| ![Show Contents]() Self History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
Self is an ancient Anglo-Saxon name that is derived from the Old English given name Saulf. Self is a patronymic surname, which belongs to the category of hereditary surnames. Many patronymic surnames were formed by adopting the given name of an ancestor of the bearer, while others came from popular religious names, and from the names of secular heroes. In this case, the surname arose out of the vernacular tradition, and was likely the name of an ancestor of the bearer. The given name Saulf was composed of the elements sæ and wulf, which mean sea and wolf. 1 Early Origins of the Self familyThe surname Self was first found in the Domesday Book of 1086 where Saiulfus, Sahulfus, Saulf, Saolf, Saul, Seulf are all listed. Robert filius Seulfi was listed as a Knights Templar in Berkshire in 1185 and later William Sewolf was found in the Subsidy Rolls for Sussex in 1296. John and William Self were found in the Subsidy Rolls for Suffolk in 1327. 2 "The name Sewlf (sea-wolf) occurs in a charter of Canute, and it is probably the same as the Saulf in the Domesday of Derbyshire, where it is in the Scandinavian form. Hence may be our Salve, Self, Selves." 3 4 In Yorkshire, the Poll Tax Rolls of 1379 included: Cristiana del Schelf, 1379; and Johannes de Schelf. 5 Early History of the Self familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Self research. Another 101 words (7 lines of text) covering the year 1086 is included under the topic Early Self History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Self Spelling VariationsSelf has been spelled many different ways. Before English spelling became standardized over the last few hundred years, spelling variations in names were a common occurrence. As the English language changed in the Middle Ages, absorbing pieces of Latin and French, as well as other languages, the spelling of people's names also changed considerably, even over a single lifetime. Many variations of the name Self have been found, including Self, Selfe and others. Early Notables of the Self familyNotables of the family at this time include Self RankingIn the United States, the name Self is the 1,251st most popular surname with an estimated 24,870 people with that name. 6  Migration of the Self family to Ireland
Some of the Self family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt. More information about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
| Self migration to the United States | + |
In an attempt to escape the chaos experienced in England, many English families boarded overcrowded and diseased ships sailing for the shores of North America and other British colonies. Those families hardy enough, and lucky enough, to make the passage intact were rewarded with land and a social environment less prone to religious and political persecution. Many of these families became important contributors to the young colonies in which they settled. Early immigration and passenger lists have documented some of the first Selfs to arrive on North American shores:
Self Settlers in United States in the 17th Century- Isaac Self, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1682 7
Self Settlers in United States in the 18th Century- John Self, who settled in Pennsylvania in 1771
- Samuel Self, who settled in Pennsylvania in 1771
Self Settlers in United States in the 19th Century- Jane Self, who arrived in New York in 1834 7
| Self migration to Canada | + |
Some of the first settlers of this family name were: Self Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century- Edward Self, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1749
| Self migration to Australia | + |
Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include: Self Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century- Charles Self, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Eden" in 1838 8
- Mary Self, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Eden" in 1838 8
- Mr. William Self, English convict who was convicted in Bristol, England for 10 years, transported aboard the "Augusta Jessie" on 10th August 1838, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 9
- Mr. Henry Self, English convict who was convicted in London, England for 14 years, transported aboard the "Duncan" on 10th December 1840, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 10
- Alfred Self, aged 13, English convict from Westminster, Middlesex, who was transported aboard the "Anson" on September 23, 1843, settling in Van Diemen's Land, Australia 11
- ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
| Self migration to New Zealand | + |
Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include: Self Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century- Mr. Caleb Self, (b. 1832), aged 27, British settler travelling from Gravesend aboard the ship "Roman Emperor" arriving in Lyttlelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 26th January 1860 12
- Mrs. Martha Self, (b. 1835), aged 24, British settler travelling from Gravesend aboard the ship "Roman Emperor" arriving in Lyttlelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 26th January 1860 12
| Contemporary Notables of the name Self (post 1700) | + |
- William Shuford Self (1906-1998), American organist and choirmaster
- William Self (b. 1921), American actor and producer
- Bill Self (b. 1962), American college basketball coach at the University of Kansas
- Larry R. Self, American fighter pilot and flying ace in the U.S. Navy, during World War II, credited with 8½ aerial victories
- Will Self (b. 1961), English novelist
- Joann Self Selvidge, American Nashville Film Festival Award winning producer and director who founded True Story Pictures in 2004
- Major-General Clarence Self Ridley (1883-1969), American Chief of US Military Mission to the Iranian Army (1942-1946) 13
| Historic Events for the Self family | + |
- Mr. James Self, Canadian 3rd Class passenger from Canada, who sailed aboard the RMS Lusitania (1915) and died in the sinking 14
- Mrs. Florence Self, Canadian 3rd Class passenger from Canada, who sailed aboard the RMS Lusitania (1915) and died in the sinking 14
- Mr. Alfred Henry Self (d. 1912), aged 39, English Fireman/Stoker from Southampton, Hampshire who worked aboard the RMS Titanic and died in the sinking 15
- Mr. Albert Charles Edward Self, aged 25, English Greaser from Southampton, Hampshire who worked aboard the RMS Titanic and survived the sinking escaping on life boat 4 15
| Suggested Readings for the name Self | + |
- Lizzie's Legacy and our Coffey Cousins by Mary Elizabeth Coffey Self.
- Self Heritage by Larry Brown.
- Barber, Henry, British Family Names London: Elliot Stock, 62 Paternoster Row, 1894. Print.
- Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
- Charnock, Richard, Stephen, Ludus Patronymicus of The Etymology of Curious Surnames. London: Trubner & Co., 60 Paternoster Row, 1868. Print.
- Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
- Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
- "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)
- State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) EDEN 1838. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1838Eden.htm
- Convict Records of Australia. Retrieved 23rd August 2020 from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/augusta-jessie
- Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 11th August 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/duncan
- State Library of Queensland. (Retrieved 2015, January 8) Anson voyage to Van Diemen's Land, Australia in 1843 with 499 passengers. Retrieved from http://www.convictrecords.com.au/ships/anson/1843
- New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 26th March 2019). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
- Generals of World War II. (Retrieved 2014, March 26) Clarence Ridley. Retrieved from http://generals.dk/general/Ridley/Clarence_Self/USA.html
- Lusitania Passenger List - The Lusitania Resource. (Retrieved 2014, March 6) . Retrieved from http://www.rmslusitania.info/lusitania-passenger-list/
- Titanic Passenger List - Titanic Facts. (Retrieved 2016, July 13) . Retrieved from http://www.titanicfacts.net/titanic-passenger-list.html
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Self migration to the United States 
Self migration to Canada 
Self migration to Australia 
Self migration to New Zealand 
England
Ireland
