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Selvey Family History

Selvey Surname Meaning

English (Staffordshire and Derbyshire): variant of Silvey.

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 Selvey family from?

You can see how Selvey families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Selvey family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Selvey families were found in United Kingdom in 1891. In 1911 there was 1 Selvey family living in British Columbia. This was about 33% of all the recorded Selvey's in Canada. British Columbia and 2 other provinces had the highest population of Selvey families in 1911.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Selvey 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 Selvey ancestors do for a living?

In 1940, Laborer and Housewife were the top reported jobs for men and women in the USA named Selvey. 29% of Selvey men worked as a Laborer and 30% of Selvey women worked as a Housewife. Some less common occupations for Americans named Selvey were Miner and Operator.

View Census Data for Selvey | 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
    29%
  • Farmer
    19%
  • Truck Driver
    6%
  • Miner
    5%

Top Female Occupations In 1940

  • Housewife
    30%
  • Maid
    15%
  • Waitress
    15%
  • Operator
    10%

What Selvey family records will you find?

Census Records

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

Search Canadian census records for Selvey

Passenger Lists

There are 411 immigration records available for the last name Selvey. 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 Selvey immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 1,000 military records available for the last name Selvey. For the veterans among your Selvey ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Selvey military records

You've only scratched the surface of Selvey family history

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What is the average Selvey lifespan?

Between 1957 and 2004, in the United States, Selvey life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1972, and highest in 1988. The average life expectancy for Selvey in 1957 was 59, and 76 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Selvey

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Selvey 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.

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