Surname Selby - Meaning and Origin

Unravelling the Selby Lineage: A DNA Test’s Journey through British and Scandinavian History

My DNA reveals an intriguing interplay of geography, history, and genetics through the Selby surname. Spotlighting the British Isles and a dash of Scandinavian heritage, these scientific findings resonate with historical documents that link the Selbys to the Medieval Period in Europe, thereby offering a rich, multi-layered narrative of my ancestry.

J. Selby

Selby: What does the surname Selby mean?

The surname Selby is of English origin and is believed to be geographical, deriving from a place of the same name in North Yorkshire, England. It is composed of two Old Norse elements: "Selja", meaning "willow" (or possibly "sallow", another type of tree) and "byr", meaning "farm" or "settlement". Therefore, the surname Selby could be interpreted as 'the settlement where willow or sallow trees grow'. It reflects the common practice in medieval times of identifying people by referencing their place of origin or residence. It is also worth noting that the Viking influence is seen in many place names and surnames in the North of England due to their historical settlement and rule in these areas. There is also a town named Selby in the United States, in South Dakota, perhaps named by settlers of English origins. Today, people with the surname Selby can be found in countries around the world, reflecting the patterns of immigration and global movement over the centuries.

Selby: Where does the name Selby come from?

The surname Selby is most commonly found in England, with concentrations in areas such as Yorkshire, Lancashire and Derbyshire. According to WorldNameHistory, Selby is a relatively popular surname in the United Kingdom (UK) and is believed to date back to the earliest settlements in the area during the 12th and 13th centuries.

The Selby family can be traced back to the hamlet of “Selby” in the county of Oxfordshire, which was founded in the 10th century. It is believed that the surname is derived from this settlement, originally the Old English “Selebie” meaning “sheltered farm near a clump of willows”.

The Selby surname is still common in many parts of the UK. According to the Office for National Statistics (ONS) figures for 2018, the Selby surname is the 505th most common surname in the UK, with approximately 0.019% of the population having this surname. This is only around 19 people per million.

In recent years, the Selby surname has become more and more prevalent in the United States (US). The 2000 US Census found that Selby was among the 1,000 most common names in the country.

Overall, the Selby surname is still widely distributed in areas where English traditions are kept alive. It remains a fairly rare surname in today’s world, but due to its increasing presence in several countries, it is likely that numbers of those sharing the surname Selby will continue to rise in the future.

Variations of the surname Selby

The surname Selby has many variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin. These include Selbey, Selbye, and Sellby. It can also be spelled as Selbee, Selb, Selbie, Sellbee, Selby, and Sylby. The presence of multiple spellings of this surname indicates its international use, with variants appearing in many countries all over the world.

In England, the surname has a Norse origin, deriving from the Viking name 'Saelbiorn', meaning 'Victory Bear'. The name also has Germanic roots which include Selbi, Selbo, and Silbeo, all of which are variations of the original surname.

In Ireland, the surname is derived from the Gaelic 'O'Selbaig', meaning 'descended from Selbaig'. It is also found as O'Selvey, O'Selbay, O'Sulvey, O'Sulbay, O'Salphay and O'Salvaig.

In Scotland, the surname is derived from the Old English 'Se1faeg', meaning 'willow island'. Variations include Salve, Selbee, Selba, Sylbie, Selva, Sellbon, and Salvaig.

In Spain, the surname is derived from the Spanish 'de Selvi' meaning 'of the forest'. Variations include de Selby, de Sellby, de Selbe, and de Selva.

In the Netherlands, the surname is derived from the Dutch 'van Selbe', meaning 'of Selbe'. Variations include van Selby, van Sellby, van Selbee and van Selb.

In Italy, the surname is derived from the Italian 'Selva' or 'del Selva', meaning 'of the forest'. Variations include Selva, de Selva, Del Selva, di Selva, and Selvi.

In Portugal, the surname is derived from the Portuguese 'de Selva', meaning 'of the forest'. Variations include De Selva and Del Selva.

Famous people with the name Selby

• Bill Selby: Former Major League Baseball infielder.
• Willie Selby: Retired American basketball player.
• Delroy Selby: Barbadian former athlete who was a successful hurdler and sprinter.
• Walter Selby: English footballer.
• Ted Selby: English actor, director, and producer in British film and television.
• Eden Selby: Australian actor and writer, best known for the 2017 film 'Killing Ground' and 2017 short 'The Call'.
• Emma Selby: Australian actress, best known for 'Neighbours' (1985) and 'The Proposition' (1998).
• Barney Selby: British Labour Party politician and industrialist.
• Jimmy Selby: American pianist and composer who performed on film soundtracks for many major motion pictures.
• Erskine Selby: Canadian jazz trumpeter, composer, and arranger who was influential in the development of jazz in Vancouver.
• John Selby: English cereal farmer and analytical chemist who produced the first 'health food' product.
• Owain Selby: Welsh cricketer.
• Paul Selby: English football manager, trainer, and coach.
• Stephen Selby: Retired British sound editor who worked on films such as 'Singin' in the Rain' and 'The Last Emperor'.
• Margaret Selby: American educator and sociologist who specialized in the field of juvenile justice.

Other surnames

SelbachSelbeSelbigerSelbmann