From Where Does The Surname Originate? ^{meaning and history}

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Silva is the most common Portuguese name and is also common in all former Portuguese colonies or countries where Portugal had a strong presence: Brasil, Angola, Mozambique, East Timor, Macau, Uruguay, India, Cape Verde and Malaysia. It is a topographical name, coming from Torre da Silva (meaning Silva's Tower), a fief in Northern Portugal near Valença do Minho. The name's first recorded use was by a noble, D. Guterre de Silva, who owned "Torre da Silva" around year 1000 AD. Silva is the generic Portuguese word used to describe a thorny and/or entangled bush. It's origin goes back to Latin, silva, with the meaning of any forest or woodland that was difficult to cross. The Portuguese word for jungle, selva, has the same origin. The name Silva was also used in ancient Rome, for example by Lucius Flavius Silva, but with no other relation with the Portuguese name than the origin of the word. By the XIV and XV centuries Silva was already one of the most common surnames in Portugal, and it was widely used by anyone who wanted to forget or hide their past and get a new start, especially in the Portuguese colonies in Africa and America.

It means "forest", "forest" or "forest". Silva and a Portuguese surname, which originated from the Latin silva, meaning "forest", "forest" or "jungle". The Silva surname, In addition to being strongly present IN Families of Portuguese origin, also is used in Spain and Italy, but with less expression. Of the Agreement with onomástica - Study of Nomos OWN - the Silva surname and classified As toponímico because as First Persons one using this Nomo would have lived Next to the Tower of Honor and Silva, along with Calença, Portuguese Current City of Valencia. As First Families with this surname have lived around Century X, EVEN drops of Creation of the Portuguese nation. From: Do not Give To trace a genealogical line Descendants this surname because it was adopted Very FOR Several Families que fled from Europe to Brazil in search of anonymity. Not However, it is believed that the original root This strain has the progeny of traditional Royal House of Aragon. The timbre of the family Silva and a lion purple OR Red recorded sob um Fund silver, Lion Kingdom of weapons of Reference.

It does not mean forest. This surname means or is, the name of a wild plant/bush that gives us the black and red berries.

It's probably one of the oldest surnames in Portugal there is a tell-tale that the Jews when running from the war they would change their names in to names of fruits or fruit trees although it's very questionable such claim because this surname (Silva) exists in Portugal for centuries.

This surname derives from the Portuguese word silva, which refers to the ubiquitous and invasive thorny bramble bushes. They produce a very tasty berry when ripe.

Many of the Portuguese names referring to plant or trees were used for people who wanted to avoid persecution during the Iberian inquisitions in the late 15th Century.

Silva (or da Silva or D'Silva) is the most common surname in Portuguese-speaking countries, such as Portugal and Brazil. Its meaning is derived from the Latin word, silva, meaning 'forest' or 'woodland'.

First found in the town of Silva in the Portuguese province of Valenca do Minho. The name of the town is derived from the portuguese word 'silva'. which means 'forest' and indicating that the area was once heavily forested.

Surname given to natives of the new lands found in the so called New World during the age of discovery meaning 'who lives in the junlges'.

Who came from the jungle, it was used by africans or portugueses that came to Brazil and wanted a "new life" with a different surname.

Origin: Portuguese. Derives from Silvio. Is very popular in Portugal and Galicia (Spain). Has a Royal Linage in Spain.

From the latin word for "jungle"; they who came from or live in the jungle.

In Latin 'silva', means "forest" or "jungle".