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Sellen Family History

Sellen Surname Meaning

German: possibly a habitational name from a place so called in Westphalia.

Swedish (Sellén): ornamental name probably formed with the placename element sel ‘stretch of smooth water’ + the suffix -én a derivative of Latin -enius.

English (Kent): habitational name from Selling or Sellindge (both Kent) though the distribution suggests that the former is the more likely source of the surname.

Both placenames probably mean ‘the companions the people who share a dwelling’ from Old English setl sedl ‘abode dwelling’ + the groupname suffix -ingas.

Source: Dictionary of American Family Names 2nd edition, 2022


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Where is the Sellen family from?

You can see how Sellen families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Sellen family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Sellen families were found in United Kingdom in 1891. In 1891 there were 194 Sellen families living in Kent. This was about 57% of all the recorded Sellen's in United Kingdom. Kent had the highest population of Sellen families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Sellen surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.
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What did your Sellen ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, General Labourer and Unpaid Domestic Duties were the top reported jobs for men and women in the United Kingdom named Sellen. 58% of Sellen men worked as a General Labourer and 86% of Sellen women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Sellen were Locomotive Fitter and Household Duties (unpaid).

View Census Data for Sellen | Data not to scale

*We display top occupations by gender to maintain their historical accuracy during times when men and women often performed different jobs.

Top Male Occupations In 1939

  • General Labourer
    58%
  • Gardener
    15%
  • Lorry Driver
    15%
  • Locomotive Fitter
    15%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    86%
  • Unpaid Domestic
    7%
  • Paid Domestic Duties
    4%
  • Household Duties (unpaid)
    2%

What Sellen family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 13,000 census records available for the last name Sellen. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Sellen census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Sellen

Passenger Lists

There are 1,000 immigration records available for the last name Sellen. Passenger lists are your ticket to knowing when your ancestors arrived in the UK, and how they made the journey - from the ship name to ports of arrival and departure.

View all Sellen immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 759 military records available for the last name Sellen. For the veterans among your Sellen ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Sellen military records

You've only scratched the surface of Sellen family history

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What is the average Sellen lifespan?

Between 1948 and 2004, in the United States, Sellen life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1991, and highest in 1989. The average life expectancy for Sellen in 1948 was 63, and 75 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Sellen

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Sellen ancestors lived in harsh conditions. A short lifespan might also indicate health problems that were once prevalent in your family. The SSDI is a searchable database of more than 70 million names. You can find birthdates, death dates, addresses and more.

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