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The Vybíral Surname
Tracing the origins of this Czech surname from the farmlands of Moravia to the plains of Nebraska
Name Origin
The surname Vybíral is of Czech origin, derived from the verb "vybírat" meaning "to select" or "to choose." The name effectively means "One who took out/selected."
Many Vybíral documents, including their record on the ship's passenger list, spell the last name Wybíral. This is because the Czechs pronounce a V like a W. So the person hearing it often wrote what they heard with heavy accents.
Spellings & Pronunciations
- Czech
- Vybíral, Vybyral, Vybiral
- Americanized
- Wybíral, Wybyral, Wibiral
- Pronunciation
- The Czech name Vybíral is pronounced as follows:
The 'Vy' sounds like 'i' in "bit,"
The 'bí' sounds like 'bee,'
The 'ral' sounds like "rahl" (with a crisp 'r' sound and a full 'ah' sound, not "rull") - WY-beer-ahl (Americanized)
Our grandparents and mother pronounced the 'Vy' as a long 'ee' sound as in "see" and the 'bí' as a short 'i' sound as in "bit."
František and Františka Vybíral (JÍROVSKÝ) —The Journey to America
The Vybíral family came from Petrovice, Moravia—located at the Southern end of that 50-square-mile rectangle our Czech ancestors lived in. Like all of our ancestors, they were farmers. František Vybíral and his wife Františka Jírovský, our 2nd-great-grandparents, immigrated to the United States on May 16, 1882.
They arrived at Castle Garden, NY—pre-Ellis Island immigration entry point—on the British Sailing Ship, the 'SS Vandalia,' with five children: Kateřina, Josef, Jan, František and Marie. Marie was only three years old. Kateřina was the oldest at 19.
Our 2nd-great-grandparents —From Petrovice, Moravia
Our Ancestors
Our Vybíral ancestors came from Moravia and settled in Nebraska in 1882.
Moravia - Třebíč
- Petrovice
- Pribyslavice
Nebraska
- Colon
- Wahoo
The Voyage on the SS Vandalia
A British sailing ship that carried our ancestors across the Atlantic
British Sailing Ship SS Vandalia
The ship was part steamship and part sailing ship. She often depended on the wind for more speed. There was accommodation for 150-1st, 70-2nd and 150-3rd class passengers.
The "Vandalia" was built in 1871 by Caird & Co, Greenock for the Hamburg America Line. She was a 2,810 gross ton ship, length 330ft × beam 39ft, one funnel, two masts (rigged for sail), iron construction, single screw, and a speed of 11 knots.
Launched on April 22, 1871 and meant for the New Orleans service, she started her maiden voyage on June 28, 1871 when she left Hamburg for New York. She made 27 North Atlantic crossings, starting the last on February 12, 1883.
In 1884, she was purchased by the Hamburg Hansa Line, renamed "Kehrwieder," and commenced Hamburg–Montreal sailings. In 1895, she was renamed "Polonia," and in 1897, she was sold and scrapped at Spezia.
Steamship SS Vandalia InfoPassenger List
I didn't find these when I first searched because they were indexed with the last name "Wybyral." Looking at the text above, you can see why. My assumption is with a thick Czech accent, the 'V' sounded like a 'W'.
"The Court, having carefully inquired into the circumstances attending the above-mentioned shipping casualty, finds, for the reasons stated in the annex hereto, that the abandonment of the 'Vandalia' by the master, Mr. George Alfred Coonan, was, under the circumstances, justifiable; and that the cause of the loss of life on the 'Vandalia' was that the force of the collision threw the starboard anchor over the rail, it falling on the look-out man, who was at his post, and who was killed on the spot."
— Dated this Eleventh day of April 1889
Life in America
The Vybírals settled near Colon, Nebraska and purchased 80 acres. Before they retired, they had acquired 320 acres in total. The family made its way directly to Nebraska, settling in Saunders County, Nebraska.
Their youngest daughter, Marie, was born on August 3, 1879. She would go on to marry Matěj Černík on August 24, 1896. Matěj 'Mike' and Marie were our great-grandparents. Most documents in the United States I have located over the years usually referenced Matěj's Americanized name. While those in the old country used the Czech name.
