Find out how popular the last name Selig is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Selig.

Selig, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Selig surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Selig in America

Selig is the 14712th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Selig surname appeared 2,020 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Selig.

We can also compare 2010 data for Selig to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name Selig

The surname Selig has its origins in Germany, with records dating back to the late medieval period in the 14th and 15th centuries. The name is derived from the German word "selig," which translates to "blessed" or "blissful." This suggests that the name may have been initially bestowed upon individuals who were perceived as virtuous or pious.

Early references to the Selig name can be found in various historical documents, including church records and municipal archives from regions such as Bavaria and Saxony. One notable example is the mention of a Konrad Selig in the Nuremberg city records from the year 1397.

The Selig surname is also associated with certain place names, particularly in areas where German communities were established. For instance, the town of Seligstadt in Thuringia, Germany, may have influenced the development of the name in that region.

Among the earliest recorded individuals bearing the Selig surname is Johannes Selig, a scholar and theologian born in Saxony around 1460. He was renowned for his contributions to the study of biblical exegesis and his role in the early Protestant Reformation.

Another notable figure was Christoph Selig, a prominent Lutheran minister and writer who lived in the late 16th century. He authored several works on theology and religious doctrine, leaving a lasting impact on the intellectual and spiritual landscape of his time.

In the artistic realm, the Selig name is associated with Johann Selig, a German painter and engraver born in Nuremberg in 1675. His works, primarily depicting religious scenes and portraits, were highly regarded during the Baroque period.

Transitioning to the 19th century, one cannot overlook the contributions of Hermann Selig, a pioneering German chemist and industrialist born in 1825. He played a crucial role in the development of synthetic dyes and the establishment of the modern chemical industry.

Another influential figure was Gottfried Selig, a German-American scholar and linguist born in 1865. He made significant contributions to the study of Germanic languages and authored several influential texts on language and linguistics.

Throughout its history, the Selig surname has been carried by individuals from diverse backgrounds and professions, reflecting the rich tapestry of German culture and heritage.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Selig

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Selig.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Selig was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Selig has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

The history and meaning of the name Selig was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Selig, please contact us.

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