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

Silvey, 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 Silvey surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Silvey in America

Silvey is the 8651st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Silvey surname appeared 3,798 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Silvey.

We can also compare 2010 data for Silvey 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 Silvey

The surname Silvey is of English origin, derived from the Old French word "silvie," which means "from the woods." This name can be traced back to the Middle Ages, when it was likely used to identify individuals who lived in or near a wooded area.

The earliest known record of the name Silvey appears in the Domesday Book, a manuscript compiled in 1086 by order of William the Conqueror. This document mentions a landowner named Robert de Silvey, who held estates in the county of Lincolnshire.

Throughout the centuries, the name Silvey has been spelled in various ways, including Silvie, Silvy, and Silveye. Some of these variations may have been influenced by the Old English word "sylfe," meaning "wooded area" or "forest."

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the surname Silvey was John Silvey, born around 1450 in the village of Worksop, Nottinghamshire. He was a farmer and landowner, and his name appears in local parish records from that time.

In the 16th century, a notable figure named William Silvey (1525-1589) was a merchant and alderman in the city of London. He played a significant role in the city's governance and was involved in trade with the Netherlands and other European countries.

During the English Civil War in the 17th century, a soldier named Thomas Silvey (1620-1679) fought for the Parliamentarian forces. He participated in several battles and is mentioned in contemporary accounts of the conflict.

In the 18th century, a prominent individual with the surname Silvey was Elizabeth Silvey (1735-1812), a writer and poet from the town of Stratford-upon-Avon. Her works were published in local journals and anthologies, and she was renowned for her eloquence and literary talent.

Another notable figure was Sir Richard Silvey (1790-1865), a British naval officer who served in the Napoleonic Wars. He rose through the ranks and was eventually knighted for his distinguished service to the Royal Navy.

Over time, the surname Silvey has spread across various regions of England, as well as to other parts of the world through emigration. While it is not among the most common surnames, it continues to hold a significant place in the history and heritage of England.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Silvey

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

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

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

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