Selwyn is a given name and surname. It may have originated from the

Middle English Middle English (abbreviated to ME) is a form of the English language that was spoken after the Norman conquest of 1066, until the late 15th century. The English language underwent distinct variations and developments following the Old English ...

personal name Selewyne, and from the Old English personal name Seleƿine, putting together the words ''sele'' ("hall") and ''ƿine'' ("friend") or "sea friend". Other research indicates a French origin, from Salvagin, meaning "wild person", introduced during the

Norman Conquest The Norman Conquest (or the Conquest) was the 11th-century invasion and occupation of England by an army made up of thousands of Norman, Breton, Flemish, and French troops, all led by the Duke of Normandy, later styled William the Conq ...

, and may well have been used as a joke, meaning someone who was the opposite of wild. It may have come from the Latin Silvanus or Salvin, a Roman clan name connected to the God of the Forest.

Middle names

* John Selwyn Moll (1913–1942), English rugby player *

John Selwyn Gummer John Selwyn Gummer, Baron Deben, (born 26 November 1939) is a British Conservative Party politician, formerly the Member of Parliament (MP) for Suffolk Coastal and now a member of the House of Lords. He was Conservative Party Chairman from 1983 ...

(born 1939), British politician

Surnames

Alfred Richard Cecil Selwyn Alfred Richard Cecil Selwyn, CMG, LL.D, FRS, FGS (26 July 182419 October 1902) was a British geologist and public servant, director of the Geological Survey of Victoria from 1852 to 1869, director of the Geological Survey of Canada (GSC) fr ...

(1824–1902), British geologist who surveyed parts of Australia and Canada *

Archibald Selwyn Archibald Selwyn (also Arch or Archie Selwyn; 3 November 1877 – 21 June 1959) was an American play broker, theater owner and stage producer who had many Broadway successes. He and his brother Edgar Selwyn were partners. They were among the foun ...

(1877–1959), American theatrical producer *

Charles Jasper Selwyn Sir Charles Jasper Selwyn PC (13 October 1813 – 11 August 1869) was an English lawyer, politician and Lord Justice of Appeal. Background and education Selwyn was born at Church Row, Hampstead, Middlesex, the third and youngest son of Will ...

(1813–1869), Judge, Lord Justice, M.P. and privy counsellor * Charles William Selwyn (1858–1893), British army officer and Conservative politician *

Don Selwyn Don Charles Selwyn (22 November 1935 – 13 April 2007) was a Māori actor and filmmaker from New Zealand. He was a founding member of the New Zealand Māori Theatre Trust and directed the 2002 film '' Te tangata whai rawa o Weneti (The Maori m ...

(c. 1936–2007), Maori actor and film director from New Zealand * Edgar Selwyn (1875–1944), American film director and theatrical producer *

George Augustus Selwyn George Augustus Selwyn (5 April 1809 – 11 April 1878) was the first Anglican Bishop of New Zealand. He was Bishop of New Zealand (which included Melanesia) from 1841 to 1869. His diocese was then subdivided and Selwyn was Metropolitan (later ...

(1809–1878), Bishop of New Zealand and

Lichfield Lichfield () is a cathedral city and civil parish in Staffordshire, England. Lichfield is situated roughly south-east of the county town of Stafford, south-east of Rugeley, north-east of Walsall, north-west of Tamworth and south-west ...

George Augustus Selwyn (politician) George Augustus Selwyn (11 August 1719 – 25 January 1791) of Matson House in Gloucestershire, England, was a Member of Parliament. A renowned eccentric and "necrophiliac, gay transvestite, he sat mute, loved, and undisturbed in the House ...

(1719–1791), English politician and wit *

George Selwyn (bishop of Tinnevelly) George Theodore Selwyn (30 July 1887 – 30 May 1957) was an eminent priest in the middle part of the 20th century. He was educated at St Lawrence College, Ramsgate and Corpus Christi College, Cambridge. After a curacy at St Matthew's, Bayswa ...

(1887–1957), Missionary bishop in South India * Sir Percy Selwyn Selwyn-Clarke (1893–1976), Director of Medical Services, Hong Kong, 1937–43, and Governor of the Seychelles, 1947–51 *

John Richardson Selwyn John Richardson Selwyn (20 May 1844 – 12 February 1898) was an Anglican priest who became the second Bishop of Melanesia and then the second Master of Selwyn College, Cambridge. Life Selwyn was born in Waimate North, New Zealand, the youn ...

(1844–1898), Second bishop of Melanesia *

Sydney Selwyn Sydney Selwyn (7 November 1934 – 8 November 1996) was a British physician, medical scientist, and professor. He was a medical microbiologist with an interest in bacteriology, authority on the history of medicine, avid collector, writer, ...

