Silverstone
A habitational surname derived from a place name meaning "stony ground abounding in silver ore".
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 446 Americans carry the last name Silverstone. That puts it at #52,970 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.13 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 768,507 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Silverstone 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
446
1 in 768,507
Census rank
#52,970
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.1
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
391
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 391 bearers of the surname Silverstone in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.13 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 52970th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Silverstone, the largest self-reported group is White at 93.6%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (4.1%) and Asian/Pacific Islander (1.3%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Silverstone
The surname Silverstone originated in England, with the earliest known records dating back to the late 13th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old English words "seolfor" meaning silver and "stan" meaning stone, suggesting a possible connection to a location or landmark associated with silver mining or silver-colored stones.
One of the earliest mentions of the name can be found in the Court Rolls of the Manor of Wakefield in Yorkshire, where a Robert de Silverstones was listed in 1275. The surname was also recorded in the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire in 1279, where a John de Silurestone was mentioned.
During the 14th century, variations of the surname appeared in various historical records, including the Subsidy Rolls of Staffordshire in 1327, where a William de Silverton was listed. In the Poll Tax Returns of Yorkshire from 1379, the name was recorded as Silverstane.
The surname Silverstone is often associated with the village of Silverstone in Northamptonshire, which was first mentioned in the Domesday Book of 1086 as "Silvestune." It is possible that the name originated from this location, with early bearers taking their surname from the place name.
Notable individuals with the surname Silverstone include:
1. Robert Silverstone (c. 1535 - 1618), an English merchant and Member of Parliament for London in 1597.
2. Henry Silverstone (1705 - 1768), a British architect known for his work on the Church of St. Mary-le-Strand in London.
3. Benjamin Silverstone (1793 - 1868), a renowned English chess player and author of several books on the game.
4. Nathan Silverstone (1843 - 1915), a British businessman and philanthropist who founded the Silverstone Convalescent Home in London.
5. Alicia Silverstone (born 1976), an American actress best known for her roles in films such as "Clueless" and "Batman & Robin."
While the surname Silverstone has been present in England for centuries, it has also spread to other parts of the world through emigration and migration. However, its origins can be traced back to the English countryside and the early references found in historical records and manuscripts.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Silverstone
Among Census respondents with the surname Silverstone, the largest self-reported group is White at 93.6%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (4.1%) and Asian/Pacific Islander (1.3%).
The bar chart below shows how Silverstone 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 Silverstone surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White93.6%
- Hispanic or Latino4.1%
- Asian and Pacific Islander1.3%
Year on year
2010 vs 2010 Census
How has the Silverstone 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 | 2010 | 2010 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #52,970 | #52,970 | 0.0% |
| Count | 391 | 391 | 0.0% |
| Per 100K | 0.13 | 0.13 | 0.0% |
Between the 2010 and 2010 Census, the number of Silverstone bearers went from 391 to 391 (+0.0% change). The surname held its position in the national ranking, going from #52,970 to #52,970.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Silverstone
FAQ
Silverstone surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Silverstone?
The surname Silverstone holds position #52,970 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 446 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 0.13 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Silverstone surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Silverstone, the largest self-reported group is White at 93.6%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (4.1%) and Asian/Pacific Islander (1.3%). 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.