The Selman surname

In the 2010 U.S. Census, 4,228 people carried this name — #7,831 among all U.S. surnames, about 1 in every 69,900 people counted. That is up 8% from 3,902 in 2000.

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What the name means

The meaning of the Selman surname

As an English and Welsh surname

Bardsley classes it as a baptismal name, from a given name: ‘the son of Seliman’ — the first of the origins he gives.

An early record he cites: Cecilia fil. Selmon, Huntingdonshire, 1273 — Hundred Rolls. Fil. is Latin for “son of”.

His entry covers Sellman, Sellmen, Selman, Seelman and Selmond.

From Charles W. Bardsley, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames, with Special American Instances (London: Henry Frowde, 1901), p. 677 · public domain.

In Argentina’s national register

At least 218 people named Selman live in Argentina.

RENAPER only publishes a name in a province when more than ten people there share it, so the real number is higher. Most of them live in Mendoza.

Where it concentrates, on the map

Where they live today

Mendoza 75
Buenos Aires Province 52
Tucumán 50
City of Buenos Aires 27
La Rioja 14

RENAPER (National Registry of Persons, Argentina), surnames of residents by province, December 2021 — CC BY 4.0.

In Switzerland’s population statistics

64 people named Selman live in Switzerland.

They live in 9 of Switzerland’s 26 cantons, most of all in Solothurn.

Too few records to say where it concentrates region by region — these are plain counts, not shares.

Where they live today

Solothurn 13
Zurich 13
Aargau 9
Bern 8
Appenzell Ausserrhoden 6
Glarus 4
St. Gallen 4
Valais 4

Swiss Federal Statistical Office (FSO), «Surnames of the permanent resident population by canton», 2025, opendata.swiss/en/dataset/nachnamen-der-standigen-wohnbevolkerung-nach-kanton3 · names with fewer than 3 bearers in a canton are not published.

In Belgium’s population register

At least 39 people named Selman live in Belgium.

Statbel only publishes a name in a municipality when five or more people there share it, so the real number is higher. Most of them live in Antwerp.

Too few records to say where it concentrates region by region — these are plain counts, not shares.

Where they live today

Antwerp 34
Hainaut 5

Statbel (Statistics Belgium), family names of the population by municipality, 1 January 2026 — CC BY 4.0.

In Poland’s population register

27 people named Selman have a registered home in Poland.

Of the 33 in Poland’s national register, these are the ones with a permanent address on file. They live in 2 of Poland’s 16 voivodeships, most of all in Masovian.

Too few records to say where it concentrates region by region — these are plain counts, not shares.

Where they live today

Masovian 24
Łódź 3

PESEL register, Ministry of Digital Affairs of Poland (dane.gov.pl) — CC0 · living people by voivodeship of permanent residence, 20 January 2026.

In national population registers

270 people named Selman are counted in Sweden and Slovenia.

Sweden’s figure is from 31 December 2022, the last count Statistics Sweden published. Slovenia counts its residents on 1 January 2026.

Counted, by country

Sweden (2022) 186
Slovenia (2026) 84

Own calculations based on data from Statistics Sweden (SCB), surnames with at least two bearers, 31 December 2022 — CC BY 4.0 (names with 20 or more bearers shown) · source: Statistical Office of the Republic of Slovenia (SURS), SiStat tables 05X1015S–05X1018S, family names of the population, 1 January 2026 (names with 20 or more bearers shown).

In the first U.S. census, 1790

22 families named Selman, or a close spelling, were counted in 1790.

Each family is counted by its head. About 115 people lived in those households, 5.2 to a family on average. The table counts it together with 3 other spellings. The table lists white heads of families only, in the twelve states whose 1790 records survive; Virginia’s figures come from state lists of 1782–1785.

Families, by state

Maryland 16
Massachusetts 4
New York 1
Pennsylvania 1

U.S. Census Bureau, «A Century of Population Growth from the First Census of the United States to the Twelfth, 1790–1900» (Washington, 1909), table 111, p. 261 — public domain · names carried by at least 100 white persons in 1790.

In print

Selman in American newspapers,
1896–1919.

Newspaper page from The Pacific Commercial Advertiser carrying the name Selman
The Pacific Commercial Advertiser 1901-06-21
Newspaper page from El Imparcial carrying the name Selman
El Imparcial 1919-09-22
Newspaper page from The Laramie Republican carrying the name Selman
The Laramie Republican 1896-04-06

Chronicling America, Library of Congress — digitised newspapers in the public domain · 10,767 pages in all carry the name.

In print

Selman in Australian newspapers,
1850s–1970s.

5,431 articles name a Mr, Mrs or Miss Selman. The most, 912, date from the 1880s. Victoria has the most articles, but weighed against how much of each state’s press from the same decades has been digitised, the name stands out most in the Northern Territory, at 5.7 times its expected share.

Articles, by state

Victoria 2,801
New South Wales 1,557
South Australia 365
Queensland 322
Tasmania 161
Western Australia 149
Northern Territory 48
ACT (Canberra) 24

Trove, National Library of Australia (trove.nla.gov.au) · articles in its digitised newspapers that name a Mr, Mrs or Miss Selman.

