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Selmer Family History

Selmer Name Meaning

South German: variant of Sellmeyer .

Source: Dictionary of American Family Names 2nd edition, 2022


Similar surnames: Elmer, Helmer, Zelmer, Selzer, Selter, Selner, Selser, Seller, Semer

Search for a relative to learn more about your family history.

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Black & white image of a young woman scientist

Where is the Selmer family from?

You can see how Selmer families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Selmer family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Selmer families were found in USA in 1920. In 1840 there were 2 Selmer families living in Pennsylvania. This was about 67% of all the recorded Selmer's in USA. Pennsylvania had the highest population of Selmer families in 1840.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Selmer surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.

What did your Selmer ancestors do for a living?

In 1940, Laborer and Housewife were the top reported jobs for men and women in the USA named Selmer. 32% of Selmer men worked as a Laborer and 25% of Selmer women worked as a Housewife. Some less common occupations for Americans named Selmer were Farm Laborer and Stenographer. .

View Census Data for Selmer | Data not to scale

*We display top occupations by gender to maintain their historical accuracy during times when men and women often performed different jobs.

Top Male Occupations In 1940

  • Laborer
    32%
  • Farmer
    27%
  • Salesman
    11%
  • Farm Laborer
    6%

Top Female Occupations In 1940

  • Housewife
    25%
  • Secretary
    15%
  • Cook
    15%
  • Stenographer
    15%
Black & white image of two construction labourers

What Selmer family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 4,000 census records available for the last name Selmer. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Selmer census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search US census records for Selmer

Passenger Lists

There are 1,000 immigration records available for the last name Selmer. Passenger lists are your ticket to knowing when your ancestors arrived in the USA, and how they made the journey - from the ship name to ports of arrival and departure.

View all Selmer immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 824 military records available for the last name Selmer. For the veterans among your Selmer ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Selmer military records

You've only scratched the surface of Selmer family history

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What is the average Selmer lifespan?

Between 1962 and 2004, in the United States, Selmer life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1976, and highest in 2004. The average life expectancy for Selmer in 1962 was 70, and 91 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Selmer

Discover the unique achievements of ancestors in the Selmer family tree

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