NameCensus.

UK surname

Selman

A surname of English origin, derived from a place name meaning "hall of the retainers or tenants."

In the 1881 census there were 517 people recorded with the Selman surname, ranking it #6,593 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 572, ranked #9,025, down from #6,593 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, London parishes and St Philip and Jacob. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Walsall, Bristol and South Gloucestershire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Selman is 649 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 10.6%.

1881 census count

517

Ranked #6,593

Modern count

572

2016, ranked #9,025

Peak year

1911

649 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Selman had 517 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #6,593 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 572 in 2016, ranked #9,025.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 649 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Selman surname distribution map

The map shows where the Selman surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.

Distribution map

Selman surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Selman over time

The table below tracks recorded surname counts and rank from the 19th-century census years through the modern adult-register period.

Year Period Count Rank
1851 historical 388 #6,190
1861 historical 315 #8,071
1881 historical 517 #6,593
1891 historical 547 #6,916
1901 historical 564 #7,397
1911 historical 649 #6,449
1997 modern 591 #8,235
1998 modern 634 #8,065
1999 modern 641 #8,050
2000 modern 607 #8,367
2001 modern 597 #8,321
2002 modern 637 #8,090
2003 modern 620 #8,124
2004 modern 600 #8,346
2005 modern 610 #8,176
2006 modern 609 #8,193
2007 modern 609 #8,251
2008 modern 600 #8,417
2009 modern 603 #8,569
2010 modern 606 #8,723
2011 modern 578 #8,929
2012 modern 555 #9,103
2013 modern 557 #9,236
2014 modern 574 #9,078
2015 modern 571 #9,045
2016 modern 572 #9,025

Geography

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Where Selmans are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, London parishes, St Philip and Jacob and Laycock. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Walsall, Bristol, South Gloucestershire, Tonbridge and Malling and Mendip. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Some modern areas include a three-digit suffix, such as Leeds 110. The suffix is a small-area code, so it stays in the table while the prose uses the plain place name.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff Gloucestershire
2 London parishes London 1
3 London parishes London 3
4 St Philip and Jacob Gloucestershire
5 Laycock Wiltshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Walsall 038 Walsall
2 Bristol 005 Bristol, City of
3 South Gloucestershire 030 South Gloucestershire
4 Tonbridge and Malling 003 Tonbridge and Malling
5 Mendip 010 Mendip

Forenames

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First names often paired with Selman

These lists show first names that appear often with the Selman surname in historical and recent records.

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Selman

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Selman, this points to the kinds of places where the surname is most concentrated today.

These neighbourhood labels describe areas, not individual people. They are useful because surnames often cluster through family history, migration, housing patterns and local work. A surname can be strongest in one type of neighbourhood even when people with that name live across the country.

The UK classification gives the national picture. The London classification is more specific to the capital, where housing, age profile, tenure and population mix can look quite different from the rest of the UK.

UK neighbourhood type

UK Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities

Group

Rural Amenity

Nationally, the Selman surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Selman household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group comprises older parents or retirees, with no resident dependent children, and with the lowest residential densities in this Supergroup. Predominantly UK-born, residents typically live in detached houses, although others do live in semi-detached and terraced properties. The level of multiple car ownership is the highest in this Supergroup. Most houses are owner occupied although social renting is also present. Many concentrations occur in high amenity rural locations, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Wider pattern

Pervasive throughout the UK, members of this Supergroup typically own (or are buying) their detached, semi-detached or terraced homes. They are also typically educated to A Level/Highers or degree level and work in skilled or professional occupations. Typically born in the UK, some families have children, although the median adult age is above 45 and some property has become under-occupied after children have left home. This Supergroup is pervasive not only in suburban locations, but also in neighbourhoods at or beyond the edge of cities that adjoin rural parts of the country.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Selman is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Scattered across London’s Inner and Outer suburbs, residents of these neighbourhoods are typically housed in the social rented sector. Although terraced and semi-detached houses predominate, more residents live in flats than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Neighbourhoods are more ethnically diverse than the Supergroup average. Those identifying as of Bangladeshi, Pakistani and some Black ethnicities are more prevalent. Europeans born in a overseas non-EU countries make up more of the lower proportion of residents identifying as White. Few residents are very old (85+). Employment in distribution, hotels and restaurants is more common than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Selman is most concentrated in decile 9 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier end of the index.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

9
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Selman falls in decile 10 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

10
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Selman is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

This describes the area pattern most associated with Selman, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Selman

The surname Selman is believed to have originated in England during the medieval period. It is derived from the Old English personal name Seleman, which is a combination of the elements "sele" meaning "hall" or "dwelling" and "man" meaning "man."