As mentioned earlier, the Vybírals, like all our Czech ancestors, were staunch Catholics. They played a major role in founding and funding the Catholic Church in Colon, St. Joseph—read more on pages 140 and 141. As well as St. Wenceslaus in Wahoo—read more on pages 142 and 143.
The Story of Young Josef Vybíral and His Untimely Death
A family tragedy that struck less than a year after arriving in America
Most of our ancestors had to endure many hardships to get here, survive here and later thrive here. But the Vybíral family had to endure the hardship every family hopes to avoid: the death of a child.
The year is 1882, and you live in the farmlands of Moravia in Petrovice. You are 16 years old, the oldest son of František and Františka Vybíral (JÍROVSKÝ). You have an older sister and three younger siblings. One day, your parents tell you, "We are leaving for America." The excitement of packing up your life, traveling to Hamburg, Germany by train, and getting on the British Sailing Ship, the 'SS Vandalia.' The future "man of the house" must watch out for his siblings as it takes 17 days to sail across the Atlantic and land ashore in New York City at Castle Garden on May 16, 1882. The family makes its way directly to Nebraska, settling in Saunders County, Nebraska, and purchasing 80 acres of land near Colon.
Accidentally Shot
One day in March of 1883, you go hunting shortly after your 17th birthday before you do your chores. And then, this happens. From the Wahoo Independent newspaper on March 22, 1883:
Wahoo Independent — March 22, 1883
"A Bohemian boy about 16 years old named Joe Vybiral, was accidentally (sic) shot on Tuesday last, while hunting for geese. We learn that when taking the cow from the stable by some means the animal hit the hammer of the gun with one of her feet or lets in turning round (sic) and the gun at the time pointing toward his lower right abdomen, was discharged, the contents passing through the body coming out low down on the right side of his back bone."
"Dr. Stone was called to dress the wound and expresses but little hope if any for his recovery. There may be a slight chance for him if the shot did not penetrate the cavity of the abdomen but if it did so penetrate, while death is always sure to follow, it is generally not sudden and follows a few days after the wound."
"The young man died at 11 p.m. Wednesday night."
It took six days for Josef to die. I can only imagine the agony his parents and siblings went through.
Note from Don: I am still searching for the burial site of young "Joe."
Vybíral Route to America
The journey from Moravia to their new home in Colon, Nebraska - 1882
Map Legend
Key locations in the Vybíral family's journey to America.
Petrovice, Moravia - Early 1882
The Vybíral family's ancestral home in Petrovice. Located at the Southern end of the 50-square-mile rectangle our Czech ancestors lived in.
Hamburg, Germany - April/May 1882
The port of departure for the SS Vandalia. The family traveled by train from Moravia to Hamburg, Germany.
Castle Garden, New York - May 16, 1882
The family arrived at Castle Garden—the pre-Ellis Island immigration entry point—after 17 days crossing the Atlantic.
Colon, Nebraska
The Vybíral family's final destination, where they purchased 80 acres of farmland near Colon, Nebraska.
Land & Legacy
Center Township Section 9 and 10 - John & Frank Vybíral
Center Township Section 9 and 10 - John & Frank Vybíral
Cedar Township Section 26 and 27 - John Vybíral
Family Stories
Anecdotes and tales from across the generations
Family Anecdote
The Vybírals were instrumental in founding two Catholic churches in Nebraska
Like all our Czech ancestors, the Vybírals were staunch Catholics. They played a major role in founding and funding the Catholic Church in Colon (St. Joseph) and St. Wenceslaus in Wahoo. Their daughter Marie married Matěj "Mike" Černík, connecting the Vybíral and Černík family lines. Their farms where within spitting distance of each other.
Vybíral Cemeteries & Markers/Tombstones
Cemeteries, with their tombstones/headstones and markers, allow us to commemorate, remember, and
respect our ancestors and family.
Read the full story.
Vybíral Photo Album
Browse through photographs of the Vybíral family across the generations.
View the family album.
Vybíral Documents
Ship manifests, census records, land records, RCPO documents and other historical documents from the
Vybíral family.
Explore the archives.
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