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Selva Family History

Selva Surname Meaning

Catalan and Italian: from any of various places in Catalonia and the Balearic Islands (Spain) or northern Italy named Selva as for instance the Catalan district La Selva from selva ‘wood’ Latin silva.

This surname of both possible origins is also found in southern France.

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


Similar surnames: 

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Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Where is the Selva family from?

You can see how Selva families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Selva family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Selva families were found in USA in 1920. In 1911 there were 6 Selva families living in Nova Scotia. This was about 40% of all the recorded Selva's in Canada. Nova Scotia had the highest population of Selva families in 1911.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Selva surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.
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What did your Selva ancestors do for a living?

In 1940, Laborer and Laborer were the top reported jobs for men and women in the USA named Selva. 44% of Selva men worked as a Laborer and 14% of Selva women worked as a Laborer. Some less common occupations for Americans named Selva were Foreman and Seamstress.

View Census Data for Selva | 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.

United States shown, Canada data unavailable

Top Male Occupations In 1940

  • Laborer
    44%
  • Farm Laborer
    7%
  • Truck Driver
    6%
  • Foreman
    4%

Top Female Occupations In 1940

  • Laborer
    14%
  • Clerk
    14%
  • Maid
    12%
  • Seamstress
    12%

What Selva family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 6,000 census records available for the last name Selva. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Selva census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search Canadian census records for Selva

Passenger Lists

There are 2,000 immigration records available for the last name Selva. Passenger lists are your ticket to knowing when your ancestors arrived in Canada, and how they made the journey - from the ship name to ports of arrival and departure.

View all Selva immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 528 military records available for the last name Selva. For the veterans among your Selva ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Selva military records

You've only scratched the surface of Selva family history

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What is the average Selva lifespan?

Between 1962 and 2004, in the United States, Selva life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1972, and highest in 1980. The average life expectancy for Selva in 1962 was 75, and 80 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Selva

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Selva ancestors lived in harsh conditions. A short lifespan might also indicate health problems that were once prevalent in your family. The SSDI is a searchable database of more than 70 million names. You can find birthdates, death dates, addresses and more.

Discover the unique achievements of ancestors in the Selva family tree

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