One of the earliest recorded mentions of the Selman surname can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Salman" and "Selman." This suggests that the name was already established in certain regions of England by the time of the Norman Conquest.

In the 13th century, the Selman surname is recorded in various medieval records, including the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273, where it appears as "Selman" in counties such as Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire. This indicates that the name was prevalent in these areas during that time period.

The Selman surname is also closely associated with various place names in England, such as Selmeston in Sussex and Selmire in Northumberland. These place names likely derived from the same Old English roots as the surname, further solidifying its connection to the region.

One notable individual with the Selman surname was Sir Ralph Selman (c. 1350-1418), a prominent English knight and landowner who served as a Member of Parliament for Hertfordshire in the early 15th century.

Another significant figure was Thomas Selman (c. 1555-1623), an English clergyman and scholar who served as the Regius Professor of Hebrew at the University of Cambridge from 1609 until his death.

In the 17th century, John Selman (1633-1688) was a renowned English mathematician and astronomer who made significant contributions to the development of calculus and the study of planetary motion.

During the 18th century, Elizabeth Selman (1707-1768) was a notable English author and poet, known for her works that explored themes of nature and spirituality.

In the 19th century, William Selman (1825-1901) was a prominent English architect who designed several notable buildings in London, including the Royal Albert Hall and the Natural History Museum.

These examples demonstrate the longevity and historical significance of the Selman surname, which has been present in England for centuries and has been associated with various notable individuals throughout history.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Selman families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Selman surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.

Top counties

Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Wiltshire leads with 156 Selmans recorded in 1881 and an index of 35.04x.

County Total Index
Wiltshire 156 35.04x
Gloucestershire 110 11.14x
Middlesex 70 1.39x
Staffordshire 36 2.12x
Somerset 29 3.58x
Kent 20 1.16x
Surrey 19 0.77x
Warwickshire 18 1.42x
Sussex 17 2.00x
Yorkshire 16 0.32x
Lancashire 5 0.08x
Cheshire 4 0.36x
Devon 4 0.38x
Essex 3 0.30x
Monmouthshire 3 0.82x
Derbyshire 2 0.25x
Hampshire 2 0.19x
Berkshire 1 0.26x
Herefordshire 1 0.48x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Laycock in Wiltshire leads with 63 Selmans recorded in 1881 and an index of 3118.81x.

