Show ContentsSealy History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Early Origins of the Sealy family

The surname Sealy was first found in Cork (Irish: Corcaigh) the ancient Kingdom of Deis Muin (Desmond), located on the southwest coast of Ireland in the province of Munster, where they held a family seat as an offshoot of the Cahills, being directly descended from Tomhas na Sealbuide, or Thomas of the Seals. Irish history was greatly influenced by the Norman invasion of 1172, and thereafter, the surnames of Irish Gaelic clanns and septs and many of the Norman families became almost indistinguishable. This family name was found later in Clare where the name assumed Shalloo and represented the first recorded reference to the name.

Early History of the Sealy family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Sealy research. Another 73 words (5 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Sealy History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Sealy Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Shally, Shalvey, Shalloo, Shealy, Shallow, O'Shallow, O'Shally, Shelley, O'Shelley, O'Shalvey and many more.

Early Notables of the Sealy family

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

Sealy Ranking

In the United States, the name Sealy is the 6,518th most popular surname with an estimated 4,974 people with that name. 1


United States Sealy migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Sealy Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Hannah Sealy, who settled in America in 1733
  • Charles Sealy, who arrived in Maryland in 1775
Sealy Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Edward Sealy, who settled in Baltimore in 1830
  • Ann Sealy, who settled in Boston in 1849
  • D. Sealy, who arrived in San Francisco in 1852

Canada Sealy migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Sealy Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century
  • Benjamin Sealy, who settled in Nova Scotia in 1762
  • Mr. Juston Sealy U.E. who settled in Carleton [Saint John City], New Brunswick c. 1784 2

Australia Sealy migration to Australia +

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

Sealy Settlers in Australia in the 18th Century
Sealy Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

New Zealand Sealy 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:

Sealy Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • William Sealy, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Cashmere" in 1854 5
  • Maude Sealy, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Cashmere" in 1854 5
  • Alfred Sealy, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Cashmere" in 1854 5

West Indies Sealy migration to West Indies +

The British first settled the British West Indies around 1604. They made many attempts but failed in some to establish settlements on the Islands including Saint Lucia and Grenada. By 1627 they had managed to establish settlements on St. Kitts (St. Christopher) and Barbados, but by 1641 the Spanish had moved in and destroyed some of these including those at Providence Island. The British continued to expand the settlements including setting the First Federation in the British West Indies by 1674; some of the islands include Barbados, Bermuda, Cayman Island, Turks and Caicos, Jamaica and Belize then known as British Honduras. By the 1960's many of the islands became independent after the West Indies Federation which existed from 1958 to 1962 failed due to internal political conflicts. After this a number of Eastern Caribbean islands formed a free association. 6
Sealy Settlers in West Indies in the 17th Century
  • Frances Sealy, who settled in Jamaica in 1685

Contemporary Notables of the name Sealy (post 1700) +

  • Malik Sealy (1970-2000), American professional NBA basketball player
  • James "Jim" Sealy (1876-1949), Irish rugby union player who won nine caps for Ireland
  • Irwin Allan Sealy (b. 1951), Indian writer who was shortlisted for the 1998 Booker prize
  • Glenroy Ricardo Sealy (b. 1940), Barbadian-born Canadian cricketer
  • Anthony John "Tony" Sealy (b. 1959), English former football forward, current manager at Hong Kong FC
  • Scott Ryan Sealy (b. 1981), Trinidadian footballer
  • John Sealy Townsend (1868-1957), Irish physicist
  • John Sealy Livermore (b. 1918), American geologist


  1. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  2. Rubincam, Milton. The Old United Empire Loyalists List. Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc, 1976. (Originally published as; United Empire Loyalists. The Centennial of the Settlement of Upper Canada. Rose Publishing Company, 1885.) ISBN 0-8063-0331-X
  3. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 29th September 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/barwell
  4. State Library of Queensland. (Retrieved 2016, October 27) Asia 1 voyage to Van Diemen's Land, Australia in 1823 with 151 passengers. Retrieved from http://www.convictrecords.com.au/ships/asia/1823
  5. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 5th November 2010). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
  6. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_West_Indies


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