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Sylvan Family History

Sylvan Surname Meaning

Swedish: ornamental name derived from the Latin adjective silvanus ‘pertaining to a wood or forest’ (a derivative of silva ‘forest wood’) used as a translation of the Swedish name element skog ‘forest’.

West Indian (Trinidad and Tobago Grenada): from the personal name Sylvan from Latin Silvanus (see Sylvain).

Source: Dictionary of American Family Names 2nd edition, 2022


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Where is the Sylvan family from?

You can see how Sylvan families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Sylvan family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Sylvan families were found in USA in 1920. In 1891 there were 2 Sylvan families living in Kent. This was about 67% of all the recorded Sylvan's in United Kingdom. Kent had the highest population of Sylvan families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Sylvan surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.
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What did your Sylvan ancestors do for a living?

In 1940, Laborer and Housekeeper were the top reported jobs for men and women in the USA named Sylvan. 36% of Sylvan men worked as a Laborer and 28% of Sylvan women worked as a Housekeeper. Some less common occupations for Americans named Sylvan were Manager and Finisher.

View Census Data for Sylvan | Data not to scale

*We display top occupations by gender to maintain their historical accuracy during times when men and women often performed different jobs.

United States shown, England data unavailable

Top Male Occupations In 1940

  • Laborer
    36%
  • Farmer
    22%
  • Salesman
    15%
  • Manager
    8%

Top Female Occupations In 1940

  • Housekeeper
    28%
  • New Worker
    19%
  • Maid
    19%
  • Finisher
    19%

What Sylvan family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 1,000 census records available for the last name Sylvan. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Sylvan census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Sylvan

Passenger Lists

There are 672 immigration records available for the last name Sylvan. Passenger lists are your ticket to knowing when your ancestors arrived in the UK, and how they made the journey - from the ship name to ports of arrival and departure.

View all Sylvan immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 253 military records available for the last name Sylvan. For the veterans among your Sylvan ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Sylvan military records

You've only scratched the surface of Sylvan family history

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What is the average Sylvan lifespan?

Between 1963 and 2004, in the United States, Sylvan life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1975, and highest in 2002. The average life expectancy for Sylvan in 1963 was 71, and 85 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Sylvan

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Sylvan ancestors lived in harsh conditions. A short lifespan might also indicate health problems that were once prevalent in your family. The SSDI is a searchable database of more than 70 million names. You can find birthdates, death dates, addresses and more.

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