Seles
An occupational surname derived from the Old French word "selier", meaning saddler or maker of saddles.
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 171 Americans carry the last name Seles. That puts it at #118,853 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.05 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 2,004,411 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Seles surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
Bearers in the US
171
1 in 2,004,411
Census rank
#118,853
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.1
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
146
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 146 bearers of the surname Seles in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.05 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 118853rd position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Seles, the largest self-reported group is White at 76.7%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (15.8%) and Black (4.1%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Seles
The surname SELES is thought to have originated in Serbia, with its roots dating back to the 15th century. This surname is believed to be derived from the Serbo-Croatian word "selo," meaning "village" or "settlement." It is likely that the name was initially given to individuals who hailed from a particular village or resided in a rural area.
Some of the earliest recorded instances of the surname SELES can be found in historical documents from the region of modern-day Serbia and Montenegro. One notable example is the mention of a certain Jovan SELES in a land registry from the year 1487, where he was recorded as a landowner in the village of Gornji Milanovac.
During the 16th and 17th centuries, as the Ottoman Empire expanded its territories, many Serbs migrated to various parts of Europe, including Croatia, Hungary, and Austria. This diaspora contributed to the spread of the surname SELES across these regions, where it underwent slight variations in spelling, such as SELEŠ or SZELESH.
In the 19th century, a notable figure bearing the surname SELES was Jovan SELES (1836-1909), a Serbian lawyer and politician who served as the Minister of Justice in the Principality of Serbia during the late 1800s.
Another historical figure of note was Milica SELES (1892-1973), a Serbian writer and journalist who gained recognition for her literary works and contributions to the cultural scene of early 20th century Belgrade.
In the realm of sports, one of the most famous individuals with the surname SELES is Monica SELES (born 1973), the former world No. 1 professional tennis player from Serbia (then part of Yugoslavia). Her remarkable career, which included nine Grand Slam singles titles, brought significant attention to the name SELES on the international stage.
Across various historical records, the surname SELES has also been associated with notable individuals in fields such as academia, arts, and military service, further contributing to its legacy and recognition throughout the centuries.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Seles
Among Census respondents with the surname Seles, the largest self-reported group is White at 76.7%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (15.8%) and Black (4.1%).
The bar chart below shows how Seles bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2010 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Seles surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White76.7%
- Hispanic or Latino15.8%
- Black or African American4.1%
Year on year
2010 vs 2010 Census
How has the Seles surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
| Metric | 2010 | 2010 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #118,853 | #118,853 | 0.0% |
| Count | 146 | 146 | 0.0% |
| Per 100K | 0.05 | 0.05 | 0.0% |
Between the 2010 and 2010 Census, the number of Seles bearers went from 146 to 146 (+0.0% change). The surname held its position in the national ranking, going from #118,853 to #118,853.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Seles
FAQ
Seles surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Seles?
The surname Seles holds position #118,853 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 171 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 0.05 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Seles surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Seles, the largest self-reported group is White at 76.7%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (15.8%) and Black (4.1%). These figures come from the 2010 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Where does this surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These tables list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2010 Census, along with a frequency rate and self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.