NameCensus.

UK surname

Silvestre

Derived from the Latin word "silvestris," meaning "of the forest," referring to someone who lived near or worked in a forest.

In the 1881 census there were 1 people recorded with the Silvestre surname, ranking it #34,027 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 138, ranked #25,127, up from #34,027 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Bedford, Kensington and Chelsea and Croydon.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Silvestre is 138 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 13700.0%.

1881 census count

1

Ranked #34,027

Modern count

138

2016, ranked #25,127

Peak year

2016

138 bearers

Map years

1

2016 to 2016

Key insights

  • Silvestre had 1 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #34,027 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 138 in 2016, ranked #25,127.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 17 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Young Families.

Silvestre surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Silvestre surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Silvestre 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
1851 historical 3 #32,890
1861 historical 1 #34,435
1881 historical 1 #34,027
1891 historical 17 #32,787
1901 historical 9 #33,154
1911 historical 9 #32,754
1997 modern 50 #32,658
1998 modern 52 #32,732
1999 modern 41 #33,866
2000 modern 53 #32,805
2001 modern 55 #32,482
2002 modern 58 #32,564
2003 modern 72 #31,281
2004 modern 72 #31,488
2005 modern 83 #30,486
2006 modern 92 #29,576
2007 modern 93 #29,777
2008 modern 91 #30,431
2009 modern 97 #30,076
2010 modern 108 #28,996
2011 modern 119 #27,063
2012 modern 124 #26,432
2013 modern 126 #26,585
2014 modern 135 #25,581
2015 modern 137 #25,226
2016 modern 138 #25,127

Geography

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Where Silvestres 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 Bedford, Kensington and Chelsea, Croydon and Bristol. 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 Bedford 006 Bedford
2 Bedford 007 Bedford
3 Kensington and Chelsea 012 Kensington and Chelsea
4 Croydon 008 Croydon
5 Bristol 027 Bristol, City of

Forenames

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First names often paired with Silvestre

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

Historical female names

No Forenames Found

Historical male names

No Forenames Found

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Silvestre

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Silvestre, 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

Multicultural and Educated Urbanites

Group

Ethnically Diverse Young Families

Nationally, the Silvestre surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ethnically Diverse Young Families, within Multicultural and Educated Urbanites. This does not mean every Silvestre household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group includes many younger parents born overseas (particularly in Africa or EU countries) with children aged 0-4. Individuals identifying as of Mixed or Multiple ethnicities are also common. English may not be the primary language spoken. Accommodation consists principally of flats, and many properties are socially rented and/or overcrowded. Students are also present, unemployment is common, and other adults tend to work in low skilled jobs.

Wider pattern

Established populations comprising ethnic minorities together with persons born outside the UK predominate in this Supergroup. Residents present diverse personal characteristics and circumstances: while generally well-educated and practising skilled occupations, some residents live in overcrowded rental sector housing. English may not be the main language used by people in this Group. Although the typical adult resident is middle aged, single person households are common and marriage rates are low by national standards. This Supergroup predominates in Inner London, with smaller enclaves in many other densely populated metropolitan areas.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Silvestre is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Pockets, part of Social Rented Sector Families with Children. 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

Found in pockets across London, residents are less likely to live in private sector rentals and fewer adults are students. Fewer individuals work in transport and communications occupations relative to the Supergroup average. More individuals identify as Black and were born in Africa.

Wider London pattern

Residents of these neighbourhoods include sizable numbers identifying with ethnicities originating outside Europe, particularly in Africa or Bangladesh. The proportion of residents identifying as White, Indian or Pakistani is well below the London average. Neighbourhood age profiles are skewed towards younger adults, and above average numbers of families have children. Rates of use of English at home are below average. Marriage rates are low, and levels of separation or divorce are above average. Housing is predominantly in flats, and renting in the social rented sector the norm - few residents are owner occupiers. Housing is often overcrowded, and neighbourhoods are amongst the most densely populated in London. Disability rates are above average, although levels of unpaid care provision are about average. Employment is in caring, leisure, other service occupations, sales and customer service, or process, plant, and machine operation. Part time working and full-time student study are common. Levels of unemployment are slightly above average. Most residents have only Level 1 or 2 educational qualifications or have completed apprenticeships.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Silvestre 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

Silvestre falls in decile 4 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

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

4
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Silvestre is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

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

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - Other

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

Meaning and origin of Silvestre

The surname Silvestre has its origins in Spain and Portugal, stemming from the Latin word "silvestris," meaning "of the woods" or "wild." This name likely emerged during the medieval period, referring to someone who lived in or near a forested area.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Silvestre surname can be found in the 13th-century Catalonian manuscript "Llibre de Repartiment de València," which documented the names of individuals who settled in the region after the Reconquista. The name appeared in various spellings, such as "Silvestre" and "Selvestre."

In the 14th century, the Silvestre family held notable positions in the Kingdoms of Aragon and Valencia. Pedro Silvestre, born around 1320, was a prominent jurist and diplomat who served as an ambassador to the court of King Edward III of England.

During the 15th century, the Silvestre surname gained further recognition with the birth of Juan Silvestre, a renowned Valencian poet and scholar who lived from 1456 to 1521. His works, including the epic poem "El Canto de Turia," celebrated the beauty of the Valencian landscape and its people.

In the 16th century, the Silvestre name was associated with the Spanish conquest of the Americas. Diego Silvestre, born in 1520 in Seville, was a navigator and explorer who accompanied Hernán Cortés on his expeditions to Mexico. He is credited with mapping several coastal regions of present-day Mexico and Central America.

The 17th century saw the rise of Gregorio Silvestre, a Spanish painter and engraver born in Madrid in 1620. His intricate engravings and religious paintings adorned numerous churches and monasteries throughout Spain, earning him recognition as a master of the Baroque style.

The Silvestre surname has been carried by individuals from various walks of life, including artists, scholars, and explorers, reflecting the diverse histories and cultures of Spain and Portugal. While the name has spread globally over the centuries, its origins remain deeply rooted in the Iberian Peninsula's rich linguistic and cultural heritage.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Silvestre families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Silvestre 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. Channel Islands leads with 1 Silvestres recorded in 1881 and an index of 175.44x.

County Total Index
Channel Islands 1 175.44x
Middlesex 1 5.19x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Barnards Inn London in Middlesex leads with 1 Silvestres recorded in 1881 and an index of 0.00x.

Place Total Index
Barnards Inn London 1 0.00x
St Helier 1 526.32x

Top female names

These are the female first names most often recorded with the Silvestre surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
Marie 1

Top male names

These are the male first names most often recorded with the Silvestre surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
Emile 1

Top occupations

Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Silvestre households.

Occupation Count
Servt 1
Wine Merchant 1

FAQ

Silvestre surname: questions and answers

How common was the Silvestre surname in 1881?

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

How common is the Silvestre surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 138 in 2016. That gives Silvestre a modern rank of #25,127.

What does the Silvestre surname mean?

Derived from the Latin word "silvestris," meaning "of the forest," referring to someone who lived near or worked in a forest.

What does the Silvestre map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Silvestre 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.