History of your Surname
Get access to Selig family records.Start a free trial

Selig Family History

Selig Name Meaning

South German: nickname for a person with a cheerful disposition from Middle High German selig ‘happy fortunate’ or a variant of Salge The surname Selig is also found in France (mainly Alsace) and in Czechia. Jewish (Ashkenazic): from the Yiddish male personal name Zelik ‘fortunate blessed’ (compare 1 above).

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


Similar surnames: Seelig, Feig, Selin, Belin, Steig, Seid, Selle, Serio, Sell, Henig

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 Selig family from?

You can see how Selig families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Selig family name was found in the USA, the UK, and Canada between 1840 and 1920. The most Selig families were found in USA in 1880. In 1840 there were 2 Selig families living in Pennsylvania. This was about 67% of all the recorded Selig's in USA. Pennsylvania had the highest population of Selig families in 1840.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Selig surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.

What did your Selig ancestors do for a living?

In 1940, Salesman and Housewife were the top reported jobs for men and women in the USA named Selig. 18% of Selig men worked as a Salesman and 12% of Selig women worked as a Housewife. Some less common occupations for Americans named Selig were Manager and Stenographer. .

View Census Data for Selig | 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

  • Salesman
    18%
  • Laborer
    10%
  • Farmer
    7%
  • Manager
    5%

Top Female Occupations In 1940

  • Housewife
    12%
  • Teacher
    11%
  • Housekeeper
    8%
  • Stenographer
    8%
Black & white image of two construction labourers

What Selig family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 13,000 census records available for the last name Selig. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Selig census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search US census records for Selig

Passenger Lists

There are 5,000 immigration records available for the last name Selig. 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 Selig immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 3,000 military records available for the last name Selig. For the veterans among your Selig ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Selig military records

You've only scratched the surface of Selig family history

Discover More

What is the average Selig lifespan?

Between 1955 and 2004, in the United States, Selig life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1959, and highest in 1996. The average life expectancy for Selig in 1955 was 59, and 79 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Selig

Discover the unique achievements of ancestors in the Selig family tree

Explore Your Tree

Browse profiles of historical people with the Selig last name

Search for another surname
Enter last name/surname
Start a 14-Day Free Trial