Selick
A derived surname potentially referring to someone from the German town of Selicke.
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 103 Americans carry the last name Selick. That puts it at #160,975 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.03 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 3,327,712 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Selick 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
103
1 in 3,327,712
Census rank
#160,975
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.0
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
100
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 100 bearers of the surname Selick in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.03 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 160975th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Selick, the largest self-reported group is White at 98.0%.
Origin
Meaning and origin of Selick
The surname Selick originated in Germany, with the earliest known records dating back to the 16th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old German word "selig," meaning "blessed" or "happy." The name was initially associated with individuals who were considered to be in a state of contentment or good fortune.
One of the earliest documented instances of the name Selick can be found in the parish records of the town of Rothenburg ob der Tauber, located in the region of Franconia, Germany. In 1587, a man named Hans Selick was recorded as a local resident and tradesman.
During the 17th and 18th centuries, the Selick name spread across various regions of Germany, particularly in the southern and central areas. Several notable individuals from this period bore the surname, including Johann Selick (1623-1697), a respected theologian and author from the city of Nuremberg, and Anna Selick (1671-1738), a prominent philanthropist who established a charitable foundation in the town of Bamberg.
As Germans began to emigrate to other parts of Europe and the Americas in the 19th century, the Selick name traveled with them. In 1842, a family by the name of Selick settled in the town of Grimsby, located in the English county of Lincolnshire, where they established a successful fishing business.
One of the most famous individuals with the surname Selick was Henry Selick (1952-), an American stop-motion animator and film director. Selick is best known for his work on acclaimed films such as "The Nightmare Before Christmas" (1993) and "Coraline" (2009). He was born in Glen Ridge, New Jersey, and his ancestors can be traced back to German immigrants who arrived in the United States in the late 19th century.
Other notable individuals with the surname Selick include:
- Wilhelm Selick (1876-1942), a German politician and member of the Reichstag in the early 20th century.
- Maria Selick (1902-1987), an Austrian opera singer and celebrated mezzo-soprano.
- Otto Selick (1915-2003), a German-American scientist and pioneer in the field of nuclear physics.
- Katharina Selick (1932-2017), a German artist renowned for her abstract expressionist paintings.
While the surname Selick may not be among the most common in the world, its history can be traced back centuries, with its roots firmly embedded in the cultural and linguistic traditions of Germany.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Selick
Among Census respondents with the surname Selick, the largest self-reported group is White at 98.0%.
The bar chart below shows how Selick 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 Selick surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White98.0%
Year on year
2010 vs 2010 Census
How has the Selick 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 | #160,975 | #160,975 | 0.0% |
| Count | 100 | 100 | 0.0% |
| Per 100K | 0.03 | 0.03 | 0.0% |
Between the 2010 and 2010 Census, the number of Selick bearers went from 100 to 100 (+0.0% change). The surname held its position in the national ranking, going from #160,975 to #160,975.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Selick
FAQ
Selick surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Selick?
The surname Selick holds position #160,975 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 103 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 0.03 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Selick surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Selick, the largest self-reported group is White at 98.0%. 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.