NameCensus.

UK surname

Dsilva

A Portuguese surname derived from "silva" meaning forest or woodland.

In the 1881 census there were 1 people recorded with the Dsilva surname, ranking it #34,027 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 630, ranked #8,380, up from #34,027 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Swindon, Haringey and Colchester.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Dsilva is 634 in 2015. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 62900.0%.

1881 census count

1

Ranked #34,027

Modern count

630

2016, ranked #8,380

Peak year

2015

634 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • Dsilva had 1 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #34,027 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 630 in 2016, ranked #8,380.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 3 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established Multi-Ethnic Communities.

Dsilva surname distribution map

The map shows where the Dsilva surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.

Distribution map

Dsilva surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Dsilva over time

The table below tracks recorded surname counts and rank from the 19th-century census years through the modern adult-register period.

Year Period Count Rank
1881 historical 1 #34,027
1911 historical 3 #33,789
1997 modern 387 #11,275
1998 modern 417 #11,026
1999 modern 434 #10,784
2000 modern 443 #10,578
2001 modern 438 #10,462
2002 modern 477 #9,981
2003 modern 468 #9,958
2004 modern 489 #9,652
2005 modern 493 #9,536
2006 modern 495 #9,554
2007 modern 498 #9,592
2008 modern 522 #9,328
2009 modern 547 #9,215
2010 modern 572 #9,082
2011 modern 567 #9,055
2012 modern 598 #8,627
2013 modern 603 #8,713
2014 modern 622 #8,560
2015 modern 634 #8,360
2016 modern 630 #8,380

Geography

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Where Dsilvas are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around No data. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Swindon, Haringey, Colchester, Croydon and Pendle. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Some modern areas include a three-digit suffix, such as Leeds 110. The suffix is a small-area code, so it stays in the table while the prose uses the plain place name.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 No data No data

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Swindon 015 Swindon
2 Haringey 008 Haringey
3 Colchester 015 Colchester
4 Croydon 022 Croydon
5 Pendle 013 Pendle

Forenames

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First names often paired with Dsilva

These lists show first names that appear often with the Dsilva surname in historical and recent records.

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Dsilva

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Dsilva, this points to the kinds of places where the surname is most concentrated today.

These neighbourhood labels describe areas, not individual people. They are useful because surnames often cluster through family history, migration, housing patterns and local work. A surname can be strongest in one type of neighbourhood even when people with that name live across the country.

The UK classification gives the national picture. The London classification is more specific to the capital, where housing, age profile, tenure and population mix can look quite different from the rest of the UK.

UK neighbourhood type

UK Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities

Group

Established Multi-Ethnic Communities

Nationally, the Dsilva surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established Multi-Ethnic Communities, within Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities. This does not mean every Dsilva household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Parents and young children in this Group are drawn from diverse ethnic backgrounds in broadly similar proportions. Employment is typically in elementary occupations, though workers in professional, intermediate or skilled trades occupations are also present. The residential landscape is dominated by terraced housing, although semi-detached houses and flats are also present. This Group is found in London and in many provincial towns and cities throughout the U.K.

Wider pattern

Young adults, many of whom are students, predominate in these high-density and overcrowded neighbourhoods of rented terrace houses or flats. Most ethnic minorities are present in these communities, as are people born in European countries that are not part of the EU. Students aside, low skilled occupations predominate, and unemployment rates are above average. Overall, the mix of students and more sedentary households means that neighbourhood average numbers of children are not very high. The Mixed or Multiple ethnic group composition of neighbourhoods is often associated with low rates of affiliation to Christian religions. This Supergroup predominates in non-central urban locations the UK, particularly within England in the Midlands and the outskirts of west, south and north-east London.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Suburban Asian Communities

Group

Settled Semi-Detached Asians

Within London, Dsilva is most associated with areas classed as Settled Semi-Detached Asians, part of Suburban Asian Communities. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These residents share Supergroup characteristics of large (non-Chinese) Asian populations but those identifying as Bangladeshi are notably absent. Many residents were born in the UK, while other more recent migrants have African birthplaces. Semi-detached housing, much of it owner occupied, prevails in these suburban residential locations.

