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Selmes Family History

Selmes Surname Meaning

From Middle English Selm (Old English Sigehelm ‘victory’ + ‘helmet’ as in the Sussex place-name Selmeston).

The modern form shows post-medieval excrescent -s.

Source: The Oxford Dictionary of Family Names in Britain and Ireland, 2016


Similar surnames: 

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Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Where is the Selmes family from?

You can see how Selmes families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Selmes family name was found in the USA, the UK, and Canada between 1840 and 1920. The most Selmes families were found in United Kingdom in 1891. In 1891 there were 70 Selmes families living in Sussex. This was about 59% of all the recorded Selmes's in United Kingdom. Sussex had the highest population of Selmes families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Selmes 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 Selmes 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 Selmes. 23% of Selmes men worked as a General Labourer and 69% of Selmes women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Selmes were Builders Labourer and Household Duties (unpaid).

View Census Data for Selmes | 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
    23%
  • Gardener
    23%
  • Bricklayer
    12%
  • Builders Labourer
    12%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    69%
  • Housewife
    5%
  • Private Means
    5%
  • Household Duties (unpaid)
    5%

What Selmes family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 7,000 census records available for the last name Selmes. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Selmes census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Selmes

Passenger Lists

There are 781 immigration records available for the last name Selmes. 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 Selmes immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 304 military records available for the last name Selmes. For the veterans among your Selmes ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Selmes military records

You've only scratched the surface of Selmes family history

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What is the average Selmes lifespan?

Between 1964 and 1999, in the United States, Selmes life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1994, and highest in 1972. The average life expectancy for Selmes in 1964 was 77, and 87 in 1999.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Selmes

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Selmes 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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