Surname Sellar - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'S'
Sellar: What does the surname Sellar mean?
The last name Sellar is of Scottish origin and derives from the Old English term 'sella', which means 'hall'. Its bearers were likely residing or working in or around a manor hall; thus, it is considered a topographic surname. In Scotland, it was first recorded in Aberdeenshire, part of the Grampian region, where the Sellars held a family seat from ancient times. Because surnames started to become common only around the 10th and 11th centuries, the surname Sellar, like many old Scottish names, is probably descended from a lineage that dates back to the clans and warrior tribes of pre-medieval Scotland. It may have started as a nickname or job description before being passed down through generations as a surname. In addition to 'hall', 'sellar' could also refer to a saddler or someone who makes, repairs, or sells saddles. As such, the surname could have potentially denoted the occupations of the original bearers.
Order DNA origin analysisSellar: Where does the name Sellar come from?
The surname Sellar is a rare surname that has been found to have origins mainly in Scotland. Today, it is mostly found in the northern and western parts of the country, especially in the major cities such as Glasgow and Edinburgh. Furthermore, this surname is also prominently found in other countries that are home to many Scottish immigrants, such as the United States, Canada, and Australia.
The Sellar surname can be traced back to the 1100s in Scotland. It is a derivative of the personal name ‘Selle’, which was derived from the Gaelic word ‘sell’, meaning ‘willow’ or ‘strength’. During the Middle Ages, people used to take their last names from their ancestors’ given names, so it makes sense that Sellar is derived from the old Gaelic personal name.
Sellar families also lived in the Orkney Islands in the northernmost parts of Scotland since the 1600s. Today, many Sellar descendants still live in the islands and even across the world. The Sellar family tree includes many prominent figures like the inventor of the antiseptic method of surgery Joseph Lister, the sculptor Henry Moore, as well as the Deputy Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and president of the European Commission, John Selley.
The surname Sellar is still found in Scotland and also in other countries throughout the world. So, if you're trying to locate other people with the same surname, there is a good chance that you will be successful.
No matter which corner of the earth one is from, the Sellar name is a reminder of the family’s strong Scottish roots and its rich history.
Variations of the surname Sellar
Sellar is an English surname of locative or topographic origin, which means a person who lived near a cell, barn or hall. The variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin for the surname Sellar include Cellar, Sellers, Sellears, Sellaire, Sellar, Sellear, Sellers, Sellars, Sellor and Sellersmith.
The 'er' endings may represent Old English meaning variation 'man', which broadens the spelling variations of this surname. Sellers could have been a tailor, Cellar a member of the clergy or an innkeeper and Sellears a public official. Sellersmith means a blacksmith whose name was Sellers.
The surname Sellar is most likely a variant of one of two other English surnames, Cellar and Sellers. It has been suggested that Sellars, Sellor, Sellersmith, Sellaire and Sellears are all variants of Sellers, as they all contain the same basic elements and spelling variations.
The earliest example of the surname Sellar is an entry on the 1520 Subsidy Roll for the county of Bedfordshire, England, where Roger Sellar is noted. In the 1851 United Kingdom census record, the highest concentration of the surname Sellar was in Lancashire. There was also a significant presence of the Sellar surname in Cheshire and Staffordshire in the same census.
Today, the surname Sellar is still most commonly found in the United Kingdom, although it can be found in other countries as well. Variations of the Sellar surname, such as Sellers, Cellar, Sellears, Sellor, Sellars and Sellersmith, can be found in various parts of the world.
Famous people with the name Sellar
- Christopher Sellears: an actor, writer and director.
- Ken Sellears: a former NFL player.
- John Sellears: an actor and voiceover artist.
- Krysta Sellears: an actress and singer.
- Addison Sellears: a neuroscientist and entrepreneur.
- Rory Sellar: an artist and entrepreneur.
- Brad Sellears: a professional snowboarder.
- Skylar Sellears: a professional wake-surfer.
- Creed Sellears: an education specialist and author.
- Derrick Sellears: an NFL football player.
- Beau Sellears: a professional volleyball player.
- Ainsley McSellears: an Olympic swimmer.
- Celeste Sellears: a lifestyle influencer and content creator.
- Jevon Sellears: a former NBA player.
- Bobby Sellears: a hairstylist and makeup artist.
- Jillian Sellears: a professional dancer and contemporary artist.
- Emmet Sellears: a former MLS soccer player.
- Jane Sellears: an opera singer.
- Rafaël Sellears: a businessman and entrepreneur.
- Louis Sellears: a wine connoisseur and restaurateur.