Show ContentsSibbethrop History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Sibbethrop is an ancient Norman name that arrived in England after the Norman Conquest of 1066. The Sibbethrop family lived in Nottinghamshire. Further research showed the name was derived from the Old Norse words sib, meaning victory, and thorp, meaning outlying farm or hamlet. 1

Early Origins of the Sibbethrop family

The surname Sibbethrop was first found in Nottinghamshire at Sibthorpe, a parish in the union of Bingham. "In the reign of Edward II., Thomas de Sibthorpe founded a chantry in the church, and subsequently erected it into a college for a warden, nine chaplains, three clerks, and four choristers; he also added four chapels, in honour of St. Anne, St. Katharine, St. Margaret, and St. Mary." 2

The family is conjecturally descended from a Norman noble, Fredegis, who held the lands of Sibetorp (Sibthorpe) from Count Alan. At the time of the taking of the Domesday Survey in 1086 Sibetorp consisted of a church and one and a quarter mills. In the graveyard of the church there were twenty Irish yew trees, which have gained fame throughout the years. "A Robert and William de Sibetorp occur in the Domesday [Book] of that county, and the name is found in connection with Sibthorpe down to the 14th century. " 3

The family quickly spread throughout ancient Britain as seen by Robert de Sibthorpe, who was rector of the church of St. Elphin, Warrington, Lancashire in 1374. 4

Early History of the Sibbethrop family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Sibbethrop research. Another 116 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1086, 1395, 1607, 1618, 1631, 1632, 1662, 1669, 1713, 1715, 1718, 1747, 1758, 1784, 1796, 1797 and 1896 are included under the topic Early Sibbethrop History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Sibbethrop Spelling Variations

Endless spelling variations are a prevailing characteristic of Norman surnames. Old and Middle English lacked any definite spelling rules, and the introduction of Norman French added an unfamiliar ingredient to the English linguistic stew. French and Latin, the languages of the court, also influenced spellings. Finally, Medieval scribes generally spelled words according to how they sounded, so one person was often referred to by different spellings in different documents. The name has been spelled Sibetorp, Sibthorp, Sibthorpe, Sibethorp and many more.

Early Notables of the Sibbethrop family

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was Sir Christopher Sibthorp (d. 1632), English pamphleteer who made third justice of the King's bench in Ireland on 11 May 1607, and was knighted on 3 May 1618; Robert Sibthorpe or Sibthorp (died 1662), an English clergyman, known for his outspoken defense of the divine right of kings during the reign of...
Another 59 words (4 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Sibbethrop Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Ireland Migration of the Sibbethrop family to Ireland

Some of the Sibbethrop family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 31 words (2 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Sibbethrop family

To escape the political and religious persecution within England at the time, many English families left for the various British colonies abroad. The voyage was extremely difficult, though, and the cramped, dank ships caused many to arrive in the New World diseased and starving. But for those who made it, the trip was most often worth it. Many of the families who arrived went on to make valuable contributions to the emerging nations of Canada and the United States. An inquiry into the early roots of North American families reveals a number of immigrants bearing the name Sibbethrop or a variant listed above: Christopher Sibthorpe and his wife Barbara, who settled in Pennsylvania in 1686; Ann Sibthorpe, who landed in America in 1771; and William Sibthorpe, who landed in America in 1756..



The Sibbethrop Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: Nil conscire sibi
Motto Translation: To have a conscience free from guilt.


  1. Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)
  2. Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
  3. Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
  4. 'Townships: Scarisbrick', in A History of the County of Lancaster: Volume 3, ed. William Farrer and J Brownbill (London, 1907), pp. 265-276. British History Online http://www.british-history.ac.uk/vch/lancs/vol3/pp265-276 [accessed 21 January 2017].


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