Sealey History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The Sealey history begins in Cornwall, a rugged coastal region in southwestern England. Quite distinct from Devon, the adjoining county, Cornwall had its own spoken language until the late 18th century. The Sealey history began here. The manner in which hereditary surnamesarose is interesting. Local surnames were derived from where the original bearer lived, was born, or held land. Unlike most Celtic peoples, who favored patronymic names, the Cornish predominantly used local surnames. The Sealey family originally lived happy person who had good fortune. It is derive from the Old English word saelig, meaning happy and blessed. [1]

Early listings of the name was typically seen a “sely” and “seli” and was referenced at least twice in Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales: 

“For sely is that deth, soth for to seyne, That, ofte y- cleped, com’th and endeth peyne”; and 

“That Nicholas shal shapen hym a wyle This sely, jalous housbonde to bigyle.”

Early Origins of the Sealey family

The surname Sealey was first found in Somerset where the first listings of name were found as a personal name: Sely atte Bergh; Sely Percy; and Sely Scury. All were found in Kirby’s Quest temp. 1 Edward III (during the first year’s reign of King Edward III. [2] The one exception of the aforementioned was William Sely. 

Early feudal rolls provided the king of the time a method of cataloguing holdings for taxation, but today they provide a glimpse into the wide surname spellings in use through the ages. Richard Seli was listed in Lincolnshire c. 1200; Roger le Seli was found in the Pipe Rolls of 1205 in Herefordshire; Roger Cely in Shropshire in 1255; Richard Sely and John Celi in the Subsidy Rolls for Worcestershire in 1275; and Thomas Zely was listed in the Subsidy Rollsfor Worcestershire in 1327. Entries were also found as a woman’s name: Sela was listed in the Assize Rolls for Lincolnshire in 1219; Sely filia Nicholai in the Assize Rols for Worcestershire in 1221; and Sely Percy in the Subsidy Rolls for Somerset in 1327. [3]

The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 has some interesting entries too: William Sely in Oxfordshire; Egidius Sely in Norfolk; and John Sely in Gloucestershire. [4]

Early History of the Sealey family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Sealey research.

Sealey Spelling Variations

Cornish surnames are characterized by a multitude of spelling variations. The frequent changes in surnames are due to the fact that the Old and Middle English languages lacked definite spelling rules. The official court languages, which were Latin and French, were also influential on the spelling of a surname. Since the spelling of surnames was rarely consistent in medieval times, and scribes and church officials recorded names as they sounded rather than adhering to any specific spelling rules, it was common to find the same individual referred to with different spellings of their surname in the ancient chronicles. Moreover, a large number of foreign names were brought into England, which accelerated and accentuated the alterations to the spelling of various surnames. Lastly, spelling variations often resulted from the linguistic differences between the people of Cornwall and the rest of England. The Cornish spoke a unique Brythonic Celtic language which was first recorded in written documents during the 10th century. However, they became increasingly Anglicized, and Cornish became extinct as a spoken language in 1777, although it has been revived by Cornish patriots in the modern era. The name has been spelled Cely, Ceeley, Celey, Ceely, Ceiley, Seely, Seeley and others.

Early Notables of the Sealey family (pre 1700)

Notable amongst the family at this time was Sir Benet Celey of Plymouth; and Robert Seeley, also Seely, Seelye, or Ciely, (1602-1668) born in Bluntisham-cum-Earith, Huntingdonshire, he was an early Puritan settler who sailed with John Winthrop to the Massachusetts Bay Colony in 1630 helping establish Watertown, Wethersfield, and New Haven.

Sealey Ranking

In the United States, the name Sealey is the 8,696^th most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. [5]

 Sealey migration to the United States +

In the immigration and passenger lists were a number of people bearing the name Sealey 

Sealey Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

• Alberta Sealey, aged 24, who landed in America from London, England, in 1912
• Arthur Sealey, aged 37, who immigrated to America from Redditch, England, in 1913
• Charlotte Sealey, aged 22, who landed in America, in 1913
• David Sealey, aged 2, who immigrated to the United States, in 1916
• Agnes P. Sealey, aged 51, who immigrated to the United States from London, England, in 1917

 Sealey migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were: 

Sealey Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century

• Mr. Joseph Sealey U.E. who settled in Eastern District [Augusta], Ontario c. 1784 he served in the Loyal Rangers, one child [6]
• Mr. Justus Sealey U.E., (Seeley) who settled in Elizabeth Town [Elizabethtown], Leeds County, Ontario c. 1784, then resettled in Seeley’s Bay, Ontario he served in the Royal Regiment of New York, married twice having 4 children, he died in 1829 [6]
• Mr. Justus Sealey U.E., (Seeley) who settled in Elizabeth Town [Elizabethtown], Leeds County, Ontario c. 1784 he was a Drummer for the Loyal Rangers, married to Sarah Stewart having 2 children, cousin to Justus Sealey, he died in 1813 [6]

 Sealey migration to Australia+

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

Sealey Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

• Mr. William Sealey, (b. 1830), aged 23, Cornish shoemaker departing from Plymouth on 17th September 1852 aboard the ship “Time and Truth” arriving in Geelong, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia on 5th January 1853 [7]
• Mrs. Mary Jane Sealey, (b. 1830), aged 23, Cornish settler departing from Plymouth on 17th September 1852 aboard the ship “Time and Truth” arriving in Geelong, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia on 5th January 1853 [7]
• Miss Priscilla Sealey, (b. 1809), aged 44, Cornish domestic servant departing from Plymouth on 17th September 1852 aboard the ship “Time and Truth” arriving in Geelong, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia on 5th January 1853 [7]
• Miss Mary Ann Sealey, (b. 1833), aged 20, Cornish domestic servant departing from Plymouth on 17th September 1852 aboard the ship “Time and Truth” arriving in Geelong, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia on 5th January 1853 [7]
• Miss Priscilla Sealey, (b. 1835), aged 18, Cornish domestic servant departing from Plymouth on 17th September 1852 aboard the ship “Time and Truth” arriving in Geelong, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia on 5th January 1853 [7]

Contemporary Notables of the name Sealey (post 1700) +

• Harry H. Sealey, American fighter pilot and flying ace in the U.S. Army Air Forces, during World War II, credited with 5 aerial victories
• John Sealey (b. 1945), English professional footballer
• Raphael Sealey, English classical scholar and ancient historian
• Leslie Jesse “Les” Sealey (1957-2001), English footballer
• Alan William Sealey (1942-1996), English footballer
• William Oscar Sealey (1859-1940), Canadian farmer, lumber merchant and politician in Ontario
• Marger Cecilia “MG” Sealey, Venezuela singer songwriter, and actress
• Anton D. Justin Sealey II (b. 1991), Bahamian footballer

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