Wider London pattern

Many residents of these neighbourhoods are of (non-Chinese) Asian descent, with many identifying as Indian, Pakistani or Bangladeshi. Neighbourhoods are located across large areas of suburban west, north-east and south London. Detached, semi-detached and terraced houses are more prevalent than flats and socially rented housing is uncommon. Few residents live in communal establishments. Many families have dependent children, sometimes in overcrowded accommodation, and few households are ethnically mixed. Marriage rates are above the London average. The even age distribution, relative absence of individuals living alone and frequent incidence of households with children suggests that multi-generation households may be relatively common. Employment is often in skilled trades, elementary, sales and customer service occupations, and roles as process, plant, and machine operatives. Manufacturing and construction are well represented, along with employment in distribution, hotels, and restaurants. Many adults have only level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. English is not used at home by some residents. Religious affiliation is above average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Dsilva is most concentrated in decile 10 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier end of the index.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Dsilva falls in decile 3 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

3
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Dsilva is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - Other

This describes the area pattern most associated with Dsilva, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Dsilva

The surname DSILVA is of Portuguese origin, tracing its roots back to the 15th century. Its inception can be attributed to the Sephardic Jewish community that flourished in the Iberian Peninsula. The name is derived from the Portuguese word "silva," meaning forest or woodland.

During the era of the Inquisition in Portugal, many Sephardic Jews converted to Christianity, either genuinely or as a means of survival. The DSILVA surname emerged as a way for these conversos, or converted Jews, to assimilate into the dominant Catholic society while preserving their cultural heritage.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the DSILVA name can be found in the archives of the Évora Cathedral in Portugal, where a certain Isaac DSILVA is mentioned in a document dated 1492. This coincides with the expulsion of Jews from Spain, suggesting that Isaac DSILVA may have been a converso seeking refuge in neighboring Portugal.

In the 16th century, as Portuguese explorers and settlers ventured to colonies around the world, the DSILVA name began to spread globally. Notable individuals bearing this surname include Fernão DSILVA, a Portuguese explorer who accompanied Vasco da Gama on his historic voyage to India in 1498.

Another prominent figure was Garcia DSILVA, a renowned cartographer who lived between 1480 and 1542. His maps and charts significantly contributed to the Age of Discovery, facilitating navigation and exploration across the oceans.

During the 17th century, the DSILVA name gained prominence in the Dutch East Indies (present-day Indonesia) due to the establishment of Portuguese trading posts in the region. One notable figure from this era was João DSILVA, a merchant and diplomat who played a crucial role in maintaining trade relations between the Portuguese and local rulers.

In the 18th century, the DSILVA surname found its way to Brazil, where many Portuguese settlers established themselves. António DSILVA, born in 1720, was a prominent landowner and cattle rancher in the state of Minas Gerais, contributing to the region's agricultural development.

As the Portuguese empire expanded, so did the reach of the DSILVA name. In the 19th century, José DSILVA, born in 1812, was a respected educator and linguist who dedicated his life to preserving and promoting the Portuguese language in the former Portuguese colonies of Africa.

These are just a few examples of the rich history and global reach of the DSILVA surname, which has left an indelible mark across continents and centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Dsilva families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Dsilva surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.

Top counties

Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Renfrewshire leads with 1 Dsilvas recorded in 1881 and an index of 133.33x.

County Total Index
Renfrewshire 1 133.33x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Port Glasgow in Renfrewshire leads with 1 Dsilvas recorded in 1881 and an index of 2500.00x.

Place Total Index
Port Glasgow 1 2500.00x

FAQ

Dsilva surname: questions and answers

How common was the Dsilva surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1 people were recorded with the Dsilva surname. That placed it at #34,027 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Dsilva surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 630 in 2016. That gives Dsilva a modern rank of #8,380.

What does the Dsilva surname mean?

A Portuguese surname derived from "silva" meaning forest or woodland.

What does the Dsilva map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Dsilva bearers relative to the surrounding population.

What records is this surname page based on?

The historical counts come from census surname records. The modern counts and neighbourhood summaries come from later surname distribution records. Counts are recorded bearers in those records, not a live estimate of everyone with the name today.