NameCensus.

UK surname

Sibley

A habitational surname derived from any of the various places named Sibley in England, likely meaning "Sibba's clearing."

In the 1881 census there were 2,406 people recorded with the Sibley surname, ranking it #1,850 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 3,468, ranked #1,957, down from #1,850 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Hillingdon (Hillingdon), Ickenham, Cowley, London parishes and St Pancras. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Thurrock, West Dorset and South Somerset.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Sibley is 3,830 in 1998. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 44.1%.

1881 census count

2,406

Ranked #1,850

Modern count

3,468

2016, ranked #1,957

Peak year

1998

3,830 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Sibley had 2,406 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #1,850 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 3,468 in 2016, ranked #1,957.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 3,617 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Sibley surname distribution map

The map shows where the Sibley surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.

Distribution map

Sibley surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Sibley over time

The table below tracks recorded surname counts and rank from the 19th-century census years through the modern adult-register period.

Year Period Count Rank
1851 historical 1,501 #1,914
1861 historical 1,358 #2,112
1881 historical 2,406 #1,850
1891 historical 2,511 #1,887
1901 historical 3,157 #1,775
1911 historical 3,617 #1,444
1997 modern 3,741 #1,734
1998 modern 3,830 #1,765
1999 modern 3,822 #1,775
2000 modern 3,751 #1,793
2001 modern 3,685 #1,791
2002 modern 3,744 #1,811
2003 modern 3,651 #1,816
2004 modern 3,655 #1,813
2005 modern 3,588 #1,819
2006 modern 3,568 #1,830
2007 modern 3,579 #1,841
2008 modern 3,573 #1,855
2009 modern 3,654 #1,861
2010 modern 3,669 #1,900
2011 modern 3,629 #1,893
2012 modern 3,532 #1,905
2013 modern 3,576 #1,912
2014 modern 3,576 #1,931
2015 modern 3,527 #1,935
2016 modern 3,468 #1,957

Geography

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Where Sibleys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Hillingdon (Hillingdon), Ickenham, Cowley, London parishes, St Pancras and Husborne Crawley. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Thurrock, West Dorset, South Somerset and Hillingdon. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Some modern areas include a three-digit suffix, such as Leeds 110. The suffix is a small-area code, so it stays in the table while the prose uses the plain place name.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 Hillingdon (Hillingdon), Ickenham, Cowley Middlesex (Exclusive Of London Districts)
2 London parishes London 1
3 London parishes London 3
4 St Pancras London (North Districts)
5 Husborne Crawley Bedfordshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Thurrock 018 Thurrock
2 West Dorset 003 West Dorset
3 South Somerset 019 South Somerset
4 Hillingdon 003 Hillingdon
5 Hillingdon 022 Hillingdon

Forenames

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First names often paired with Sibley

These lists show first names that appear often with the Sibley surname in historical and recent records.

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Sibley

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Sibley, this points to the kinds of places where the surname is most concentrated today.

These neighbourhood labels describe areas, not individual people. They are useful because surnames often cluster through family history, migration, housing patterns and local work. A surname can be strongest in one type of neighbourhood even when people with that name live across the country.

The UK classification gives the national picture. The London classification is more specific to the capital, where housing, age profile, tenure and population mix can look quite different from the rest of the UK.

UK neighbourhood type

UK Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities

Group

Ageing Communities

Nationally, the Sibley surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ageing Communities, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Sibley household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many residents are of normal retirement age or above and live in communal establishments, and there are few dependent children. The dominant property type is a mix of retirement flats and detached houses. Those in work are likely to be employed in managerial and professional occupations, and many residents are educated to degree level. Levels of owner occupation are high, but the private rental sector is also present. Rural locations predominate.

