The Széll family comes from Bucsu. József Széll obtained his law degree in Győr (1820).
He was sub-prefect Vasvár County (1842-1848), later the deputy Lord Lieutenant (1867-1871). He was a Member of Parliament in 1848, then between 1865 and 1868.
József Széll’s son was Prime Minister Kálmán Széll (1843-1915), and his grandson was József Széll, Minister of the Interior (1880-1956).