Well, thank you Nemer; that was kind of you with regard to both/all of us.
My books on Irish/English translations and Irish given names have long since found a black hole into which they have disappeared. But I vaguely recollect "Anselm" as being a name once used to some degree.
The book I have on Irish Family names, however, does not reference Selvin.....just (O')Slevin, Slavin, Sleivan, Sleaven, Sclevin, Slamman, and Slamon.
Believed to be a derivative of sliabh, the Gaelic is (O')Sleibhin. The pronunciation of which may have persuaded an Immigration Officer to write as "Selvin", for all we know.
Witness the trouble the Italians had, for example, having their names changed to cities like "Brindisi" or "Napoli".
But be careful when associating me with another possible branch of the Slevins. I was once at an Irish Benefit where a Slevin was being honored. I had never met one who was not family before so I asked him where he was from....turned out he was from within a day's walk from my father's birthplace. When I asked if he thought, going back a century or so, we might be distantly related he adamantly and flatly stated "No"!
I could not help but laugh at him; I'm certain he thought I was after his fortune. The Irish are a funny lot. At my father's wake I met (for the first time) a lady introduced to me as my grandmother. It turned out my grandfather buried 2 wives and she was the third.
My mother figured she was there to work her way into the will.
The auld man was a blue collar laborer. The fortune was thin, I can tell you. But Mom successfully pocketed it all.
I love Irish stories; sorry if I bored you with these. This thread will be slow for awhile anyway, I suppose. |
