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Selvy Family History

Selvy Surname Meaning

English (Somerset): variant of Silvey. This form of the surname is now rare in Britain.

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


Similar surnames: 

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Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Where is the Selvy family from?

You can see how Selvy families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Selvy family name was found in the USA, the UK, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Selvy families were found in USA in 1880. In 1891 there were 5 Selvy families living in Staffordshire. This was about 45% of all the recorded Selvy's in United Kingdom. Staffordshire had the highest population of Selvy families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Selvy 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 Selvy ancestors do for a living?

In 1940, Laborer and Housework were the top reported jobs for men and women in the USA named Selvy. 43% of Selvy men worked as a Laborer and 60% of Selvy women worked as a Housework. Some less common occupations for Americans named Selvy were Truck Driver and Domestic.

View Census Data for Selvy | 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.

United States shown, England data unavailable

Top Male Occupations In 1940

  • Laborer
    43%
  • Pharmacist
    12%
  • Helper
    8%
  • Truck Driver
    8%

Top Female Occupations In 1940

  • Housework
    60%
  • Domestic
    40%

What Selvy family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 2,000 census records available for the last name Selvy. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Selvy census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Selvy

Passenger Lists

There are 77 immigration records available for the last name Selvy. 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 Selvy immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 365 military records available for the last name Selvy. For the veterans among your Selvy ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Selvy military records

You've only scratched the surface of Selvy family history

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What is the average Selvy lifespan?

Between 1956 and 2003, in the United States, Selvy life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1967, and highest in 1962. The average life expectancy for Selvy in 1956 was 59, and 69 in 2003.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Selvy

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Selvy 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.

Discover the unique achievements of ancestors in the Selvy family tree

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