2010
#154,907
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 105
First available Census row
Per 100,000 0.04
Very Rare Last name
Selfors
A locational surname possibly derived from Selford or Salford, place names in England.
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 116 Americans carry the last name Selfors. That puts it at #155,270 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.03 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 2,954,779 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Selfors surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, a multi-census history view, 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
116
1 in 2,954,779
Census rank
#155,270
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.0
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
101
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 101 bearers of the surname Selfors in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.03 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 155270th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Selfors, the largest self-reported group is White at 92.1%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (6.9%) and American Indian/Alaska Native (1.0%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Selfors
The surname Selfors has its origins in medieval England, tracing back to the early 14th century. It is believed to have derived from an Old English phrase, "self hors," which referred to an individual who owned or worked with horses. This occupation-based surname would have distinguished those involved in equine-related trades or activities from others in their community.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the Selfors name appears in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire from 1327, where a William Selfors is mentioned as a taxpayer. These rolls were financial records maintained by the Exchequer of England, providing valuable insights into the names and occupations of individuals during that period.
In the late 14th century, the surname is found in the Court Rolls of Walsall, Staffordshire, where a John Selfors is documented as a landholder. These court records often contain detailed information about property transactions, legal disputes, and the names of local residents, making them a rich source for genealogical research.
During the 15th century, the Selfors name gained prominence in the county of Cheshire. The Visitation of Cheshire, a comprehensive survey of the county's gentry conducted in 1613, mentions a notable family bearing the Selfors surname. These visitations were undertaken to establish claims to coats of arms and trace family lineages, providing valuable insights into the history and connections of prominent families.
One of the earliest recorded individuals with the Selfors surname was Sir Robert Selfors (1420-1492), a prominent landowner and knight from Shropshire. He is known to have served as a member of Parliament and played a role in the Wars of the Roses, a series of civil wars fought between the houses of Lancaster and York for control of the English throne.
Another notable figure was Margaret Selfors (1535-1602), an English noblewoman and heiress from Derbyshire. She inherited substantial estates and played a significant role in the local affairs of her time, leaving behind a wealth of historical records documenting her life and influence.
In the 17th century, the Selfors name appears in various parish records across England, particularly in the counties of Lancashire, Staffordshire, and Warwickshire. These records often include details of births, marriages, and deaths, providing a valuable resource for tracing family histories and migrations.
One notable individual from this period was Reverend William Selfors (1612-1678), a respected clergyman and theologian who served as the rector of St. Mary's Church in Stafford. His sermons and writings have been preserved, offering insights into the religious and intellectual climate of the time.
Another notable figure was Sir Thomas Selfors (1650-1721), a successful merchant and philanthropist from Bristol. He amassed considerable wealth through his trading ventures and was known for his generosity, founding several charitable institutions and endowing scholarships for education.
Throughout its history, the Selfors surname has been associated with various occupations, from landowners and members of the gentry to clergymen, merchants, and professionals. While the name's origins can be traced back to medieval England, it has since spread to other parts of the world, carried by migration and the dispersal of families over the centuries.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Selfors
Among Census respondents with the surname Selfors, the largest self-reported group is White at 92.1%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (6.9%) and American Indian/Alaska Native (1.0%).
The bar chart below shows how Selfors bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2020 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.
Percentages are shown for every Census year so the breakdown stays comparable over time. When the source file also includes raw headcounts, Name Census shows those alongside the percentages in the legend.
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 Selfors surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White92.1% · 93
- Hispanic or Latino6.9% · 7
- American Indian and Alaska Native1.0% · 1
Timeline
Historical Census data for Selfors
Selfors appears in 2 published Census surname files: 2010, 2020. The cards below show how the name's rank and bearer count changed across each release.
2020
#155,270
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 101
-4 bearers (-3.8%)
Per 100,000 0.03
Rank movement Down 363 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | #154,907 | 105 | 0.04 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2020 | #155,270 | 101 | 0.03 | -4 bearers (-3.8%) | Down 363 places |
For 2020, the Census Bureau published race and Hispanic-origin columns as counts rather than percentages. Name Census converts those counts back into shares so the ancestry section stays comparable with the older surname files.
Year on year
2010 vs 2020 Census
How has the Selfors surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
20102020
| Metric | 2010 | 2020 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #154,907 | #155,270 | -0.2% |
| Count | 105 | 101 | -3.8% |
| Per 100K | 0.04 | 0.03 | -15.5% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Selfors bearers went from 105 to 101 (-3.8% change). The surname moved down 363 positions in the national ranking, going from #154,907 to #155,270.
FAQ
Selfors surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Selfors?
Name Census estimates that about 116 living Americans carry the surname Selfors. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 2,954,779 residents.
How common is Selfors?
Selfors ranks #155,270 in the 2020 Census surname tables and is classified on this site as "Very Rare." The Census recorded the name at a frequency of 0.03 per 100,000 residents, which is about 0 people out of every 100,000.
How many people with this surname were counted in the Census?
The raw 2020 Census file counted 101 people with the surname Selfors. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (116), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
What does 0.03 per 100,000 actually mean?
It is the Census Bureau's normalized frequency measure. A rate of 0.03 per 100,000 means that if you picked a random group of 100,000 U.S. residents, you would expect about 0 of them to have the surname Selfors.
Has Selfors become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Selfors went from 105 recorded bearers to 101. That is a decrease of 4 (-3.8%). In the national ranking it fell from #154,907 to #155,270.
What does the Census say about the background of Selfors?
Among Census respondents with the surname Selfors, the largest self-reported group is White at 92.1%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (6.9%) and American Indian/Alaska Native (1.0%). These figures come from the 2020 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Which group reports this surname most often?
White is the largest self-reported group for the surname Selfors in the 2020 Census, accounting for 92.1% (93 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Selfors appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are White (92.1%), Hispanic (6.9%), American Indian/Alaska Native (1.0%). For 2020, the source file also published raw headcounts for each group, which is why this page can show both percentages and counts in the ancestry section.
Is this page using the latest Census data?
Yes. This page is using the latest surname file currently loaded on Name Census, which is 2020. The historical section above also keeps any older Census surname entries we have for Selfors (2010, 2020).
Does the Census include every surname?
No. The Census Bureau only publishes surnames that appeared at least 100 times in a given decennial Census. That means very rare surnames are excluded entirely, and a surname can appear in one Census release but disappear from a later one if it falls below the reporting threshold.
Why don't the ancestry percentages always add up to exactly 100%?
There are two main reasons: rounding and suppression. The Census Bureau rounds published values, and it may suppress very small cells to protect privacy. For 2020, the Bureau also published raw group counts rather than direct percentages, so Name Census converts those counts back into shares for comparability across census years.
What does Selfors mean?
A locational surname possibly derived from Selford or Salford, place names in England. The fuller origin note on this page goes into more detail.
Where does the surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These files list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2020 Census, along with a count, a per-100,000 rate, and a self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.
How does Name Census estimate living bearers?
For surnames, Name Census does not age cohorts the way it does for first names. Instead, it takes the Census Bureau's published frequency for Selfors (0.03 per 100,000) and applies that rate to the current U.S. resident population to estimate how many living Americans have the surname today.
How many Americans have the surname Selfors?
For a faster, more casual read, check HowManyOfMe.org — our sister site built around that single question.