Show ContentsSibbude History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The name Sibbude is derived from the Old English personal names Saebeald or Sigebeald, which meant "victorius" and "brave." Following the invasion of the Normans in 1066, a similar name arrived from Europe. "An ancient baptismal name, in the Domesday [Book] of Northamptonshire a Sibaldus occurs as a tenant in chief. As a surname it is found in Scotland in the 12th century". 1

Early Origins of the Sibbude family

The surname Sibbude was first found in Balgonie, Fife, where they held a family seat from ancient times. One of the earliest on record was Walter filius (son of) Sibaldi, who witnessed several charters in the early 13th century. A David Sibald witnessed two charters by Duncan, Earl of Carrick in around 1250. Some historians suggest that there were Sibbalds settled in Northampton, prior to the Norman invasion, and that they moved from there to Scotland.

Early History of the Sibbude family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Sibbude research. Another 240 words (17 lines of text) covering the years 1286, 1296, 1386, 1390, 1571, 1575, 1581, 1590, 1602, 1634, 1639, 1641, 1650, 1680, 1722, 1796 and 1806 are included under the topic Early Sibbude History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Sibbude Spelling Variations

Until quite recently, the English language has lacked a definite system of spelling rules. Consequently, Anglo-Saxon surnames are characterized by a multitude of spelling variations. Changes in Anglo-Saxon names were influenced by the evolution of the English language, as it incorporated elements of French, Latin, and other languages. Although Medieval scribes and church officials recorded names as they sounded, so it is common to find one person referred to by several different spellings of his surname, even the most literate people varied the spelling of their own names. Variations of the name Sibbude include Sibbald, Sibbold, Sibballs, Sibbell, Sibal, Sibbet and many more.

Early Notables of the Sibbude family

Notable amongst the Clan at this time was Gilbert Sibbet, burgess of Aberdeen from 1575. James Sibbald (1590?-1650?), was a Scottish royalist divine, of an ancient family in the Mearns. William Sibbald (died 1650), was a Scottish Royalist, but may be identical with William Sibbald who entered King's College, Aberdeen, in 1634, and graduated M.A. in 1639. 2 Sir Robert Sibbald (1641-1722), was a Scottish physician and antiquary. He was the fifth child and third son of David Sibbald, third brother of Sir David Sibbald...
Another 82 words (6 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Sibbude Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Sibbude family

Searching for a better life, many English families migrated to British colonies. Unfortunately, the majority of them traveled under extremely harsh conditions: overcrowding on the ships caused the majority of the immigrants to arrive diseased, famished, and destitute from the long journey across the ocean. For those families that arrived safely, modest prosperity was attainable, and many went on to make invaluable contributions to the development of the cultures of the new colonies. Research into the origins of individual families in North America revealed records of the immigration of a number of people bearing the name Sibbude or a variant listed above: Robert Sibballs a bonded passenger, who came to Virginia in 1736; John Sibbell, who came to Boston, Massachusetts in 1768; David Sibbald, who arrived in Jamaica in 1772.



The Sibbude 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: Justitia
Motto Translation: Justice.


  1. Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
  2. Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print


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