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

Silence, 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 Silence surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Silence in America

Silence is the 57914th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Silence surname appeared 351 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 Silence.

We can also compare 2010 data for Silence 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 Silence

The surname SILENCE originates from the French language and is believed to have first appeared in the region of Normandy, France, during the early 12th century. It is derived from the Old French word "silenci," meaning "stillness" or "quietude."

In the early Middle Ages, surnames were often derived from personal characteristics, occupations, or geographical locations. The name SILENCE may have been initially given to someone who was known for their quiet demeanor or peaceful nature.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name SILENCE can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a detailed survey of land ownership in England commissioned by William the Conqueror. The name is listed as "Silentius," which is likely a Latinized version of the French surname.

During the 13th century, the name SILENCE appeared in various medieval records and manuscripts, including the Curia Regis Rolls of 1201, where a certain "William Silence" is mentioned as a landowner in Oxfordshire, England.

In the 14th century, a notable bearer of the name was John Silence, a cleric and scholar who served as the Chancellor of the University of Oxford from 1348 to 1349. He was highly respected for his academic achievements and his contributions to the field of theology.

Another prominent individual with the surname SILENCE was Sir William Silence (1505-1572), an English politician and landowner who served as a Member of Parliament during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I.

In the 17th century, the name SILENCE was associated with the village of Silence in the Calvados region of Normandy, France, which may have been named after an early settler with the surname.

Over the centuries, the name SILENCE has also been recorded with various spellings, such as Silens, Silance, and Silenc, reflecting the evolution of language and regional variations.

Other notable bearers of the surname SILENCE include:

1. Richard Silence (1650-1712), an English poet and playwright known for his satirical works.
2. Marie-Françoise Silence (1725-1801), a French artist and miniaturist renowned for her exquisite portraits.
3. James Silence (1810-1878), a Scottish engineer and inventor who contributed to the development of early steam engines.
4. Emilienne Silence (1865-1932), a French novelist and feminist writer who advocated for women's rights.
5. Arthur Silence (1906-1988), a British architect and urban planner known for his innovative designs and public housing projects.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Silence

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

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

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

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