939) when she was torpedoed by U-47 and sunk; he died in the sinking 7

USS Arizona

Mr. Delmar Dale Sibley, American Seaman First Class from New York, USA working aboard the ship "USS Arizona" when she sunk during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on 7th December 1941, he died in the sinking 8

Citations +

"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 4th May 2022). https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/equestrian
State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) The HARPLEY 1848 - PASSENGER LIST. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1848HarpleyPassengerList.htm
State Library of Queensland. (Retrieved 2014, November 18) Aboukir voyage to Van Diemen's Land and Norfolk Island. [These convicts appear to have all landed in Van Diemen's Land], Australia in 1851 with 280 passengers. Retrieved from http://www.convictrecords.com.au/ships/aboukir/1851
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 26th March 2019). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
Ships hit by U-boats crew list HMS Royal Oak (08) - (Retrieved 2018 February, 9th) - retrieved from https://uboat.net/allies/merchants/crews/ship68.html
Pearl Harbour: USS Arizona Casualties List Pearl Harbour December 7, 1941. (Retrieved 2018, July 31st). Retrieved from http://pearl-harbor.com/arizona/casualtylist.html