Who carried it

People named Selman,
with a public archive behind them.

  • John Selman
    John Selman 1839–1896 · criminal
  • Jim Selman
    Jim Selman 1942–2024 · writer
  • Squire H. Selman d. 1873 · writer
  • Beauchamp Selman d. 1999 · politician
  • David Selman 1878–1937 · film director
  • Mohamed Salman 1922–1997 · screenwriter

Wikidata (CC0) · portraits via Wikimedia Commons, shown cropped, in the public domain or CC0 · 10 lives in all are documented under this name.

In the public record

People named Selman,
in the records of 8 countries.

Soldiers, farmers, migrants and neighbours who carried the name and left a trace in public archives. Everyone shown here died long ago or was born more than a century ago.

United States325 records

325 records of the Selman name in the United States
  • U.S. Army enlistment records, World War II 115
  • U.S. alien registration index, 1940–1955 54
  • Other U.S. records 156
  1. A United States Selective Service registration card, 1942
    Example: U.S. registration card, 1942
    Military record James A. Selman

    Born 1921 in Texas. Enlisted 1940 at Fort Sam Houston; auto mechanic from Mc Culloch County. U.S. Army veteran; died 1997, buried at Fife Cemetery, Kingsland, Texas.

    U.S. National Archives, WWII Army Enlistment Records (public domain); U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Gravesite Locator (CC0)
  2. A passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, arriving at New York in 1903
    Example: passenger manifest, 1903
    Passenger record Ljuderit Selman

    Arrived at New York in 1907 aboard the Rhein from Bremen, aged 26; wheelwright. From Normance, Croatia; bound for St. Louis. Born in Nova Bukovicz, Croatia.

    U.S. National Archives, Castle Garden Immigration Center Collection, Ship Passenger Records (unrestricted)
  3. Names engraved on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, Washington, D.C.
    Example: U.S. war memorial
    War record Charles George Selman

    Born 1949; from Farmington, Michigan. U.S. Army, infantryman; killed in action 1970 in Thua Thien, South Vietnam.

    U.S. National Archives, Defense Casualty Analysis System (public domain)

Showing 3 of 325 records for Selman in the United States.

Counts: U.S. National Archives, WWII Army Enlistment Records (public domain) · U.S. National Archives, Flexoline Index Data File (public domain) · U.S. National Archives, Castle Garden Immigration Center Collection, Ship Passenger Records (unrestricted) · U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Gravesite Locator (CC0) · NYC Department of Records & Information Services, Historical Vital Records (NYC Open Data) · New York State Department of Health, Genealogical Research Death Index · U.S. National Archives, Famine Irish Passenger Records (public domain) · U.S. National Archives, Defense Casualty Analysis System (public domain). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: U.S. Selective Service registration card, 1942 (public domain); Passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, New York, 1903 (public domain); Vietnam Veterans Memorial, photo by U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Michael J. Carden, 2009 (public domain).

Netherlands455 records

455 records of the Selman name in the Netherlands
  • Dutch civil registers (births, marriages, deaths) 291
  • Dutch population registers 149
  • Dutch church registers before 1811 15
  1. A marriage entry in the civil register of Tilburg, 1911
    Example: marriage register, 1911
    Marriage record Johan Philip Selman

    Married in 1826 in Venhuizen; farmer. Died 1859 in Venhuizen, aged 54.

    Open Archives, Noord-Hollands Archief (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A marriage entry in the civil register of Tilburg, 1911
    Example: marriage register, 1911
    Marriage record Geertje Selman

    Married in 1913 in Zaandam. Died 1961 in Zaandam.

    Open Archives, Noord-Hollands Archief (CC BY 4.0); Open Archives, Gemeentearchief Zaanstad (CC BY 4.0)
  3. A page of the 1910 United States census, Milwaukee
    Example: U.S. census, 1910
    Population register Maria Selman

    In the population register of Nijmegen; domestic servant, born 1856 in Driel.

    Open Archives, Regionaal Archief Nijmegen (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 3 of 455 records for Selman in the Netherlands.

Counts: Open Archives (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Marriage register, Tilburg, 1911, Regionaal Archief Tilburg (public domain); U.S. census of 1910, Milwaukee (public domain).

Australia117 records

117 records of the Selman name in Australia
  • Victoria passenger lists, 1839–1923 66
  • Victoria wills and probate, deaths to 2001 44
  • Other Australian records 7
  1. A passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, arriving at New York in 1903
    Example: passenger manifest, 1903
    Passenger record Daniel Selman

    Arrived in Victoria in 1862 aboard the Victoria, aged 34; American.

    Public Record Office Victoria (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A page of the Livre d’or of the French war dead, Paris
    Example: roll of the war dead
    War record Norman Selman

    Enlisted in 1915. Honoured on the Ballarat Avenue of Honour.

