Selzer History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
During the Middle Ages, the surname of Selzer was used in Germany. While the patronymic and metronymic surnames, which are derived from the name of the father and mother respectively, are the most common form of a hereditary surname in Germany, occupational surnames also emerged during the late Middle Ages. Many people, such as the Selzer family, adopted the name of their occupation as their surname. However, an occupational name did not become a hereditary surname until the office or type of employment became hereditary. The surname Selzer was an occupational name for a person who sold or extracted salt. A variety of similar German surnames are derived from the Old German word "salt," meaning "salt."
Early Origins of the Selzer family
The surname Selzer was first found in the ancient province of Thuringia, where the name was closely identified in early mediaeval times with the feudal society which would become prominent throughout European history. The name would later emerge as a noble family with great influence, having many distinguished branches, and become noted for its involvement in social, economic and political affairs.
Early History of the Selzer family
This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Selzer research. Another 90 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1716 and 1845 are included under the topic Early Selzer History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Selzer Spelling Variations
Spelling variations of this family name include: Selzer, Seltzer, Saelzer, Saeltzer, Saltzer and others.
Early Notables of the Selzer family
Prominent bearers of the family name Selzer at this time were
- Johann Edmund Selzer von Herbissheim, who was a lieutenant general in the Austrian army and was knighted in 1716 for his outstanding service...
Selzer Ranking
In the United States, the name Selzer is the 14,764th most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 1
Selzer migration to the United States +
Some of the first settlers of this family name were:
Selzer Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
- Jacob Selzer, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1793 2
Selzer Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
- Joh Adam Selzer, aged 7, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1806 2
- Ludwig Selzer, aged 17, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1806 2
- Anna Marie Selzer, aged 43, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1806 2
- Carl Selzer, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1806 2
- Catharina Selzer, aged 3, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1806 2
- ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Contemporary Notables of the name Selzer (post 1700) +
- Richard Selzer (1928-2016), American surgeon and author
- Adam Selzer (b. 1980), American author from Des Moines, Iowa of young adult and middle grade novels
- Milton Selzer (1918-2006), American stage, film, and television actor
- Edward "Eddie" Selzer (1893-1970), American film producer for Warner Brothers Cartoons from 1944 to 1957
- Peter Selzer (b. 1946), retired East German Olympic race walker who competed in the 1968 and 1972 Summer Olympics
Citations +
- "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
- Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)