While there is no evidence of the origin of the Sebrell name, there have been numerous suggestions and some speculation. Until we can establish a definite connection, the origin is admittedly conjecture. Among the suggestions is Sebeville, Manche, France. Another is via a coat of arms for Seabry, and yet another is John de Severly, Provost of Wingham College, Kent, England, 1359-68. Research into each of these, and others, has failed to uncover any hint of a tie or of origin. There may, however, be an exception: Sebeville, France. It is located just west of St. Lo, not far from the French coast that faces the Channel Islands. For it is on the Channel Islands that the second half of our quest bears fruit.
Variations of the present day spelling have been found in records from the Channel Islands of Jersey, Guernsey and Sark. The spelling varies from entry to entry even for what appears to be the same individual. The name appears as Le Sebirel, Le Siberil, Le Sebriel, Sibrel, Sibrell, Siberel and Sebirel. We find in a register Thomas Sebirel took communion in Oct. 1581. We find in land transfer records Thomas Sebirel of St. Peter Port, Channel Islands, bought land about 1600. From LDS files we find Jean Le Siberel is christened 23 Sept. 1632, father listed as Simon Le Sebirel [sic]. From the Huguenot Society of London we find in 1767 and 1769 Edouard Sibrell and Marguerite Sibrell. From the LDS web site one can print out 8 pages of similar information.
While no one on this side of the Atlantic has yet established a clear connection to any of the names found in these records, there can be little doubt as to the potential.
It should be noted that of all the spelling variations found in records of the Channel Islands, the Huguenot Society and various countries of Europe, it appears that the least adulterated form of the name, pre-1700, is Sebirel and, post-1700, Sibrell.
The Early Arrivals
The first record of a Sebrell in the colonies is dated 1637 and names Nicholas Sebrell. His exact year of arrival has not yet been ascertained. He may have arrived indentured several years earlier. The widely held view that he arrived on a ship captained by John Howe may be true, but it has not been established. A second Nicholas arrived sometime before 1780. His name is recorded as Nicholas Sibrell, the same spelling as found in the Huguenot records of the same period. Also before 1780 there arrived a Frederick Sebrell, purported to have been born in Holland. How these three Sebrells tie together, or if they tie together, is not known. Perhaps as more records are made available the ties that bind will appear.
The Religious Question
There can be little doubt that the early Sebrells were Huguenots. The name appears abundantly in the Huguenot records of England and the Channel Islands, and the Channel Islands were predominately Huguenot from the early days of the movement. Although the islands have been a Dependency of the British crown since 1066, the language of custom was French, and records were kept in French well into the 20th century.
Freemasons
Numerous Sebrells were very active in the Masons. Nicholas Henry Sebrell [#95], James Edward [#88], Virginius Clements [#96] and many others were prominent Masons. The most famous was John Ney Sebrell [#130], imperial potentate of the Mystic Shrine of North America during the 1930s
There are two known branches of Sebrells in the United States. Nicholas Sebrell ( --- by 1667) and Frederick Sebrell ( --- to 1811). There is also a Nicholas Sibrel (ca. 1760 - 1825). This Nicholas is thought to be a spelling variation of Sebrell. Within records of this family are the following spellings: Sibrel, Sibbrell, Sibrell, Siberal, Sibberell and Sebrell.
Approximately 90% of Sebrells today trace themselves to Nicholas Sebrell ( --- by 1667). Nicholas married Theodocia ------, who appears in the surviving records as Darcy, Dasey and Daucey, and may be the Dasey Baldock who was a headright in Nicholas' original patent of 150 acres, in 1638, on Mayden Swamp and adjoining the Middle Plantation, Charles River County, Virginia.
Nicholas and Darcy had 2 sons: Nicholas (ca. 1646 - 1693) and Anthony (1651 - 1714).
Nicholas2 married Sarah -------, not proven but thought to be Jenkins. They had 7 children, three dying quite young.
Anthony2 married Martha -------, and they had 6 children all of whom lived to adulthood.
Frederick Sebrell ( --- to 1811) was born, according to descendants, in 1761 in Holland. He married Catherine (Northrup?) who was born in France and died prior to 1836. The date of his arrival in America is undetermined. They had 8 children all of whom lived to adulthood. This family resided in West Virginia, Mason County.
Nicholas Sibrel (ca. 1760 - 1825) was born about 1760, place unknown. He married Catharine -----, and they had 10 children. They lived briefly in Kentucky but had settled in Ross County, Ohio, by September 1799.
There have been numerous reports of Sebrells in Europe, but each time investigation turned up no one. (We are still willing to follow up leads!)
Sebrell Family Geneology
Nicholas Henry Sebrell (1844-1894) in Civil War uniform, ca. 1861; Nicholas served in the Virginia infantry in '61 and then in an artillery unit until the end of the war.