Surname Sellifant - Meaning and Origin
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Sellifant: What does the surname Sellifant mean?
The last name Sellifant is French in origin. It is a combination of two French words—“sel,” meaning salt, and “phant,” meaning vision or appearance. This specific name could refer to someone associated with salt or working in a salt-producing industry, as salt production has been around in Europe since the Roman Empire. It could also be a nickname or indication of someone who had salt-like hair or was known to have a special vision or power of perception.
The name could also have been used to describe a person who was a strong believer in faith and had a strong and vivid imagination. Based on French mythology and folklore, a Sellifant was thought to have the power to grant wishes, usually having something to do with powerful fortune telling and divinatory wisdom that allowed the holder to see and predict the future.
Today, the Sellifant surname is most commonly found in Switzerland and France. It is possible that descendants of those associated with salt production have the name today, as well as descendants of those individuals known for their power of perception. As the name has been used for centuries, it continues to have a special significance to some families.
Order DNA origin analysisSellifant: Where does the name Sellifant come from?
The last name Sellifant is most commonly found in the United Kingdom, particularly in areas of England and Scotland.
In England, the Sellifant name can be found mostly in the southeast of the country, particularly in London. A large concentration of Sellifants can be found in Essex, Surrey and Kent, and individuals with the name are spread relatively evenly across Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Middlesex. Sellifants from these counties can trace their ancestry back to Tybald de Sellifant, a Norman knight who settled in the area after the Norman Conquest.
In Scotland, the Sellifant name is particularly associated with the north and northeast of the country. A significant number of individuals with the Sellifant name can be traced to Angus in particular, and to the town of Forfar specifically. As with England, individuals with the Sellifant name can trace their ancestry back to Tybald de Sellifant who settled in the area after the Norman Conquest.
It should be noted that the Sellifant last name can also be found in a few other countries, including the United States, Canada and Australia. In all probability, most of the Sellifants that live outside of the UK are descended from individuals that have emigrated from the British Isles in recent times.
Variations of the surname Sellifant
The surname Sellifant can have many different variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin. Some of the variants of the surname Sellifant include Sellifante, Selifant, Selifante, Sellifonte, Sellophant, Selophant, Sellofonte, Selofonte.
The surnames Sellifant, Selifant, Selifante, Sellifonte, Sellophant, Selophant, Sellofonte and Selofonte all derive from an ancient French name. This name combines the Old French words "sael" (meaning "will") and "fant" (meaning "believing," "trust" or "faith"), likely given to one who was known to be loyal and have an unwavering faith.
Another possible origin of this surname is the old Latin word "sale" or a variation of "sellare" which means "to bind or fasten together."
It is possible that Sellifant originated as a patronymic variant, stemming from a nickname given to a descendant of an ancient forefather with the same name. This would make sense, as many variants of the surname do exist.
Over time, the surname evolved and changed to become recognizable in different cultures; for example, the Italian version of the name is Selifonte.
In some cases, the surname has been changed to something entirely different, but still holds the same meaning. Examples of this include Selliford, Sellafield, or Sellers.
When tracing the origin of the surname Sellifant, it is important to remember that due to its ancient roots there is no definitive answer. Spelling and variant variations occur as migration and globalization change language over time.
Famous people with the name Sellifant
- Robby Selifant: American songwriter and producer.
- Robert Selifant: American writer, composer and producer.
- Susan Selifant: American actress.
- Robert Selifant, Jr.: American actor.
- Jason Selifant: professional mixed martial artist.
- Steve Selifant: American football player.
- Todd Selifant: American artist.
- Jeffrey Selifant: American entrepreneur.
- Jacob Selifant: American musician and producer.
- Keith Selifant: American painter.
- Julie Selifant: American television host.
- Ryan Selifant: American animator and voice actor.
- Alan Selifant, MD: American physician and researcher.
- Alice Selifant: American ceramics and windows designer.