Explore the Family Name Selman
The meaning of Selman
1. English: nickname for a happy or fortunate man, from Middle English seli ‘happy, fortunate’ (Old English sǣlig) + man. The nickname was also used as a personal name. See also Seeley. 2. English: from the Middle English nickname or female personal name Sely (see Seeley) + -man, hence an occupational name for a servant of someone so called. 3. Americanized form of German Sellmann (see Sellman). 4. Jewish (Ashkenazic): from the Yiddish personal name Zelman, a pet form of Zalmen (see Salmon). 5. Muslim: variant of Salman. 6. Bosniak: from the Muslim personal name Selman of Turkish and ultimately of Arabic origin (see Salman, compare 5 above).
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Selman in the United States?
Based on the Decennial U.S. Census data, the surname Selman has seen a slight increase in popularity between 2000 and 2010. In 2000, Selman ranked 7864, with a count of 3,902 individuals bearing the name, representing a proportion of 1.45 per 100k people. By 2010, the rank had marginally improved to 7831 as the count increased to 4,228, a growth of 8.35%. However, the proportion per 100k slightly dipped to 1.43, indicating a -1.38% change.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #7,864 | #7,831 | 0.42% |
| Count | 3,902 | 4,228 | 8.35% |
| Proportion per 100k | 1.45 | 1.43 | -1.38% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Selman
With regards to ethnicity, the Decennial U.S. Census data shows a diverse ethnic identity among individuals with the surname Selman. In 2000, majority identified as White at 84.93%, followed by Black at 9.46%, and Hispanic at 3.28%. Smaller percentages identified as Asian/Pacific Islander, Two or more races, and American Indian and Alaskan Native. By 2010, while White remained the dominant ethnicity at 82.43%, there were notable increases in other ethnic identities. The Black representation grew to 10.36%, and Hispanic increased to 4.16%. The percentage of Asian/Pacific Islanders and American Indians and Alaskan Natives also rose significantly, while those identifying as belonging to two or more races saw a slight increase.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 84.93% | 82.43% | -2.94% |
| Black | 9.46% | 10.36% | 9.51% |
| Hispanic | 3.28% | 4.16% | 26.83% |
| Two or More Races | 1.26% | 1.3% | 3.17% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0.67% | 1.09% | 62.69% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0.41% | 0.66% | 60.98% |
Selman ancestry composition
23andMe computes an ancestry breakdown for each customer. People may have ancestry from just one population or they may have ancestry from several populations. The most commonly-observed ancestry found in people with the surname Selman is British & Irish, which comprises 53.2% of all ancestry found in people with the surname. The next two most common ancestries are French & German (15.6%) and Ashkenazi Jewish (10.0%). Additional ancestries include Eastern European, Scandinavian, Greek & Balkan, Anatolian, and Levantine.
Ready to learn more about your ancestry? Get the most comprehensive ancestry breakdown on the market by taking our DNA test. Shop 23andMe
| ANCESTRY BREAKDOWN | COMPOSITION |
|---|---|
| British & Irish | 53.2% |
| French & German | 15.6% |
| Ashkenazi Jewish | 10.0% |
| Other | 21.1% |
Possible origins of the surname Selman
Your DNA provides clues about where your recent ancestors may have lived. Having many distant relatives in the same location suggests that you may all share common ancestry there. Locations with many distant relatives can also be places where people have migrated recently, such as large cities. If a large number of individuals who share your surname have distant relatives in a specific area, it could indicate a connection between your surname and that location, stemming from either recent ancestral ties or migration.
Based on 23andMe data, people with last name Selman have recent ancestry locations all within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
| RECENT ANCESTRY Location | Percentage |
|---|---|
| Greater Manchester, United Kingdom | 80.70% |
| Greater London, United Kingdom | 80.70% |
| West Midlands, United Kingdom | 80.70% |
| West Yorkshire, United Kingdom | 80.70% |
| Merseyside, United Kingdom | 80.70% |
What Selman haplogroups can tell you
Haplogroups are genetic population groups that share a common ancestor on either your paternal or maternal line. These paternal and maternal haplogroups shed light on your genetic ancestry and help tell the story of your family.
The top paternal haplogroup of people with the surname Selman is R-P311, which is predominantly found among people with European ancestry. Haplogroup R-P311 is descended from haplogroup R-M343. Other common haplogroups include I-DF29 and I-CTS616, which are predominantly found among people with European and European ancestry. Other surnames with similar common haplogroups are: Keim, Garza, Vigil, Presley, Hankins, Duvall, Brantley, Dodds, Messenger, Perdue.
The most common maternal haplogroups of people with Selman surname are: H1, H, J1. These most commonly trace back to individuals of European ancestry.
Paternal Haplogroup Origins R-M343Your maternal lineage may be linked to Marie Antoinette
Because it is so dominant in the general European population, haplogroup H also appears quite frequently in the continent's royal houses. Marie Antoinette, an Austrian Hapsburg who married into the French royal family, inherited the haplogroup from her maternal ancestors. So did Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, whose recorded genealogy traces his female line to Bavaria. Scientists also discovered that famed 16th century astronomer Nicolaus Copernicus traced his maternal lineages to haplogroup H.
What do people with the surname Selman have in common?
Spoiler alert: it's complicated. People with the same last name are usually no more genetically similar than a randomly sampled group of people from the same population. That said, people with the same surname are more likely to have similar ancestries than randomly sampled individuals. The reason is the tendency of people with similar cultural or geographical backgrounds to preferentially mate with one another. That's why people who share a surname may be more likely to share traits and tendencies in common than people within the general population. Check out the percentages below to see the prevalences of tastes, habits, and traits of people with your surname compared with prevalences among 23andMe users.
Preferences
Chocolate Ice Cream
Prefers chocolate flavored ice cream over other flavors.
"Selman" Surname 44.2%
23andMe Users 41.3%
Traits
Misophonia
When sounds made by others, like the sound of chewing or yawning, provoke strong emotional reactions in an individual.
"Selman" Surname 30.6%
23andMe Users 27.9%
Habits
Sugary Drink
Drinks one or more sugary drinks per day.
"Selman" Surname 16.7%
23andMe Users 21.1%
Wellness
Migraine
A severe headache characterized by intense pain, sensitivity to light and sound, and often accompanied by nausea and vomiting.
"Selman" Surname 17.5%
23andMe Users 16.4%
Are health conditions linked to the last name Selman?
The short answer is that, if there is an association between surname and health, it's usually more about your ancestry than your name. Individuals with a given surname are no more genetically similar than the general population but often have similar ancestries. The populations of people associated with those shared ancestries often have sets of genetic variations, also known as alleles, in common. Some of those alleles are associated with a greater likelihood of developing certain diseases.
Disease variant frequency by ancestry
Disease allele frequencies in populations associated with the surname Selman are shown below. Important Note: not everyone with a disease allele will develop these health condition