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Selwyn was the surname of a pure-blood[1] wizarding family, and one of the Sacred Twenty-Eight.[5] They were a distinguished family with a good reputation.[6]

Known members[]

Claimed member[]

"The S stands for Selwyn... I am related to the Selwyns... Indeed, there are few pure blood families to whom I am not related... A pity"
— Dolores Umbridge[src]
Mugglebornregistration

An alleged family member, Dolores Umbridge

In her capacity as Head of the Muggle-Born Registration Commission from 19971998, Dolores Umbridge claimed to be related to the Selwyns among other pure-blood families, incorrectly alleging to Hermione Granger, disguised as Mafalda Hopkirk, that Salazar Slytherin's Locket was an old Selwyn family heirloom. In reality, she had taken it as a bribe from Mundungus Fletcher, unaware of its true power or status as a Horcrux. She was likely lying to "bolster her own pure-blood credentials",[1] as Umbridge's mother was a Muggle and she was truly deeply insecure about her father's low station in the wizarding world.[7] Indeed, it was not uncommon for individuals under Lord Voldemort's regime to lie about their genealogy to avoid persecution or ostracism.[8]

Etymology[]

Selwyn is an uncommon surname of Anglo-Saxon origin derived from the words sel, "castle", and wyn, "friend". It is also the name of a mountain range in the Canadian Rockies, and a Cambridge College.

Appearances[]

Notes and references[]

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