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

Sylvia, 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 Sylvia surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Sylvia in America

Sylvia is the 5977th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Sylvia surname appeared 5,756 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 2 people would have the surname Sylvia.

We can also compare 2010 data for Sylvia 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 Sylvia

The surname Sylvia is derived from the Latin word "silva" which means "wood" or "forest." It is believed to have originated in Italy during the Roman era, where it was likely used as a descriptive name for someone who lived near or worked in a wooded area.

The earliest recorded instances of the name Sylvia can be traced back to medieval Italy, where it was often spelled as "Silvia" or "Sylvius." In the 13th century, a notable figure named Silvia de' Piccolomini was a member of a prominent Italian noble family from Siena. She was the mother of Pope Pius II, who was born Enea Silvio Piccolomini in 1405.

Another historical reference to the name Sylvia can be found in the works of the Roman poet Virgil, who wrote about a character named Sylvia in his famous work, the "Eclogues." This literary connection further solidifies the name's Roman and Italian origins.

In the late 15th century, the Sylvia surname was also recorded in England, where it was likely introduced by Italian immigrants. One notable figure from this period was Sylvius Aeneas, an English philosopher and writer who lived from 1462 to 1519.

In the 16th century, the Sylvia surname appeared in the records of the Spanish Inquisition, indicating its presence in Spain during this time. One example is Juan de Sylvia, a Spanish scholar who lived from 1510 to 1578.

During the Renaissance period, the name Sylvia gained popularity in literature and art, as it was often associated with nature and pastoral themes. This trend was influenced by the works of writers such as Torquato Tasso and his epic poem "Gerusalemme Liberata," which featured a character named Silvia.

In the 18th century, the English naturalist and artist Mark Catesby (1683-1749) named a species of North American songbird the "Sylvia" in honor of the Roman goddess of woodlands. This further cemented the name's connection to nature and forests.

Overall, the surname Sylvia has a rich history spanning various cultures and time periods, with its origins firmly rooted in the Latin word for "wood" or "forest." Its enduring presence in literature, art, and nature has contributed to its lasting legacy as a surname with a strong connection to the natural world.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Sylvia

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

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

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

Reference this page

We spend a lot of resources downloading, cleaning, merging, and formatting the data that is shown on the site.

If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!