Šebelja families are Croats and they are mostly from Opatija area. In the past century, relatively most of Croatian residents bearing this family name were born in Rijeka and in Opatija area. In Studena in Opatija area every sixth inhabitant had the family name Šebelja.
Prevalence
About 110 people with faimily name Šebelja live in Croatia today, in 40 households. There were 110 of them in the middle of the past century, and their number remains constant. They are only located in in 6 Croatian cities and 9 other places, mostly in Studena in Opatija area (55), Rijeka (15), in Viskovo (<10) and Marinici (<5) in Rijeka area, and in Krk on the Island of Krk (<5).
Outside Croatia
At least one family with this surname emigrated from Croatia to the United States. Family name Šebelja (including: Sebelia , Sebelja and Sebeglia ) is present in 6 countries on two continents. "Sebelia " is used by small number of people in the United States.
In the sources analysed in the project Acta Croatica so far, the name is mentioned few times, the first time 2007 in source Encyclopaedia of Croatian Surnames.
