Self (surname)
Encyclopedia
Self is a surname.
Its origin is English. The name existed in the Derbyshire and Essex regions of England probably back to Saxon times. The name appears to derive from 'selfe', from 'sea wolf". "Selfe" exists as an alternate spelling up to the present day. The possibly related surname of "Saulf" is recorded in the Domesday Book in 1086. The most ancient grant of a coat of arms of the Self family is green with a silver cross.
Some information appears to indicate that the origin of the name was from a Danish Viking tribe. The Danes began invading England in the late 8th and early 9th century. As in most areas of family history research, these are theories and somewhat speculative.
Most researchers believe that "Olde" Robert Selfe was the ancestor of most of the Self family in America. Arriving in Virginia in the middle 1600s, Robert Selfe appears to have been christened Roboham Selfe, son of Robert Selfe, and grandson of Walter Selfe of Cripplegate, London, England. The family name was prominent in the Wiltshire area and appears to have been associated with many of the Quaker (Society of Friends) movement there.
"Olde" Robert Self had two wives whose first names are known, but whose last names are speculative. These women are Jane Bean (ca. 1635-1670) and Mary Antsy, the second wife (ca. 1643-1713). There are a number of sons, among them Stephen, Francis, Robert Jr, Christian, William and John.
The name "Self" is thought to be a shortened version of "Seawolf," dating back to the early Viking voyages along the English coast. Many courageous Selfs became pioneers in our country's expansion westward, and the descendants of Robert Selfe were soon residents of the Southeastern United States from Virginia to Texas with several families settling in the midwest. Today, the Self name can be found in all fifty states.http://www.self-roots.com
The surname Self is also spelled with an "e" (as in Selfe) and with a "ph" in lieu of the "f" (as in Selph).
Searching the internet for the name frequently becomes confusing because of the many disambiguations of the word.
Two major websites specializing in Self family history and genealogical research are www.self-roots.com and www.self-family.com. The Self Family newsletter was established in 1982.
The name first came to the United State with "Olde" Robert in the middle 1600's, noted above. Some other English families with the name emigrated in the 19th century. It came to Australia in the years before World War I.
The commonality of the name in England is less than 2500 with approximately 3100 family members in England in 2002 http://www.taliesin-arlein.net/names/search.php.
The commonalilty of the name in the United States is not well established. Some records show approximately 25,000 individuals with the surname Self.
Recorded in USA are: Isaac Self in Pennsylvania in 1682, John Self in Pennsylvania in 1771, William and Susan Self in Barbados in 1654, then in Virginia in the same year.
Recorded in Australia is William Self, who was bought to Australia by sailing ship in the early 1900s by his mother after failure of the family business in Harwich, England and the death of his father, George. William served as a British soldier in World War I, present at Gallipoli and decorated and mentioned in dispatches in France. His only child was William "Bill" Arthur Self (1927-2001).
Those bearing it include:
Its origin is English. The name existed in the Derbyshire and Essex regions of England probably back to Saxon times. The name appears to derive from 'selfe', from 'sea wolf". "Selfe" exists as an alternate spelling up to the present day. The possibly related surname of "Saulf" is recorded in the Domesday Book in 1086. The most ancient grant of a coat of arms of the Self family is green with a silver cross.
Some information appears to indicate that the origin of the name was from a Danish Viking tribe. The Danes began invading England in the late 8th and early 9th century. As in most areas of family history research, these are theories and somewhat speculative.
Most researchers believe that "Olde" Robert Selfe was the ancestor of most of the Self family in America. Arriving in Virginia in the middle 1600s, Robert Selfe appears to have been christened Roboham Selfe, son of Robert Selfe, and grandson of Walter Selfe of Cripplegate, London, England. The family name was prominent in the Wiltshire area and appears to have been associated with many of the Quaker (Society of Friends) movement there.
"Olde" Robert Self had two wives whose first names are known, but whose last names are speculative. These women are Jane Bean (ca. 1635-1670) and Mary Antsy, the second wife (ca. 1643-1713). There are a number of sons, among them Stephen, Francis, Robert Jr, Christian, William and John.
The name "Self" is thought to be a shortened version of "Seawolf," dating back to the early Viking voyages along the English coast. Many courageous Selfs became pioneers in our country's expansion westward, and the descendants of Robert Selfe were soon residents of the Southeastern United States from Virginia to Texas with several families settling in the midwest. Today, the Self name can be found in all fifty states.http://www.self-roots.com
The surname Self is also spelled with an "e" (as in Selfe) and with a "ph" in lieu of the "f" (as in Selph).
Searching the internet for the name frequently becomes confusing because of the many disambiguations of the word.
Two major websites specializing in Self family history and genealogical research are www.self-roots.com and www.self-family.com. The Self Family newsletter was established in 1982.
The name first came to the United State with "Olde" Robert in the middle 1600's, noted above. Some other English families with the name emigrated in the 19th century. It came to Australia in the years before World War I.
The commonality of the name in England is less than 2500 with approximately 3100 family members in England in 2002 http://www.taliesin-arlein.net/names/search.php.
The commonalilty of the name in the United States is not well established. Some records show approximately 25,000 individuals with the surname Self.
Recorded in USA are: Isaac Self in Pennsylvania in 1682, John Self in Pennsylvania in 1771, William and Susan Self in Barbados in 1654, then in Virginia in the same year.
Recorded in Australia is William Self, who was bought to Australia by sailing ship in the early 1900s by his mother after failure of the family business in Harwich, England and the death of his father, George. William served as a British soldier in World War I, present at Gallipoli and decorated and mentioned in dispatches in France. His only child was William "Bill" Arthur Self (1927-2001).
Those bearing it include:
- William Self (Organist)William Self (organist)William Shuford Self was an American organist and choirmaster.William Self was born April 22, 1906 in Lenoir, North Carolina. He studied at The Peabody Institute and New England Conservatory, where he received the Diploma and Soloist Diploma...
(1906-1998), American musician - William Edwin Self (born 1921), American actor and producer
- Will SelfWill SelfWilliam Woodard "Will" Self is an English novelist and short story writer. His fictional style is known for being satirical, grotesque, and fantastical. He is a prolific commentator on contemporary British life, with regular appearances on Newsnight and Question Time...
(born 1961), English novelist - Bill SelfBill SelfBill Self is an American college men's basketball coach at the University of Kansas, where he led the Jayhawks to the 2008 NCAA national championship....
(born 1962), American college basketball coach at the University of Kansas - Mike Self (born 1962), American country musician