Silverberg
A Jewish occupational surname referring to someone who worked with silver or was a silversmith.
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 2,742 Americans carry the last name Silverberg. That puts it at #12,953 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.80 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 125,002 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Silverberg surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
Bearers in the US
2.7K
1 in 125,002
Census rank
#12,953
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.8
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
2.4K
rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 2,371 bearers of the surname Silverberg in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.80 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 12953rd position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Silverberg, the largest self-reported group is White at 93.7%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (2.5%) and Black (1.5%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Silverberg
The surname Silverberg is thought to have originated in Germany during the Middle Ages. It is derived from the German words 'silber' meaning silver and 'berg' meaning mountain or hill. This suggests that the name likely referred to someone who lived near a silver mine or worked in silver mining or processing.
One of the earliest known records of the Silverberg name dates back to the 14th century in the town of Nuremberg, which was a major center for metalworking and mining during that time. A man named Hans Silverberg was listed in tax records from 1367 as a silver smelter and metal worker.
In the 16th century, the Silverberg name appeared in various church records and municipal documents throughout southern Germany, particularly in the regions of Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg. Some examples include Martin Silverberg (1523-1589), a Protestant reformer and pastor in Rothenburg, and Anna Silverberg (born 1544), who was listed as a landowner in records from the town of Freiburg.
During the 17th and 18th centuries, as the Silverberg family spread across German-speaking lands, variations in spelling emerged such as Silberberg, Sylverberg, and Zilverberg. Johann Silberberg (1624-1701) was a noted mathematician and astronomer who taught at the University of Strasbourg. Another individual of note was Friedrich Zilverberg (1701-1783), a merchant and banker from Frankfurt.
As the Industrial Revolution took hold in the 19th century, many Silverbergs left Germany and immigrated to other parts of Europe and the Americas in search of new opportunities. One such individual was Carl Silverberg (1805-1879), who settled in Pennsylvania after leaving Bavaria and became a successful industrialist and landowner.
Other notable people with the Silverberg surname include Robert Silverberg (born 1935), an acclaimed American science fiction author, and Barbara Silverberg (1923-2017), a Canadian politician who served as a member of parliament. The name has maintained its presence across various countries and cultures over the centuries.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Silverberg
Among Census respondents with the surname Silverberg, the largest self-reported group is White at 93.7%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (2.5%) and Black (1.5%).
The bar chart below shows how Silverberg bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2010 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Silverberg surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White93.7%
- Hispanic or Latino2.5%
- Black or African American1.5%
- Two or more races1.4%
- Asian and Pacific Islander1.0%
Year on year
2000 vs 2010 Census
How has the Silverberg surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
| Metric | 2000 | 2010 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #12,634 | #12,953 | -2.5% |
| Count | 2,248 | 2,371 | 5.5% |
| Per 100K | 0.83 | 0.80 | -3.6% |
Between the 2000 and 2010 Census, the number of Silverberg bearers went from 2,248 to 2,371 (+5.5% change). The surname moved down 319 positions in the national ranking, going from #12,634 to #12,953.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Silverberg
FAQ
Silverberg surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Silverberg?
The surname Silverberg holds position #12,953 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 2,742 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 0.80 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Silverberg surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Silverberg, the largest self-reported group is White at 93.7%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (2.5%) and Black (1.5%). These figures come from the 2010 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Where does this surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These tables list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2010 Census, along with a frequency rate and self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.