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

Silva Hernández, 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 Silva Hernández surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Silva Hernández in America

Silva Hernández is the 140157th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Silva Hernández surname appeared 119 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 Silva Hernández.

The history of the last name Silva Hernández

The surname SILVAHERNANDEZ is a compound name with two distinct components - Silva and Hernandez. These components have their origins in the Iberian Peninsula and can be traced back to the medieval era.

Silva is a Portuguese and Spanish surname derived from the Latin word "silva," meaning "forest" or "woodland." This surname likely originated as a topographic name, given to individuals who lived near or worked in forested areas. The earliest recorded instances of the Silva surname date back to the 12th century in Portugal and Spain.

Hernandez, on the other hand, is a Spanish patronymic surname. It is derived from the personal name Hernando, which is the Spanish form of Ferdinand. Patronymic surnames were common in medieval Spain, as they indicated the father's name. The suffix "-ez" was added to the personal name to create the surname Hernandez, meaning "son of Hernando."

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Hernandez surname can be found in the Libro de las Behetrías, a 14th-century manuscript that documented landowners and their properties in the Kingdom of Castile. This document mentions individuals with the surname Hernandez, indicating the surname's prevalence in medieval Spain.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the surname SILVAHERNANDEZ or its components. One example is Vasco da Gama (c. 1460-1524), a Portuguese explorer who was the first European to reach India by sea. His full name was Vasco da Gama e Silva, highlighting the presence of the Silva component.

Another prominent figure is Diego Velázquez (1599-1660), a Spanish painter celebrated for his realistic and influential works during the Golden Age of Spanish art. His full name was Diego Rodríguez de Silva y Velázquez, further demonstrating the Silva component's historical significance.

In the literary realm, José Hernández (1834-1886) was a renowned Argentine poet and journalist, best known for his classic work "Martín Fierro." His surname, Hernández, reflects the patronymic tradition of Spanish surnames.

Miguel Hernández (1910-1942), a Spanish poet and playwright, is another notable figure with the Hernández surname. His works, such as "Viento del Pueblo" and "El Rayo que no Cesa," garnered critical acclaim and continue to influence Spanish literature.

Lastly, José Silva (1914-1999), a Peruvian-American parapsychologist and author, is notable for developing the Silva Method, a mind control program aimed at enhancing human potential. His surname, Silva, exemplifies the enduring legacy of this component in various cultural contexts.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Silva Hernández

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

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

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

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