(1934–1996), British physician, medical scientist and notable expert in the history of medicine. * Tim Selwyn (born 1974), New Zealand political activist who was tried for sedition * Victor Selwyn (1917–2005), British journalist * William Selwyn (1655–1702), officer in the British Army, MP and briefly Governor of Jamaica *

William Marshall Selwyn William Marshall Selwyn (15 February 1879 – 29 September 1951) was an Anglican suffragan bishop in the 20th century. Who was Who 1897–1990: London A & C Black 1991 Selwyn was born into an ecclesiastical family, the second son of the Rev ...

(1879–1951), Bishop of Fulham, Archdeacon of Bath and Rector of

Bath Abbey The Abbey Church of Saint Peter and Saint Paul, commonly known as Bath Abbey, is a parish church of the Church of England and former Benedictine monastery in Bath, Somerset, England. Founded in the 7th century, it was reorganised in the 10th ...

Zachariah Selwyn Zachariah "Zach" Selwyn (born April 23, 1975), also known as simply Zachariah, is an American singer-songwriter, actor, host and writer best known for hosting the series ''America's Secret Slang'', '' Guinness World Records Gone Wild!'', ''Att ...

(born 1975), American TV personality

Given names

* Selwyn Baker (1911–1996), Australian rules footballer * Selwyn Baptiste (1936–2012), Trinidadian-British musician * Selwyn Bean (1886–1981), Archdeacon of Manchester, 1934–66 *

Selwyn Biggs Selwyn Hanam Biggs (June 1872 – 12 January 1943) was a Welsh international rugby union fly-half who played club rugby for Cardiff and county rugby for Glamorgan. Both Biggs and his brother Norman played international rugby for Wales, though t ...

(1872–1943), Welsh rugby union player *

Selwyn Birchwood Selwyn Birchwood (born March 9, 1985) is an American blues guitarist, vocalist and songwriter from Tampa, Florida. He was the winner of the Blues Foundation’s 2013 International Blues Challenge (band category), as well the winner of the Albe ...

(born 1985), American blues guitarist * Selwyn Blackmore (born 1972), New Zealand cricketer * Selwyn G. Blaylock (1879–1945), Canadian businessman *

Selwyn Z. Bowman Selwyn Zadock Bowman (May 11, 1840 – September 30, 1928) was an American attorney and politician who served in several public offices including that of U.S. Representative from Massachusetts. Bowman was born in Charlestown, Massachusetts, to ...

(1840–1928), U.S. Representative from Massachusetts *

Selwyn Brown (musician) Steel Pulse are a roots reggae band from the Handsworth area of Birmingham, England. They originally formed at Handsworth Wood Boys School, and were composed of David Hinds (lead vocals, guitar), Basil Gabbidon (lead guitar, vocals), and Ron ...

(born 1958), British musician * Selwyn Closs-Parry (1925–2015), Archdeacon of St Asaph, 1984–90 *

Selwyn Cudjoe Selwyn Cudjoe (born 1 December 1943)
Encyclopedia.com. is a

Selwyn Dewdney (1909–1979), Canadian author, illustrator, artist and activist *

Selwyn Edge Selwyn Francis Edge (1868–1940) was a British businessman, racing driver, cyclist and record-breaker. He is principally associated with selling and racing De Dion-Bouton, Gladiator; Clemént-Panhard, Napier and AC cars. Personal life Edge w ...

(1868–1940), Australian businessman and racing car driver *

Selwyn Fernandes Selwyn Fernandes (born 20 March 1980) is a retired Indian professional footballer who played as a defender and last played for I-League club Dempo. Fernandes has also played at Fransa-Pax, Vasco, East Bengal, Salgaocar, Raia, Churchill Brot ...

(born 1980), Indian footballer *

Selwyn Fremantle Sir Selwyn Howe Fremantle (11 August 1869 – 16 March 1942) was a British administrator in India. Fremantle was the son of Admiral Sir Edmund Fremantle, fourth son of Thomas Fremantle, 1st Baron Cottesloe. He was educated at Eton College and ...

(1869–1942), British administrator in India *

Selwyn Froggitt ''Oh No It's Selwyn Froggitt'' is a British television sitcom which ran on the ITV network from 1974 to 1978. Set in the fictional Yorkshire town of Scarsdale, the series stars Bill Maynard as Selwyn Froggitt, a council labourer, hapless handym ...

main character in British sitcom ''

Oh No, It's Selwyn Froggitt! ''Oh No It's Selwyn Froggitt'' is a British television sitcom which ran on the ITV network from 1974 to 1978. Set in the fictional Yorkshire town of Scarsdale, the series stars Bill Maynard as Selwyn Froggitt, a council labourer, hapless handym ...

