SELF
Origins and Geographic Context
The surname Self has its roots in England, a country that is part of the British Isles. It is an English surname that emerged in the English language, with a Christian background reflected in the early records of bearers.
Etymology and Meaning
The name is derived from the Middle English word self, meaning “self” or “oneself.” Historically it may have been employed as a nickname for an individual who exhibited strong independence or self‑confidence. The surname therefore conveys a sense of self‑reliance or self‑assurance, implying that the original bearer was regarded as a self‑sufficient or self‑confident person.
Variant Spellings and Early Forms
The spelling Selfe is an identified variant. Other early forms include Sewolf, Sainlfus and Saulf, which appear in medieval documents. For instance, William Sewolf is recorded in the Pipe Rolls of Sussex in 1296, a document dating to the reign of King Edward I.
One hypothesis suggests that the surname derives from the Old English personal name Saewulf, a compound of soe (the sea) and wulf (wolf), meaning “seawolf.” Birth records that mention this name appear in the Domesday Book, including variations such as Sainlfus and Saulf.
A second hypothesis posits that Self is locational, arising from places such as Shelf in Yorkshire (recorded as Scelf in the Domesday Book of 1086) and Shelve in Shropshire (recorded as Schelfe in 1180). Both names are derived from the Old English word scylf, meaning hill or ledge. Inhabitants of these villages would have been identified as de Shelf or de Schelf, which over time could have evolved into the surname Self.
In 1185 a Robert filus (son of) Seulfi appears in the Knights Templars Records of Berkshire. Later, John and William Self are listed in the Subsidy Rolls of Suffolk in 1327. The Poll Tax Records of Yorkshire in 1379 give the names Cristiana del Schelf and Johannes del Schelf, indicating the continued use of the locational form during the mid‑fourth century. These entries provide documentary evidence of the surname’s early presence across several English counties.
The family of Shelfe was granted a coat of arms featuring a silver cross flory on a green shield. In heraldic symbolism the cross denotes the Christian faith and love of God, the silver colour signifies peace and sincerity, and green represents hope, joy and, at times, loyalty in love. This heraldic description reflects the religious character of the family’s early history.
Typical given names associated with the Self surname
Male
- Andrew
- Christopher
- David
- James
- John
- Michael
- Paul
- Peter
- Philip
- Richard
- Robert
Female
- Elizabeth
- Emma
- Helen
- Jane
- Joanne
- Karen
- Laura
- Margaret
- Rebecca
- Sarah
- Susan
Similar and related surnames
Related and similar names are generated algorithmically based on the spelling, and may not necessarily share an etymology.
How to communicate the surname Self in...
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There are approximately 3,239 people named Self in the UK. That makes it roughly the 2,803rd most common surname in Britain. Around 50 in a million people in Britain are named Self.
Origin: English
Region of origin: British Isles
Country of origin: England
Religion of origin: Christian
Language of origin: English
Famous people named Self
- Will Self - Writer and journalist
- Jonathan Self - Journalist
- Jo Self - Artist
- Henry Self - Civil servant (1890 to 1975)
Names and descriptions courtesy of Wikipedia, and may contain errors. This is not intended to be an exhaustive list of every famous person with this name.