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

Sylvas, 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 Sylvas surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Sylvas in America

Sylvas is the 120901st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Sylvas surname appeared 143 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 Sylvas.

We can also compare 2010 data for Sylvas 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 Sylvas

The surname Sylvas has its origins in Portugal, dating back to the late medieval period. It is derived from the Latin word "silva," meaning "forest" or "woodland." The name likely originated in the heavily forested regions of northern Portugal, where many early bearers of the name may have lived or worked in the dense woodlands.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Sylvas surname can be found in the Portuguese royal archives from the 14th century. A nobleman named Afonso Sylvas was mentioned in a document from 1372, indicating his status as a landowner in the province of Minho.

During the Age of Exploration in the 15th and 16th centuries, several Portuguese explorers and navigators bore the Sylvas surname. Notably, João Sylvas was a prominent cartographer who accompanied Vasco da Gama on his historic voyage to India in 1498. His detailed maps and charts were instrumental in the success of the expedition.

In the 17th century, the Sylvas family established a strong presence in the Azores archipelago. Gaspar Sylvas (1595-1667) was a renowned poet and scholar from the island of Terceira, whose works celebrated the natural beauty and cultural heritage of the region.

The 18th century saw the rise of a prominent Sylvas family in Brazil, where they were among the early settlers and landowners in the state of Minas Gerais. Joaquim Sylvas (1720-1802) was a wealthy mining entrepreneur and philanthropist who funded the construction of several churches and public buildings in the region.

In the 19th century, the Sylvas name gained further prominence in the arts and literature. Manuel Sylvas (1818-1892) was a celebrated Portuguese playwright and novelist whose works explored themes of social injustice and national identity.

Throughout history, numerous other individuals with the Sylvas surname have made significant contributions in various fields, including politics, academia, and the military. While this report focuses on the surname's origins and historical significance, it is important to note that the Sylvas family continues to thrive and leave their mark on contemporary society.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Sylvas

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

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

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

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