'' *

Selwyn Griffith Selwyn Griffith (1928 – 10 August 2011) was a Welsh language poet and the Archdruid of the National Eisteddfod of Wales, known by the bardic name Selwyn Iolen. Selwyn Iolen was born in Bethel, near Caernarfon in 1928 and lived in the area thro ...

(1928–2011), Welsh poet * Selwyn Hughes (1928–2006), British Christian minister *

Selwyn Image Selwyn Image (17 February 1849, Bodiam, Sussex – 21 August 1930, London) was an important British artist, designer, writer and poet associated with the Arts and Crafts Movement. He designed stained-glass windows, furniture, embroidery, and ...

(1849–1930), British academic *

Selwyn Jepson Selwyn Jepson (25 November 1899 – 10 March 1989) was an English mystery and detective author and screenwriter. He was the son of the fiction writer Edgar Jepson (1863–1938) and Frieda Holmes, daughter of the musician Henry Holmes. His sister ...

(1899–1989), British author * Selwyn Jones (born 1970), American football player *

Selwyn George (Bill) Lane Selwyn George "Bill" Lane E.D. R.L. (1922–2000) was an Australian amateur ornithologist who worked for the Sydney County Council for most of life until he retired in 1983. Career Bill Lane joined the Royal Australasian Ornithologists Union ( ...

(1922–2000), Australian ornithologist *

Selwyn Lloyd John Selwyn Brooke Lloyd, Baron Selwyn-Lloyd, (28 July 1904 – 18 May 1978) was a British politician. Born and raised in Cheshire, he was an active Liberal as a young man in the 1920s. In the following decade, he practised as a barrister and ...

(1904–1978), British Conservative politician * Selwyn Lymon (born 1986), American football wide receiver * Selwyn Maister (born 1946), New Zealand field hockey player * Selwyn N. Owen (1836–1916), American jurist * Selwyn Porter (1905–1963), Australian Army officer *

Selwyn Raab Selwyn Raab (born June 26, 1934 in New York City) is an American journalist, author and former investigative reporter for ''The New York Times''. He has written extensively about the American Mafia and criminal justice issues. Early life and edu ...

(born 1934), American author and journalist *

Selwyn Richardson Selwyn Richardson (30 November 1935 – 20 June 1995) was a lawyer, and former Attorney-General of Trinidad and Tobago. Background After serving in the Trinidad and Tobago Police Force, Richardson left the police force and went to England to stu ...

(1935–1995), Trinidadian lawyer *

Selwyn Riumana Selwyn Riumana (born June 30, 1966) is a member of the National Parliament of the Solomon Islands. He lives in Isabel Province Isabel Province (also spelled Ysabel) is one of the provinces of Solomon Islands. The province had a population of a ...

(born 1966), Solomon Islander politician *

Selwyn (singer) Selwyn (born Selwyn Pretorius, 1982, in Durban, South Africa) is an R&B singer from Perth, Western Australia. He was a contestant on the Australian reality series ''Popstars 2'', but did not make it through to the final group lineup. He was re ...

(born Selwyn Pretorius, 1982), Australian R&B singer of South African origin *

Selwyn Selwyn-Clarke Sir Percy Selwyn Selwyn-Clarke (, 17 December 1893 – 13 March 1976), KBE, CMG, MC, MD, FRCP, DPH, DTM&H, CStJ Barrister at Law, was the Director of Medical Services, Hong Kong, from 1937 to 1943 and Governor of the Seychelles from 1947 t ...

(1893–1976), British doctor and barrister *

Selwyn Toogood Selwyn Featherston Toogood (4 April 1916 – 27 February 2001) was a New Zealand radio and television personality. Early life and family Born in Wellington on 4 April 1916, Toogood was the son of Henry Featherston Toogood and Ethel Lois Co ...

(1916–2001), New Zealand television personality * Selwyn Ward (born 1977), American actor *

Selwyn Whalley Selwyn Davies Whalley (24 February 1934 – 8 August 2008) is an English former footballer. A right-back, he was a one club man with a fifteen-year career at Port Vale. He made 196 league and cup appearances for the club, before he was forced ...

(1934–2008), English footballer * Selwyn Walford Young (1899–1977), Belizean musician and composer *

Selwyn Wright Selwyn Wright (/ˈˈseˌlwɪnˈˈraɪt /) (29 October 1934 – 12 February 2015) was an English physicist, who held the Brook Crompton Chair of Engineering at the University of Huddersfield in the UK. He is best known for the development of w ...

(1934–2015), British physicist and engineer

References

{{given name, section=Given names, Selwyn Surnames of Old English origin