    City of Ballarat, Avenue of Honour Plaques (CC BY 3.0 AU)
  3. A petition to the probate court of St. Louis, 1848
    Example: probate petition, 1848
    Probate record John Harvey Selman

    Gentleman of Burnley, Victoria; died 1981.

    Public Record Office Victoria (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 3 of 117 records for Selman in Australia.

Counts: Public Record Office Victoria (CC BY 4.0) · Museums of History NSW – State Archives Collection (CC BY) · Queensland State Archives (CC BY 4.0) · Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0) · City of Ballarat, Avenue of Honour Plaques (CC BY 3.0 AU). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, New York, 1903 (public domain); Livre d’or of the war dead, Paris, Ministère des pensions, Archives nationales (CC0); Petition to the probate court, St. Louis, 1848, Missouri Historical Society (public domain).

Canada30 records

30 records of the Selman name in Canada
  • Mountain View Cemetery, Vancouver 14
  • City of Niagara Falls (Ontario) cemetery records 7
  • Other Canadian records 9
  1. Fairview Lawn Cemetery in Halifax, Nova Scotia
    Example: Canadian cemetery
    Burial record Elva Beatrice Selman

    Died 1908; buried at Mountain View Cemetery, Vancouver, British Columbia.

    City of Vancouver. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Vancouver.
  2. Fairview Lawn Cemetery in Halifax, Nova Scotia
    Example: Canadian cemetery
    Burial record William Selman

    Buried in 1983 at Lundys Lane Cemetery, Niagara Falls, Ontario.

    City of Niagara Falls. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Niagara Falls.
  3. A page of the Berlin civil register, 1880
    Example: civil register, 1880
    Death record George Selman

    Died 1914 in Annapolis, Nova Scotia.

    Nova Scotia Archives. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Nova Scotia.

Showing 3 of 30 records for Selman in Canada.

Counts: City of Vancouver. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Vancouver. · City of Niagara Falls. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Niagara Falls. · City of Winnipeg. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Winnipeg. · City of Calgary. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – City of Calgary. · Veterans Affairs Canada. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Canada. · Nova Scotia Archives. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Nova Scotia. Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Fairview Lawn Cemetery, Halifax, photo by Edgar El (CC BY 3.0); Civil register, Berlin, 1880, Landesarchiv Berlin (CC0).

United Kingdom3 records

3 records of the Selman name in the United Kingdom War Office casualty lists, 1917–1919, among the dead
  1. A First World War roll of honour of the staff of C. & E. Morton Ltd
    Example: roll of honour, 1914–1919
    War record W. G. H. Selman

    Gloucestershire Regiment. Listed among the dead in the War Office casualty list of 1919.

    National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain)
  2. A First World War roll of honour of the staff of C. & E. Morton Ltd
    Example: roll of honour, 1914–1919
    War record J. Selman

    Suffolk Regiment. Listed among the dead in the War Office casualty list of 1918.

    National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain)
  3. A First World War roll of honour of the staff of C. & E. Morton Ltd
    Example: roll of honour, 1914–1919
    War record E. Selman

    Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry. Listed among the dead in the War Office casualty list of 1918.

    National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain)

Counts: National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: C. & E. Morton Ltd roll of honour, 1914–1919, photo by Adrian S Pye via Geograph (CC BY-SA 2.0).

New Zealand2 records

2 records of the Selman name in New Zealand Christchurch City cemetery records
  1. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Susan Selman

    Died 1931, aged 50; buried at Sydenham Cemetery, Christchurch, Canterbury.

    Christchurch City Council (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record John Selman

    Died 1927, aged 65; buried at Sydenham Cemetery, Christchurch, Canterbury.

    Christchurch City Council (CC BY 4.0)

Counts: Christchurch City Council (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Burial register of Newtown, Montgomeryshire, 1858, National Library of Wales (CC0).

France2 records

2 records of the Selman name in France France's national death register, 1970–2001
  1. A page of the death register of Nice, 1930
    Example: French death register, 1930
    Death record Sukru Selman

    Born 1952 in Landry; died 1998 in Landry (Savoie).

    Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte)
  2. A page of the death register of Nice, 1930
    Example: French death register, 1930
    Death record Rihan Selman

    Born 1923 in Syria; died 1997 in Marseille (Bouches-du-Rhône).

    Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte)

Counts: Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Death register of Nice, 1930, Archives départementales des Alpes-Maritimes (public domain).

Norway1 record

1 record of the Selman name in Norway Norway's 1910 census
  1. A page of the 1910 United States census, Milwaukee
    Example: U.S. census, 1910
    Census record Karl Selman

    Census of 1910: Granheim nordre, Tinn; construction worker, born 1881 in Finland.

    Arkivverket, Digitalarkivet, 1910 census (CC BY 3.0 NO)

Counts: Arkivverket, Digitalarkivet, 1910 census (CC BY 3.0 NO). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: U.S. census of 1910, Milwaukee (public domain).

Nearby in the index

Surnames next to Selman.

When the index is not enough

This page says where Selman is.
A volume says what happened to it.

Every page in the index is free and stays free. The Heritage Volume is the long form: the full paper trail, the arms, the crossing — bound, and yours.

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