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

Selmi, 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 Selmi surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Selmi in America

Selmi is the 126765th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Selmi surname appeared 135 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Selmi.

We can also compare 2010 data for Selmi 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 Selmi

The surname SELMI is believed to have originated in Italy, specifically in the region of Tuscany, during the medieval period. It is derived from the Italian word "selmo," which means "helmet" in English. This suggests that the name may have been initially associated with someone who was involved in the production or use of helmets, potentially a blacksmith or a soldier.

One of the earliest known references to the name SELMI can be found in the archives of the city of Florence, dating back to the 13th century. In these records, there are mentions of individuals bearing the surname SELMI, indicating that the name was already established in the region at that time.

The surname SELMI has also been documented in various historical manuscripts and records from other parts of Italy, such as Siena and Pisa. This suggests that the name may have spread beyond its initial origins in Tuscany, possibly through migration or trade.

During the Renaissance period, the SELMI surname gained prominence with the birth of Sebastiano Selmi (1569-1624), a renowned Italian painter from Florence. His works, which included religious paintings and portraits, can still be found in several churches and museums throughout Italy.

Another notable figure with the surname SELMI was Giovanni Battista Selmi (1788-1869), an Italian chemist and physicist from Reggio Emilia. He made significant contributions to the field of electrochemistry and is credited with the discovery of several chemical compounds.

In the 19th century, the SELMI surname was also associated with Antonio Selmi (1834-1901), an Italian writer and journalist from Bologna. He was known for his works on literature and cultural criticism, as well as his advocacy for social reforms.

Additionally, the name SELMI can be found in connection with various place names and locations throughout Italy. For instance, the town of Selmi in the province of Trento is believed to have derived its name from the surname SELMI, potentially indicating the presence of families bearing this name in that area.

Throughout its history, the surname SELMI has undergone minor variations in spelling, such as Selmo, Selmos, and Selmis, which can be attributed to regional dialects and transcription practices over time.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Selmi

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

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 Selmi 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 Selmi 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 Selmi was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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