Place Total Index
Laycock 63 3118.81x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 19 20.44x
Paddington London 16 8.64x
Hoyland Nether 13 106.30x
Cricklade St Sampson 12 579.71x
Hastings St Mary In The 12 66.26x
Westerleigh 11 497.74x
Littleton Drew 9 2571.43x
Melksham 9 116.43x
Smallthorne 9 142.63x
Walcot 9 20.86x
Westbury On Trym 9 26.91x
Acton Turville 8 1600.00x
Aston 8 2.29x
Chipping Sodbury 8 434.78x
Cliffe Pypard 8 597.01x
Kensington London 8 2.86x
St Pancras London 8 1.97x
Stratton St Margaret 8 117.13x
Birmingham 7 1.65x
Ealing 7 15.56x
Newington 7 3.76x
Bitton Oldland 6 59.46x
Claverton 6 1395.35x
Cricklade St Mary 6 845.07x
Henbury 6 124.48x
High Offley 6 428.57x
Stapleton 6 32.03x
Bath St Peter St Paul 5 139.66x
Great Lever 5 78.86x
Handsworth 5 11.94x
Hastings St Andrew 5 164.47x
Islington London 5 1.02x
Malmesbury The Abbey 5 1923.08x
Mangotsfield 5 50.81x
Shoreditch London 5 2.29x
Siston 5 284.09x
St Marylebone London 5 1.86x
Wolverhampton 5 3.83x
Woolwich 5 7.88x
Beckenham 4 17.82x
Chippenham 4 42.83x
Cirencester 4 29.92x
Greenwich 4 4.99x
Grittleton 4 740.74x
Lambeth 4 0.91x
Macclesfield 4 8.10x
Nailsea 4 125.00x
St Martin In Fields 4 13.27x
Tormarton 4 547.95x
Westbury 4 38.50x
Wolstanton 4 7.75x
Clifton 3 6.01x
Dursley 3 73.89x
Gillingham 3 8.47x
Grosmont 3 247.93x
Hendon 3 16.57x
Kenilworth 3 41.90x
Langley Burrell 3 162.16x
Lewisham 3 3.28x
Marlborough St Mary Virgin 3 95.54x
Plymouth St Andrew 3 3.72x
Wednesfield 3 12.00x
Weston 3 48.15x
Biddestone St Nicholas 2 281.69x
Bilston 2 6.07x
Bristol St Augustine 2 12.55x
Chigwell 2 21.32x
Clerkenwell London 2 1.68x
Corsham 2 30.77x
Devizes St James 2 33.78x
Dorking 2 12.14x
Frome 2 10.32x
Glossop Dale 2 5.42x
Liddington 2 277.78x
Marlborough St Peter St 2 87.34x
Naunton 2 219.78x
Twickenham 2 9.27x
Winterbourne 2 36.63x
Yate 2 92.59x

Top female names

These are the female first names most often recorded with the Selman surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
Elizabeth 29
Mary 28
Sarah 22
Jane 16
Annie 13
Emily 9
Ann 8
Ellen 7
Ada 6
Alice 6
Emma 6
Florence 5
Martha 5
Caroline 4
Edith 4
Eliza 4
Frances 4
Hester 4
Lydia 4
Maria 4
Susan 4
Clara 3
Hannah 3
Harriet 3
Louisa 3
Maud 3
Rose 3
Anna 2
Anne 2
Charlotte 2
Elizth. 2
Ella 2
Fanny 2
Isabella 2
Julia 2
Mabel 2
Margaret 2
Rachel 2
Amy 1
Angie 1
Beatrice 1
Betsey 1
Edna 1
Elizath. 1
Elizth.A. 1
Elizth.Ann 1
Helen 1
Janne 1
Jeanette 1
Jessie 1

Top male names

These are the male first names most often recorded with the Selman surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
William 34
George 28
John 21
Thomas 17
Henry 14
James 14
Joseph 11
Charles 8
Arthur 6
Robert 6
Walter 6
Albert 5
Alfred 5
Richard 5
Edward 4
Harry 4
Frank 3
Fred 3
Frederick 3
Herbert 3
Daniel 2
David 2
Earnest 2
Edwin 2
Ernest 2
Francis 2
Aaron 1
Arther 1
Aurthur 1
Benjamin 1
Bertie 1
Danl. 1
Ebenezer 1
Ethelbert 1
Florence 1
Fredk.R. 1
Fredrick 1
Humphrey 1
Hyrum 1
Isaac 1
J. 1
Jacob 1
Job 1
Luke 1
Mark 1
Michael 1
Percy 1
Sidney 1
Stamford 1
Stephen 1

FAQ

Selman surname: questions and answers

How common was the Selman surname in 1881?

In 1881, 517 people were recorded with the Selman surname. That placed it at #6,593 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Selman surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 572 in 2016. That gives Selman a modern rank of #9,025.

What does the Selman surname mean?

A surname of English origin, derived from a place name meaning "hall of the retainers or tenants."

What does the Selman map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Selman bearers relative to the surrounding population.

What records is this surname page based on?

The historical counts come from census surname records. The modern counts and neighbourhood summaries come from later surname distribution records. Counts are recorded bearers in those records, not a live estimate of everyone with the name today.