Surname Sellenriek - Meaning and Origin
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Sellenriek: What does the surname Sellenriek mean?
The last name Sellenriek is a German surname. It is derived from the Middle High German terms ‘selle’ or ‘zele’, which refer to a person who governs a region or a village. Often, this person was a knight or a baron who owned the land. The ‘riek’ element in the name means ‘rich’ or ‘powerful’, meaning the Sellenriek family was both influential and well-off.
The most likely origin of the Sellenriek family is as a branch of the von Zell family, a powerful and wealthy family of barons from Westphalia, an ancient kingdom located in what is now modern-day Germany. The family name can be traced back to Medieval times, and members of the von Zell family underwent a variety of roles including being instrumental in setting up the Prussian monarchy. As a reminder of the power their family once held, the surname Schwabenriek was adopted in the 19th century.
The current-day Sellenriek family is still concentrated around Westphalia, and many have immigrated to the United States and Canada to start new lives. Most people bearing the Sellenriek family name today have no direct ties to the original family, and simply adopted the name.
Overall, the last name Sellenriek has a long history, and it is likely the family is descended from the once-powerful von Zell family. Despite losing its original significance and standing, the name still retains its original prestige and is likely to remain an important part of family ancestry for generations to come.
Order DNA origin analysisSellenriek: Where does the name Sellenriek come from?
The last name Sellenriek is most commonly found in Germany today. Sellenriek is derived from the old German word "selle," which referred to a small village or court. It was most commonly given to people who lived or worked in such a small court area.
The surname Sellenriek is considered a very rare name; as of 2008, there were only around 120 people in Germany with the surname. The majority of them live in the German states of Baden-Württemberg, Bavaria, Hesse, Lower Saxony, North Rhine-Westphalia, Rhineland-Palatinate, Saxony, and Thuringia. Its popularity is very low, with only four people bearing the surname in Bavaria, two in Lower Saxony, and nine in Rhineland-Palatinate.
Though it is most common in Germany, there are individuals with the surname Sellenriek living in other countries throughout Europe, as well as the United States. In America specifically, the surname is found mainly in states with a large population of German or Dutch-speaking immigrants, such as Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, and New York.
Overall, Sellenriek is an uncommon last name throughout much of Europe and the world, with only a few hundred people bearing the name. It is most commonly found in Germany, where it was likely first used centuries ago among small court areas such as villages.
Variations of the surname Sellenriek
Sellenriek is a surname of German origin which is commonly found in countries of Europe, Australia and North America. Variations of the surname Sellenriek include Sellenrier, Sellenry, Sellenrieck, Sellenriech, Sellenryck, Sellenrick, Sellenryk, Sellenrych, Sallenriek, Sallenryck, Sallenrick, Sallenryk, Sallenrych and Zelenriek.
Sellenriek is a name derived from a topographical reference found throughout the regions of Germany. People given the name were likely landowners or farmers who lived in such a place. The spelling of the surname is mostly found in its original spelling, Sellenriek, although it may vary slightly depending on its geographical origin.
For example, the spellings Sellenryck and Sallenryck are most likely variants of Sellenriek found in the Netherlands. Additionally, the surnames Zelenriek and Sallenriech are probable discrepancies found in or near Germany, whereas Sellenrych may be a mutation of the original which is common in some parts of Eastern Europe.
In general, the Sellenriek surname is a sign of a cultural heritage that has remained intact for centuries and is still present in many societies to this day. The various spellings and forms of this name embody its unique history and give a glimpse of the population's diversity and regionality.
Famous people with the name Sellenriek
1.John Sellenriek: German former football striker known for his active role with Hamburger Sport-Verein from 1988 to 1999. 2.Daniel Sellenriek: German beach volleyball player who competed at the 2011 European Under-21 Beach Volleyball tournament. 3.Heiner Sellenriek: German international cricketer who captained the national cricket team from 1998-2004. 4.Thomas Sellenriek: Austrian ski jumper and former Olympic competitor who competed in the 2006 Winter Games. 5.Jeff Sellenriek: American professional wrestler and mixed martial artist with numerous top-level tournament titles. 6.Patty Sellenriek: American college assistant basketball coach and former college basketball player at Stanford University. 7.Hal Sellenriek: American entrepreneur and landscape architect who founded the Sellenriek Design Group. 8.Helen Sellenriek: Swiss composer, music teacher, and conductor from Basel who wrote over thirty works. 9.Hank Sellenriek: American former Major League Baseball pitcher who played for the St. Louis Cardinals. 10.William Sellenriek: Italian-American singer and actor with Broadway credits in "The Unsinkable Molly Brown", "The Fantasticks" and "1776".