Find out how popular the last name DeSilva is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named DeSilva.

DeSilva, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the DeSilva surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of DeSilva in America

DeSilva is the 7075th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The DeSilva surname appeared 4,731 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 2 people would have the surname DeSilva.

We can also compare 2010 data for DeSilva to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name DeSilva

The surname DeSilva is of Portuguese origin and can be traced back to the 15th century. It is derived from the Latin word "silva," meaning "forest" or "woodland." The "de" prefix is commonly used in Portuguese surnames to indicate a place of origin or lineage.

This surname is believed to have originated in the region of Estremadura, which is located in central Portugal. It is likely that the earliest bearers of this name lived in or near a forested area, leading to the name's development. In its earliest forms, the name may have been spelled as "da Silva" or "de Silva."

One of the earliest recorded instances of the DeSilva surname dates back to the 15th century, when it appeared in a medieval Portuguese manuscript. This document mentioned a nobleman named João da Silva, who was a prominent figure in the court of King João II.

During the Age of Exploration in the 15th and 16th centuries, many Portuguese explorers and settlers carried the DeSilva name to various parts of the world, including Brazil, Africa, and Asia. For example, Nuno da Silva was a Portuguese explorer who played a significant role in the colonization of Brazil in the early 16th century.

In the 17th century, a notable figure named João Rodrigues DeSilva was a Portuguese poet and writer who lived in Goa, India. His works provide valuable insights into the cultural and literary landscape of the Portuguese colonial era.

Another prominent individual with the DeSilva surname was Francisco de Almeida e Silva, a Portuguese nobleman and military commander who served as the first Viceroy of Portuguese India in the early 16th century. He played a crucial role in establishing and strengthening Portuguese presence in the Indian subcontinent.

In the 18th century, Luís da Silva Mousinho de Albuquerque was a Portuguese military officer and colonial administrator who served as the Governor-General of Portuguese India from 1789 to 1797. He is credited with implementing several reforms and modernizing the administrative structures in Portuguese territories.

Over time, the DeSilva surname has spread to various parts of the world, including the United States, Canada, and other countries with significant Portuguese communities. While the name has undergone some variations in spelling, its Portuguese origins and connection to the concept of forests or woodlands remain evident.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name DeSilva

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname DeSilva.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for DeSilva was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of DeSilva has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

The history and meaning of the name DeSilva was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of DeSilva, please contact us.

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