Surname Selsam - Meaning and Origin
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Selsam: What does the surname Selsam mean?
The last name Selsam is of Anglo-Saxon origin. It literally translates to mean "one who resides near a place cleared of underbrush; one who lives by a clearing". Historically, the name may have originally belonged to someone who owned property in an area with a lot of undergrowth or was part of a clearing.
The Selsam surname is thought to have come from a place name that was derived from Castlesham, an old manor house located in the county of Wiltshire in southern England. The place name is derived from the Old English term "sel", which means a set of marked boundaries that often divided a rural landscape.
Variations of this surname include Salsam, Salsham, and Silsam. Other known variations include Salsoms, Salsomes, and Selcomes.
Today, the last name Selsam is still prominent in the United States, United Kingdom, and Ireland. Census Bureau data from 2019 shows that 1,653 people living in the United States have Selsam as their family name. Although the last name is not as commonly heard as some, it still carries a proud tradition of hard work and connection to the landscape.
Order DNA origin analysisSelsam: Where does the name Selsam come from?
The surname Selsam is most commonly found in the United States, especially in the states of Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Michigan. The name is believed to have originated in Germany, where it was sometimes spelled Sausam, and it may be derived from an old German first name, Sailbert.
In Ohio, the name can be found in a few counties, most prominently in Allen, Crawford, and Mercer counties in the northwest part of the state. In Pennsylvania, the name is more widespread, and can be found throughout the state, but it is especially concentrated in the northwest and in the suburban Philadelphia area. Michigan is a more recent destination for Selsam families, but many can be seen in Grand Rapids and the surrounding areas of West Michigan.
The name can also be found in other parts of the world. For example, there are Selsam families in Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, and various places in continental Europe. In Canada, the name is especially prominent in Ontario and British Columbia.
It is estimated that there are around 4,000 people in the world today with the last name Selsam, with the majority of them being located in the United States.
Variations of the surname Selsam
Selsam is a German and English surname with a variety of spellings and related surnames. The spelling variations include Salzmann, Salsman, Selsam, Selsmann, Selzmann, Silzmann, and Szilzmann.
The surname Selsam is thought to be derived from the Middle High German word for “salt,” salz. This indicates that the surname may have originated as an occupational name for someone who worked in the salt trade. Another possibility is that the surname is a habitational name for someone who lived near a salt mine, or that it derived from the name of a place associated with salt mining.
The English variant of Selsam is sometimes spelled Salsman. This spelling is more likely to be found in the United States. Other related surnames include Salsberg, Salsbury, and Saltsman. All of these surnames are derived from the Middle High German salz.
Sylsma is the Dutch spelling of the same surname. This variant is derived from the Dutch word for salt, zoalz. Another Dutch surname with the same origin is Sylzema.
In Germany, the spelling of Selsam is often spelled Selzmann. This surname is closely related to the German word for salt, Salz. Other German variants include Salzman, Selsmann, Silzmann, and Szilzmann.
The spelling of the surname may have changed over time and across different countries of origin. Therefore, it’s a good idea to research all of the possible variants and related surnames to ensure accurate research.
Famous people with the name Selsam
- Sylvia Selsam: A children's author and poet, she is best known for her works about the natural world.
- Arthur Selsam: An American art collector and patron, he founded the Selsam Art Foundation.
- Lou Selsam: Founder of Lou Selsam & Co., a clothing store in Santa Barbara, California.
- Amy Selsam: Founder of Unsnag, a platform which helps consumers dispute online businesses.
- Karen Selsam: A former professional basketball player who played in the Women’s Professional Basketball League (WBL).
- Jamie Selsam: A former professional football player, he most notably played for the NFL’s Dallas Cowboys and San Diego Chargers.
- Tyler Selsam: Founder and CEO of Color, a startup that provides family-friendly entertainment and educational media programming.
- Ashley Selsam: A professional lacrosse player, she plays on the Long Island Sound Women’s Lacrosse team.
- Matt Selsam: Founder of Plant to Plate, a company that creates healthy plant-based recipes designed to help their customers lead a more balanced lifestyle.
- Krystal Selsam: Founder of Here We Bloom, a lifestyle blog that inspires readers to create positive spaces within their homes.