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

LopezSilva, 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 LopezSilva surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of LopezSilva in America

LopezSilva is the 143149th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The LopezSilva surname appeared 116 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname LopezSilva.

The history of the last name LopezSilva

The surname LOPEZSILVA can be traced back to the Iberian Peninsula, specifically the regions of Spain and Portugal, where it originated during the Middle Ages. This double-barreled surname is a combination of two distinct surnames, Lopez and Silva, each with its own unique origins.

Lopez is derived from the Spanish and Portuguese patronymic form of Lope, a medieval Spanish name derived from the Germanic name Loup or Lup, meaning "wolf." It was a popular name among the Visigoths who ruled Spain from the 5th to the 8th centuries. The addition of the patronymic suffix "-ez" (meaning "son of") transformed Lope into the surname Lopez, indicating the bearer was the son of someone named Lope.

Silva, on the other hand, is a topographic surname that refers to a forest or wooded area. It originates from the Latin word "silva," meaning "wood" or "forest." This surname was likely adopted by individuals who lived near or worked in forested regions, reflecting their close association with these natural environments.

While the earliest recorded instances of the combined surname LOPEZSILVA are difficult to pinpoint with precision, it is believed to have emerged in the 14th or 15th century as a result of intermarriage between families bearing the respective surnames Lopez and Silva. This practice of combining surnames was common among the Spanish and Portuguese nobility to signify the union of two prominent lineages.

One of the earliest known individuals to bear the surname LOPEZSILVA was Diego Lopez de Silva, a Spanish soldier and explorer who accompanied Hernán Cortés during the conquest of Mexico in the early 16th century. Another notable figure was Fernando Lopez de Silva, a 17th-century Portuguese military officer and governor of Angola between 1629 and 1633.

In the realm of arts and literature, one cannot overlook the contributions of Feliciano Lopez de Silva, a renowned 18th-century Spanish playwright and poet renowned for his works in the Baroque style. His contemporary, Antonio Lopez de Silva, was a celebrated painter and sculptor who left a significant mark on the Spanish Golden Age of art.

Moving forward to the 19th century, Juan Lopez de Silva stands out as a prominent Spanish politician and diplomat who served as the Minister of Foreign Affairs under King Alfonso XII. His contemporaries included Manuel Lopez de Silva, a renowned historian and author who wrote extensively on the history of Spain and its colonies.

Throughout its long history, the surname LOPEZSILVA has been borne by numerous individuals of notable stature, reflecting the rich cultural heritage and diverse accomplishments associated with this distinct Iberian surname.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name LopezSilva

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

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 LopezSilva 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.

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 LopezSilva was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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