Surname Silberer - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'S'
Silberer: What does the surname Silberer mean?
The last name Silberer is believed to be of German or Jewish origin. The German version is derived from the Middle High German "siler," meaning "jeweler," and was likely an occupational name for one who worked as a jeweler. The Jewish version is derived from the Hebrew "silber," meaning "silver," and would have been used as an occupational name as well.
Silberer families originally lived in Germany, Austria, and the Jewish shtetls in Poland. They could be found in larger cities such as Munich and Vienna. Later, many moved to the United States and other countries.
The surname Silberer is most prevalent in the United States, particularly in Pennsylvania, Ohio, and New York. It has also been found in Canada, England, South Africa, Israel, and other European countries.
Today, Silberer family members continue to preserve their culture and heritage. They join together for family reunions, pass down traditional recipes and stories, and honor their ancestors through customs such as the Jewish tradition of yahrzeit, the candle-lighting ceremony to remember the deceased. They also have a shared interest in silversmithing and goldsmithing, a lasting reminder of their ancestor’s occupations.
Order DNA origin analysisSilberer: Where does the name Silberer come from?
The surname Silberer is quite rare today. While it is most common in continental Europe, particularly Germany, Austria, and Hungary, it is relatively uncommon throughout the rest of the world.
Beginning in the late 19th century, many people with the last name Silberer emigrated from Europe to the United States, and today there are some Silberers living in America. However, the majority of the population bearing the last name can be found in the countries of their origin—principally, Germany, Austria, and Hungary.
In Germany, there are approximately 1,200 people with the last name Silberer, primarily concentrated in the state of Bavaria. Another notable concentration is located in Berlin, with around 500 Silberers living in the capital. Outside of Germany, the last name is much less common—for instance, in Austria, there are estimated to be only 100 people with the surname.
Elsewhere, the Silberer name is almost non-existent, with only a handful of people bearing the name in countries such as Switzerland, France, the Netherlands, the Czech Republic, and Slovakia. In the United States, there are no more than 300 people with the last name Silberer.
Thus, the last name Silberer is today predominantly concentrated in European countries such as Germany, Austria, and Hungary. However, some people have ventured out from Europe to other parts of the world, leading to small pockets of Silberer families in the United States and elsewhere.
Variations of the surname Silberer
The surname Silberer is most commonly found in Europe, particularly in Germany, Austria and Hungary. It is a Jewish Ashkenazi name derived from the Yiddish words “sielber” or “sailber”, which mean “silver”. Variants, spellings, and surnames for Silberer are often found with other variations of the word “silver” such as Silberman, Silberbauer, Silberg, Silberstein, Silberman, and Silberman.
In Germany, the variants could include Silbermann, Silberer, Silberg, Silberfarb, Silbergleit, Silberschein, and Silbersher. In Austria, the variants include Silber, Silberger, Silbernagel, and Silberstein. In Hungary, the variants could involve Silberberger, Silbernberger, and Silbersztein.
In Germany, the spelling of these variations can also vary, meaning that the “m” in Silbermann can be replaced with a “b” forming Silberbauer, and the “erg” in Silberg is sometimes found as “gleit” forming Silbergleit. In Hungary, different forms have evolved, such as Silbersztajne, although the surname belonged to the same family. In addition, Jews usually adopted the German-sounding form of the surname, such as Silberer for Silberg.
It is possible that a family may have different variations of the same surname associated with different countries. This could be the result of migration or changes in spelling habits over time. For example, a Jewish family from Hungary with the surname Silberer may have moved to Germany and changed the spelling to Silbermann or Silbergmann. Similarly, when a family with the surname Silbermann moved to Austria, the surname may have changed to Silbernagel.
In conclusion, the surname Silberer is a Jewish Ashkenazi name and has numerous variants, spellings, and surnames with other variations of the word “silver” throughout Germany, Austria, and Hungary. These variations can be the result of migrations and changes in spelling habits over time.
Famous people with the name Silberer
- