NameCensus.

UK surname

Silvey

A habitational surname derived from a place name meaning "at the wood or grove" in Old English.

In the 1881 census there were 266 people recorded with the Silvey surname, ranking it #10,589 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 394, ranked #12,012, down from #10,589 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Churcham, Sandhurst, St Mary-de-Lode, St Catherine Longford, Barnwood, Wootton Ville, North Hamlet,, London parishes and Lambeth. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Windsor and Maidenhead, Swansea and Cornwall.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Silvey is 510 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 48.1%.

1881 census count

266

Ranked #10,589

Modern count

394

2016, ranked #12,012

Peak year

1911

510 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Silvey had 266 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #10,589 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 394 in 2016, ranked #12,012.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 510 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Silvey surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Silvey surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Silvey 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 155 #12,604
1861 historical 153 #15,032
1881 historical 266 #10,589
1891 historical 335 #10,181
1901 historical 449 #8,717
1911 historical 510 #7,718
1997 modern 437 #10,299
1998 modern 461 #10,220
1999 modern 463 #10,230
2000 modern 442 #10,597
2001 modern 424 #10,740
2002 modern 448 #10,477
2003 modern 441 #10,458
2004 modern 438 #10,532
2005 modern 422 #10,739
2006 modern 421 #10,798
2007 modern 415 #11,047
2008 modern 419 #11,058
2009 modern 430 #11,081
2010 modern 431 #11,285
2011 modern 418 #11,440
2012 modern 402 #11,683
2013 modern 415 #11,604
2014 modern 408 #11,830
2015 modern 406 #11,781
2016 modern 394 #12,012

Geography

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Where Silveys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Churcham, Sandhurst, St Mary-de-Lode, St Catherine Longford, Barnwood, Wootton Ville, North Hamlet,, London parishes, Lambeth, St George the Martyr and Stroud, Whaddon, Longney, Brookthorpe, Harescombe, Haresfield, Standish, Moreton Valence, Saul, Fret. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Windsor and Maidenhead, Swansea, Cornwall, Stroud and East Dorset. 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 Churcham, Sandhurst, St Mary-de-Lode, St Catherine Longford, Barnwood, Wootton Ville, North Hamlet, Gloucestershire
2 London parishes London 3
3 Lambeth London (South Districts)
4 St George the Martyr London (South Districts)
5 Stroud, Whaddon, Longney, Brookthorpe, Harescombe, Haresfield, Standish, Moreton Valence, Saul, Fret Gloucestershire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Windsor and Maidenhead 002 Windsor and Maidenhead
2 Swansea 028 Swansea
3 Cornwall 033 Cornwall
4 Stroud 001 Stroud
5 East Dorset 011 East Dorset

Forenames

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First names often paired with Silvey

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Silvey

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

Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities

Group

Rural Amenity

Nationally, the Silvey surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Silvey 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 comprises older parents or retirees, with no resident dependent children, and with the lowest residential densities in this Supergroup. Predominantly UK-born, residents typically live in detached houses, although others do live in semi-detached and terraced properties. The level of multiple car ownership is the highest in this Supergroup. Most houses are owner occupied although social renting is also present. Many concentrations occur in high amenity rural locations, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Wider pattern

Pervasive throughout the UK, members of this Supergroup typically own (or are buying) their detached, semi-detached or terraced homes. They are also typically educated to A Level/Highers or degree level and work in skilled or professional occupations. Typically born in the UK, some families have children, although the median adult age is above 45 and some property has become under-occupied after children have left home. This Supergroup is pervasive not only in suburban locations, but also in neighbourhoods at or beyond the edge of cities that adjoin rural parts of the country.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Silvey is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. 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

Mainly located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Silvey is most concentrated in decile 4 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname near the middle of the scale.

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

4
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Silvey falls in decile 10 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

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

10
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Silvey is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 30-40 mbit/s.

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

6
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of 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.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Silvey families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Silvey 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. Surrey leads with 52 Silveys recorded in 1881 and an index of 4.05x.

County Total Index
Surrey 52 4.05x
Gloucestershire 44 8.52x
Buckinghamshire 43 27.01x
Yorkshire 21 0.80x
Berkshire 15 7.59x
Middlesex 13 0.49x
Norfolk 13 3.21x
Hampshire 12 2.22x
Staffordshire 10 1.12x
Sussex 10 2.25x
Glamorgan 9 1.96x
Derbyshire 8 1.94x
Warwickshire 8 1.20x
Channel Islands 3 3.84x
Lancashire 3 0.10x
Cheshire 2 0.34x
Monmouthshire 1 0.53x
Oxfordshire 1 0.61x
Royal Navy 1 3.19x
Somerset 1 0.24x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Lambeth in Surrey leads with 34 Silveys recorded in 1881 and an index of 14.81x.

Place Total Index
Lambeth 34 14.81x
Great Marlow 25 581.40x
Southwark St George Martyr 14 26.42x
Hailsham 10 371.75x
Lewknor Up Hill 9 5000.00x
Southampton St Mary 9 26.51x
Normanton 8 229.89x
Sculcoates 8 19.33x
Stonehouse 8 272.11x
West Wycombe 8 370.37x
Birmingham 7 3.16x
Doncaster 7 36.71x
Eastington 7 409.36x
Heigham 7 32.21x
Hurley 7 679.61x
Stapleton 6 61.22x
Stoke Upon Trent 6 6.36x
Gloucester St John Baptist 5 149.70x
Moreton Valence 5 1612.90x
Welford 5 588.24x
Cheltenham 4 10.04x
Holbeck 4 23.13x
Saul 4 740.74x
St Marylebone London 4 2.84x
Cardiff St Mary 3 11.88x
Norwich St Augustine 3 184.05x
Putney 3 25.00x
Shoreditch London 3 2.63x
St Brelade 3 149.25x
Swansea Town 3 7.98x
Bromley London 2 3.45x
Cardiff St John 2 13.35x
Chester St John Baptist 2 19.14x
Farnworth 2 10.68x
Gloucester Barton St Mary 2 21.16x
Gloucester St Nicholas 2 83.68x
Holy Rood 2 183.49x
Islington London 2 0.78x
Newbury 2 31.60x
Stafford St Mary 2 15.90x
Aston 1 0.55x
Barwick In Elmet 1 50.00x
Bilston 1 5.80x
Blackburn 1 1.20x
Brampton 1 625.00x
Bridgewater 1 8.69x
Cannock 1 6.45x
Clapham 1 3.04x
Cowley 1 19.69x
Holt 1 72.46x
Hound 1 27.32x
Hungerford 1 37.45x
Leeds 1 0.68x
Lydney 1 37.45x
Newton Longville 1 238.10x
Norwich St John Sepulchre 1 38.02x
Royal Navy 1 3.73x
St Martin In Fields 1 6.34x
St Pancras London 1 0.47x
Swansea 1 196.08x
Upper Machen 1 76.34x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 16
Sarah 10
Eliza 9
Elizabeth 8
Jane 8
Emma 5
Ellen 4
Alice 3
Ann 3
Florence 3
Louisa 3
Maria 3
Martha 3
Annie 2
Caroline 2
Catherine 2
Charlotte 2
Eleanor 2
Emily 2
Gertrude 2
Leah 2
Lucy 2
Minnie 2
Ada 1
Agnes 1
Anna 1
Anne 1
Arabella 1
Carolin 1
Edith 1
Emmeline 1
Eugenie 1
Euphemia 1
Fanny 1
Isabella 1
Jimmimer 1
Kezia 1
Laura 1
Margaret 1
Margt. 1
Ruth 1
Sophia 1
Susan 1
Violetta 1
Winifred 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 18
John 17
Thomas 12
James 11
George 10
Charles 9
Henry 9
Joseph 7
Levi 5
Arthur 4
Frederick 4
Herbert 3
Richard 3
Samuel 3
Thos. 3
Albert 2
Alfred 2
Walter 2
Arnold 1
Cornelius 1
Daniel 1
Danl. 1
Danuel 1
David 1
Dayman 1
Edmund 1
Edward 1
Edwin 1
Felix 1
Francis 1
Frank 1
Fredrik 1
Gilbert 1
Harry 1
Horace 1
Jacob 1
Orlando 1
Philip 1
Thiletus 1
Willm. 1
Wm. 1
Wm.Charles 1

FAQ

Silvey surname: questions and answers

How common was the Silvey surname in 1881?

In 1881, 266 people were recorded with the Silvey surname. That placed it at #10,589 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Silvey surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 394 in 2016. That gives Silvey a modern rank of #12,012.

What does the Silvey surname mean?

A habitational surname derived from a place name meaning "at the wood or grove" in Old English.

What does the Silvey map show?

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