Wider pattern

Pervasive throughout the UK, members of this Supergroup typically own (or are buying) their detached, semi-detached or terraced homes. They are also typically educated to A Level/Highers or degree level and work in skilled or professional occupations. Typically born in the UK, some families have children, although the median adult age is above 45 and some property has become under-occupied after children have left home. This Supergroup is pervasive not only in suburban locations, but also in neighbourhoods at or beyond the edge of cities that adjoin rural parts of the country.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs

Within London, Sibley is most associated with areas classed as Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Mainly concentrated in suburban areas, these terraced and semi-detached developments are less overcrowded than the Supergroup average, and resident households are more likely to own two or more cars. There are fewer residents aged 25-44, and a larger share of residents employed in administrative and secretarial occupations. Residents are more likely to have been born in the UK, less likely to have been born in the EU or Africa, and much less likely to self-identify as Bangladeshi.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Sibley is most concentrated in decile 5 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname near the middle of the scale.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

5
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Sibley falls in decile 7 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

7
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Sibley is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 30-40 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

6
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

This describes the area pattern most associated with Sibley, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Sibley

The surname Sibley is of English origin and dates back to the 12th century. It is a locational name derived from the Old English words "sib" meaning "kinsman" and "leah" meaning "meadow" or "clearing". The name likely refers to a meadow or clearing where kinsmen or relatives lived.

One of the earliest recorded references to the name Sibley can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Sibelai". This entry suggests that the name was already in use during the Norman Conquest of England in the 11th century.

The name Sibley is also closely associated with the village of Sibley in Leicestershire, England. This village was originally called "Sibbesleye" in the 13th century, further reinforcing the connection between the surname and the Old English words it is derived from.

One notable bearer of the Sibley surname was Samuel Sibley (1805-1873), an American industrialist and founder of the Sibley Manufacturing Company, which produced textile machinery in Massachusetts. Another prominent figure was John Langdon Sibley (1804-1885), an American librarian and historian who served as the librarian of Harvard College.

In the literary world, Celestine Sibley (1914-1999) was an American writer and journalist best known for her columns in the Atlanta Constitution newspaper. Her memoir, "Mothers and Daughters", published in 1976, received critical acclaim.

Ralph Henry Barbour Sibley (1898-1975) was a British diplomat and author who served as the British Ambassador to Japan from 1952 to 1957. He also wrote several books about his experiences in Japan.

Hiram Sibley (1807-1888) was an American businessman and philanthropist who co-founded the Western Union Telegraph Company. He played a crucial role in the development of the telegraph industry in the United States.

These are just a few examples of notable individuals throughout history who have borne the surname Sibley, which has its roots in the meadows and clearings of medieval England.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Sibley families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Sibley surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.

Top counties

Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Middlesex leads with 586 Sibleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.49x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 586 2.49x
Essex 236 5.08x
Hampshire 215 4.46x
Somerset 215 5.68x
Surrey 187 1.63x
Hertfordshire 160 9.87x
Bedfordshire 104 8.54x
Dorset 97 6.28x
Northamptonshire 81 3.66x
Kent 65 0.81x
Warwickshire 56 0.94x
Devon 46 0.94x
Yorkshire 42 0.18x
Huntingdonshire 38 8.13x
Nottinghamshire 31 0.98x
Sussex 28 0.71x
Worcestershire 25 0.81x
Gloucestershire 24 0.52x
Berkshire 20 1.13x
Lincolnshire 19 0.51x
Cornwall 18 0.68x
Lancashire 18 0.06x
Buckinghamshire 13 0.91x
Suffolk 13 0.45x
Derbyshire 12 0.33x
Leicestershire 10 0.38x
Norfolk 8 0.22x
Staffordshire 6 0.08x
Wiltshire 6 0.29x
Cheshire 5 0.10x
Glamorgan 5 0.12x
Royal Navy 5 1.78x
Channel Islands 4 0.57x
Shropshire 4 0.20x
Cambridgeshire 3 0.20x
Cumberland 2 0.10x
Durham 2 0.03x
Herefordshire 1 0.10x
Northumberland 1 0.03x
Renfrewshire 1 0.05x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Islington London in Middlesex leads with 83 Sibleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.64x.

