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

Selvage, 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 Selvage surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Selvage in America

Selvage is the 22592nd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Selvage surname appeared 1,137 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 Selvage.

We can also compare 2010 data for Selvage 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 Selvage

The surname Selvage is believed to have originated in England during the medieval period, deriving from the Old English word "selfaeg," which means "the edge or selvage of cloth." This term was commonly used in the textile industry to describe the self-finished edge of woven fabric, preventing it from unraveling.

The name Selvage likely emerged as an occupational surname, initially referring to individuals involved in the weaving or textile trade. It is possible that early bearers of this name were employed as weavers, cloth makers, or worked in related professions handling the selvage of fabrics.

Historical records suggest that the name Selvage first appeared in various regions of England, including Yorkshire, Lincolnshire, and Norfolk, where the textile industry was prominent during the Middle Ages. The earliest known spelling variations of the name include Selvage, Selvedge, Selvedge, and Selvidge.

One of the earliest recorded mentions of the name Selvage can be found in the Sussex Subsidy Rolls of 1296, where a William Selvage is listed. Further references to the name can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire in 1379, which mention a John Selvage.

Notable individuals with the surname Selvage throughout history include Richard Selvage (c. 1540-1615), an English merchant and explorer who traveled to the Americas and was involved in the early colonization efforts of Virginia. Another figure is William Selvage (1638-1701), a prominent Quaker minister and author from Pennsylvania, who wrote several religious treatises and sermons.

In the realm of literature, Samuel Selvage (1783-1867) was an English poet and writer from Staffordshire, known for his collections of verse and pastoral poems. A more recent figure is Robert Selvage (1910-1994), an American businessman and philanthropist who founded the Selvage & Lee public relations firm in New York City.

During the 16th and 17th centuries, the name Selvage was also associated with several place names in England, such as Selvage Farm in Lincolnshire and Selvage's Close in Norfolk, further indicating the potential connection between the name and the textile industry or specific locations where weaving was practiced.

While the surname Selvage is not among the most common surnames today, it has a rich historical background rooted in the textile trades of medieval England and the individuals who played a role in this industry's development.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Selvage

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

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

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

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