SILVESTER
Silvester is a surname whose roots lie in Latin, deriving from the word silva meaning forest or wood. The name is thus interpreted as “of the forest” or “wooded”, and historically denoted a person who lived near or worked within a wooded area.
In England the first appearance of the surname is found in the Domesday Book, whereby the name is recorded as Silvester in the record of Leicestershire in 1154 and as Selvester in Yorkshire in 1202. The earliest surname recording appears as Silvestr in 1212 within the Book of Fees for Hampshire, during the reign of King John (1199 – 1216). Subsequent medieval records mention individuals such as William Silvester of Lancashire in 1250 and William Sevester of Kent in 1455.
The surname is traditionally classified as an occupational or locational name and has been associated with clerics in the early period, as the personal name Silvester was used by clergy. Three Popes during the early Christian era bore the given name Silvester, and the name was present in the Latin‑Christian milieu before it entered English usage.
Variations of the surname are numerous. Common forms that have appeared in English records include Silvester, Selvester, Sylvester and Syalvester, while less frequent spellings such as Siviter and Seveter have also been documented. In continental Europe the name appears in forms such as Silvestre (France), Silvestre or Silvestro (Italy), and Sylvestor (Germany). These variants all share the same Latin derivation.
A heraldic grant associated with the name features a silver shield bearing an erased oak tree uprooted in green and, in chief, two red crescents. The crest is represented by a lion’s head erased, green. In heraldic symbolism, the oak tree represents antiquity and strength, whereas the crescent is connected with faith and hope.
One of the earliest Scots-born carriers of the name emigrated to the New World: a 14‑year‑old Abram Silvester departed from the port of London in January 1634 on a ship bound for the colony of Virginia. This early migration illustrates the spread of the surname beyond its English origins during the seventeenth century.
In terms of geographic concentration, the surname remains most commonly found across the British Isles, particularly within England. In continental Europe it is recorded in France (notably in the Île-de-France region), Portugal (including the Azores), Spain, Italy, Austria and Romania, with the highest frequency reported in Romanian counties such as Bihor, Maramureş, Sălaj, Bistriţa-Năsăud, Satu Mare and Covasna.
Modern bearers of the surname continue to maintain the lineage through various genealogical records, census data and heraldic registers. The persistence of the name in diverse linguistic contexts reflects its medieval origin and the subsequent adaptation by a wide array of cultures across Europe.
Typical given names associated with the Silvester surname
Male
- Andrew
- David
- John
- Mark
- Michael
- Paul
- Peter
- Richard
- Robert
- Stephen
Female
- Ann
- Carol
- Christine
- Deborah
- Elizabeth
- Emma
- Helen
- Karen
- Margaret
- Nicola
- Patricia
- Sarah
- Susan
Similar and related surnames
Related and similar names are generated algorithmically based on the spelling, and may not necessarily share an etymology.
How to communicate the surname Silvester in...
Braille
⠎⠊⠇⠧⠑⠎⠞⠑⠗
Morse
......-.....-....-..-.
Semaphore
There are approximately 4,560 people named Silvester in the UK. That makes it roughly the 2,056th most common surname in Britain. Around 70 in a million people in Britain are named Silvester.
Surname type: Occupational name
Origin: English
Region of origin: British Isles
Country of origin: England
Religion of origin: Christian
Language of origin: English
Famous people named Silvester
- Andy Silvester - Musician
- Peter Silvester - Football player
- Stephen Silvester - County cricketer
Names and descriptions courtesy of Wikipedia, and may contain errors. This is not intended to be an exhaustive list of every famous person with this name.