Surname Selveyn - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'S'
Selveyn: What does the surname Selveyn mean?
The surname Selveyn is of Anglo-Saxon origin and its literal translation is 'one who lives by a willow tree', derived from the Olde English personal name Selu(e) and the Old English word 'vīeg', meaning 'willow'. This surname is thought to first appear as Survyne in the 13th century.
The Anglo-Saxons are a people who migrated to the British Isles during the 5th and 6th centuries from northern Germany and the Netherlands. During this time, they had strong cultural and linguistic influences on the area. As a result, many Anglo-Saxon surnames were created from Olde English words and names.
The Anglo-Saxon name Selveyn gives an insight into the owner's character or lifestyle, as many names were taken from physical characteristics or personal attributes. It is likely that someone with this Anglo-Saxon name was a person with strong family values and laid emphasis on personal relationships.
Today, the Selveyn name is still present in Britain, particularly in England and Wales, areas where the Anglo-Saxon influence is strongest. Furthermore, the name is believed to have spread to other parts of the world, including the United States, Canada, Australia and New Zealand.
The meaning behind the Selveyn surname provides genealogists with a fascinating insight into the lives of our ancestors, giving us a window into how lives were shaped centuries ago.
Order DNA origin analysisSelveyn: Where does the name Selveyn come from?
The last name Selveyn is an uncommon surname that is most commonly found in areas around the North Sea. It is also found in the Low Countries, particularly Belgium, where it is spelled Selvyn, and in Northern France, where it is spelt Selveines.
A significant population of Selveyns is located in the Netherlands, where the name can be traced back to the medieval Frisian region. In addition, there are a number of Selveyns in Germany, Northern Italy and parts of Scandinavia.
In more recent decades, the last name has spread throughout the world and a number of Selveyns can now be found primarily in the United States, Canada, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand. There are also a number of Latin American countries where the name is found, particularly in Argentina, Brazil and Mexico.
The surname Selveyn is still relatively rare and only a handful of people with this surname are found in the United States. It is not commonly found in the United Kingdom or Ireland either, so if you are searching for Selveyns in other parts of the world, a more comprehensive search is necessary.
Variations of the surname Selveyn
The surname Selveyn has various variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin. These include Selvan, Selvin, Selven, Selve, Sellvin, Selvey, Salven, Salvin and also its most notable variant Sellew.
The variant Sellew is the original Anglo-French form of the surname, and can be traced back to the Medieval Period when records of the name first began to appear in English church registers. It is derived from the Old French "sel," meaning "self," and "leu," meaning "close, dear." The combination of the two words denotes a special kind of closeness, and so the surname is thought to have originated to identify someone as special, or someone of a special relationship.
The other related spellings likely stem from the various ways the surname was spelled over time as more records were made. As the English language evolved, so did the way surnames were written. During the 16th and 17th centuries when surnames first began to become fixed, the name Selveyn is thought to have developed from alternative spellings including Selve, Selvan, Selvin, Selvey and Salven.
Today in the 21st century, the surname is still widely used and is present in many countries, particularly in the United Kingdom, United States, Canada, France, and Germany. Despite its few variants, the surname Selveyn is unique and is often used to identify someone of a special relationship.
Famous people with the name Selveyn
- Ellen Selveyn: Ellen is an artist and photographer from London. She has displayed her work in numerous galleries worldwide and is known for her creative and emotive images.
- Julie Selveyn: Julie is an author and screenwriter who has written short stories, novels and film scripts. She has won numerous awards for her work, including a British Academy of Film & Television Arts award.
- David Selveyn: David is a professional tennis player from Belgium. He has achieved success in the ATP tournament, and has competed in numerous Grand Slam competitions.
- Oliver Selveyn: Oliver is a popular music artist from the United Kingdom. He has released several albums and has done a number of international tours.
- Silas Selveyn: Silas is an actor who has appeared in several television shows and films. Most notably, he had a recurring role on the hit tv series, “The Goon Show.”
- Trace Selveyn: Trace is a model and fashion designer who has worked on some of the biggest fashion campaigns in the world. She has also been featured in numerous magazines, such as Vogue, Elle, and Harper’s Bazaar.
- Ruby Selveyn: Ruby is a basketball player who plays in the WNBA. She was drafted by the Chicago Sky and has since become one of the best players in the league.
- Lawrence Selveyn: Lawrence is a historian and professor at the University of Oxford. He has written several books about the history of the world, and oftentimes travels to different parts of the world to conduct research.