A female name. (French Cécile, German Cäcilie); Latin Caecilia, f. of Caecilius (See Cecil). St Cecilia, martyred c. 177, was a Roman and presumably belonged to this family. She is mentioned in the Canon of Mass and was later regarded as the patroness of music, and her name became a favourite one in the Western Church. It was introduced into England at the Norman Conquest (the Conqueror had a d. of the name, Abbess of Caen), and soon became a favourite. The usual English form of the name was Cicely or Sisley. Lyford 1655 gives Sisley as an equivalent of Cicely. It was also sometimes abbreviated to Cecil (e.g. Cecil Matthews who 1709 m. the 1st Lord Talbot, and whose name has continued in use amongst her descendants). Celia is also sometimes an abbreviation of Cecilia, and Sela, Sely occur in 1221. The Latin Cecilia was adopted in the late 18th C, probably in part on account of Mme D'Arblay’s novel of that name (1782). Sis, Ciss were the diminutives of the name in the days of its general popularity (cf. Corbet’s ‘When Tom came home from labour, or Cis to milking rose’). See also Sheila.

Cecilia Curia Regis Rolls 1197-1219, Hundred Rolls 1273, Feudal Aids 1428. Cecille Hundred Rolls 1273. Cecelya Feudal Aids 1303. Cecillia Feudal Aids 1346. Cecilie English Register of Godstow Nunnery, c. 1450 (E.E.T.S. 129-30) 1450. Cycalye, Cycly, Sycily Yorks Rec 1604. Siscella 1656.