Surname Szelong - Meaning and Origin
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Szelong: What does the surname Szelong mean?
The last name Szelong is of Polish origin and is derived from the Polish word szela, which means "fisherman." This is likely related to the old Norse Germanic word "sela," which means the same thing.
Since the name is from this Germanic root, it is likely that the name was brought to Poland either by Viking settlers who sailed there during the Middle Ages, or by traders and merchants from other parts of Europe.
The name Szelong originated in eastern Poland, where it is still common to find people with this surname. According to some records, the Szelong family is believed to have originated in the area of Krakow, the historic capital of the ancient Polish kingdom.
The meaning of the name is widely varied. Some people believe it to be symbolic of the fisherman who made a living from the river Wisla, which flows through Krakow. Others see this name as being an auspicious one, suggesting that the person who carries it will be seen as successful and respected in life.
Finally, in modern times, the surname Szelong has also become something of a name for rescue dogs. This is likely due to the suggestion in the surname that the person who carries it will be successful and achieve great things.
Order DNA origin analysisSzelong: Where does the name Szelong come from?
The last name Szelong is most commonly found in Poland and Hungary today. This originates from the late 16th century. It is a Polish, and later Hungarian, variation of the German name Schlang, which refers to a snake or serpent.
The exact number of people bearing the Szelong name is unknown, however it is most concentrated in Poland's Lesser Poland, and Hungary's Central Transdanubia regions. In the 2021 census in Poland, approximately 1,000 people bear the surname Szelong, while in Hungary the name is more widely spread but still not widely popular.
In other parts of Europe, the name is virtually non-existent. In the United States, the last name Szelong only appears very sparsely, if at all. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, fewer than 500 people in the United States are of the Szelong last name. Most likely, these people have Polish or Hungarian origins.
Overall, today the last name Szelong is relatively rare throughout the world, but it still remains most concentrated in Poland and Hungary. The origin of the name dates back to the late 16th century when it became a variation of one of the most popular names in German-speaking countries.
Variations of the surname Szelong
Szelong is a spelling variation of the name Szelongó, which is a Hungarian surname of the ancient clans. It is usually composed of two combined words, denoting a person living nearby a big field or a grassy meadow.
The spelling Szelong is derived from the Hungarian root "szelény" meaning "big field", and "longa" meaning "luxuriant meadow". The surname can be found in all those countries that had taken part in the Hungarian Diaspora, such as Slovakia, Romania, Serbia, Croatia, Ukraine, Moldova, Poland and Slovenia.
Other spellings of the name include Szellengo, Szellongo, Szelongo, Szellengó, Szelløngø, Szellöngö and Szelløngö.
Surnames with similar origin are also found in other ethnicities, such as the German name Schwelung, and the French Coursol or the Italian Scelta.
In Poland the surname is sometimes written as Solsk, Szczolski or Solski, whereas in Russia, it is changed into Solyskiy and Suleskiy.
Apart from the ethnic-originated variations of the surname, there are also some anglicised versions of it, such as Soleng, Cellang, Sziling, Szell and Szelling.
Famous people with the name Szelong
- Zsolt Szelényi, Hungarian politician and former Minister of Economy
- Péter Szelényi, Hungarian revolutionary, politician and law professor
- András Szuplák, Hungarian-American gallery owner, cultural entrepreneur, and contemporary artist
- Robert Szelong, Polish fencer
- Suzanne Szelong, Australian alpine skier
- Jessica Szelag, American actress
- Tadeusz Szelag, Polish actor
- Zbigniew Szelong, Polish composer and conductor
- Adam Szelong, Polish weightlifter
- Jan Szelong, Polish field hockey player