Place Total Index
Islington London 83 3.64x
St Pancras London 53 2.80x
Hillingdon 52 69.32x
Stisted 47 783.33x
Southampton St Mary 46 15.17x
Camberwell 41 2.73x
Husborne Crawley 40 1036.27x
Misterton 39 726.26x
Portsea 36 3.81x
St Marylebone London 36 2.87x
West Ham 36 3.51x
Hendon 32 37.80x
Luton 28 13.28x
Battersea 24 2.77x
Harpenden 24 97.05x
Newington 24 2.76x
Westminster St John 24 8.38x
Crewkerne 23 57.19x
Ilminster 23 86.92x
Ilchester 22 400.00x
Yelling 22 849.42x
Tottenham 21 5.60x
Hackney London 20 1.52x
Northampton St Giles 20 23.72x
Peterborough 20 12.48x
Putney 20 18.65x
Wheathampstead 20 106.72x
Ashington 19 4042.55x
Boldre 19 109.95x
Teddington London 19 35.64x
Barking 18 13.25x
Chelsea London 18 2.54x
Shoreditch London 18 1.76x
Birmingham 17 0.86x
Lambeth 17 0.83x
Dudley 16 4.28x
Hemel Hempstead 16 21.90x
St George Hanover 16 5.21x
Willesden 16 7.21x
Erith 15 18.97x
Kimpton 15 197.37x
St Neots 15 59.08x
Stoke Damerel 15 4.38x
Tarrant Rushton 15 1094.89x
Watford 15 11.93x
Bethnal Green London 14 1.37x
Northchurch 14 80.83x
Aston 13 0.80x
Chard 13 28.33x
Greenwich 13 3.47x
Nottingham St Mary 13 1.58x
Sturminster Marshall 13 201.55x
Croydon 12 1.89x
Grately 12 582.52x
Great Wakering 12 115.61x
Northampton St Sepulchre 12 10.66x
Ryde 12 11.58x
Acton 11 7.98x
Brighton 11 1.37x
Grays Thurrock 11 25.48x
Martock 11 44.68x
Maulden 11 104.17x
Milford 11 78.07x
St Clement Danes 11 28.88x
Yeovil 11 14.29x
Bermondsey 10 1.43x
Bodmin 10 22.69x
Clewer 10 13.82x
Feering 10 163.40x
Hove 10 5.75x
Lopen 10 350.88x
Pattiswick 10 364.96x
Westminster St 10 11.53x
Westminster St James 10 4.13x
Deeping St Nicholas 9 81.67x
Eling 9 18.42x
Fulham London 9 2.64x
Paddington London 9 1.04x
Rivenhall 9 161.87x
South Ockendon 9 93.56x

Top female names

These are the female first names most often recorded with the Sibley surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
Mary 124
Elizabeth 86
Sarah 78
Emma 45
Ann 42
Alice 41
Ellen 36
Emily 36
Jane 36
Annie 33
Eliza 32
Charlotte 27
Hannah 25
Edith 20
Fanny 20
Caroline 18
Martha 18
Susan 17
Ada 15
Catherine 15
Louisa 15
Lucy 15
Florence 14
Amelia 13
Harriet 12
Harriett 12
Maria 12
Agnes 11
Rose 11
Minnie 10
Bessie 9
Anne 8
Clara 8
Kate 8
Lydia 8
Sophia 8
Amy 7
Frances 7
Isabella 7
Jessie 7
Margaret 7
Matilda 7
Susannah 7
Adeline 5
Beatrice 5
Elizth. 5
Helen 5
Julia 5
Selina 5
Grace 4

Top male names

These are the male first names most often recorded with the Sibley surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
William 148
George 122
John 105
Charles 87
Thomas 63
Henry 61
James 60
Alfred 38
Joseph 38
Frederick 33
Samuel 31
Edward 29
Arthur 24
Robert 23
Harry 22
Walter 22
Albert 21
Richard 15
Frank 13
Ernest 10
Fred 10
Herbert 9
Wm. 9
Daniel 8
David 8
Eli 7
Edwin 6
Fredk. 6
Thos. 6
Mark 5
Chas. 4
Geo. 4
Jesse 4
Benjamin 3
Harold 3
Moses 3
Norman 3
Tom 3
Alexander 2
Alf. 2
Charlie 2
Ephraim 2
Francis 2
J.W. 2
Jno. 2
Lewis 2
Ralph 2
Reginald 2
Sidney 2
Sydney 2

FAQ

Sibley surname: questions and answers

How common was the Sibley surname in 1881?

In 1881, 2,406 people were recorded with the Sibley surname. That placed it at #1,850 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Sibley surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 3,468 in 2016. That gives Sibley a modern rank of #1,957.

What does the Sibley surname mean?

A habitational surname derived from any of the various places named Sibley in England, likely meaning "Sibba's clearing."

What does the Sibley map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Sibley bearers relative to the surrounding population.

What records is this surname page based on?

The historical counts come from census surname records. The modern counts and neighbourhood summaries come from later surname distribution records. Counts are recorded bearers in those records, not a live estimate of everyone with the name today.