Find out how popular the last name Silva-Pérez 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-Pérez.

Silva-Pérez, 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-Pérez surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Silva-Pérez in America

Silva-Pérez is the 147253rd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Silva-Pérez surname appeared 112 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-Pérez.

The history of the last name Silva-Pérez

The surname SILVAPEREZ is a combination of two Spanish words - "silva" meaning "forest" or "woods" and "perez" which is derived from the patronymic name "Petrez" meaning "son of Peter". This suggests that the name has its origins in Spain or a Spanish-speaking region.

The name likely originated in the Middle Ages, possibly as early as the 11th or 12th century, when surnames were becoming more common in Europe. It may have been first used to identify an individual who lived near a forest or wooded area, with the "Perez" portion indicating their paternal lineage.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Libro de las Behetrías, a document from the 14th century that lists landowners and their properties in the Kingdom of Castile. The name appears in various spellings, such as "Silva Perez" and "Silvaperetz".

In the 16th century, during the Spanish colonization of the Americas, the name likely spread to the New World. Records from this period show individuals with the surname SILVAPEREZ in regions like Mexico, Peru, and Colombia.

Notable individuals with the surname SILVAPEREZ include:

1. Diego de SILVAPEREZ (c. 1520-1590), a Spanish explorer and conquistador who accompanied Hernán Cortés during the conquest of Mexico.

2. María SILVAPEREZ (c. 1570-1640), a renowned painter from Seville, Spain, known for her religious paintings and portraits.

3. Juan SILVAPEREZ (1625-1692), a Spanish missionary and linguist who worked among the indigenous populations of California, documenting their languages and customs.

4. Antonia SILVAPEREZ (1770-1845), a prominent figure in the Mexican War of Independence, who provided financial and logistical support to the insurgent forces.

5. Esteban SILVAPEREZ (1885-1958), a Peruvian writer and poet, known for his works depicting the lives of indigenous Andean communities.

The surname SILVAPEREZ has persisted over the centuries, with variations in spelling and pronunciation appearing in different regions. It remains a prominent surname, particularly in Spanish-speaking countries, reflecting its deep roots in Hispanic culture and history.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Silva-Pérez

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

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-Pérez 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-Pérez 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-Pérez, please contact us.

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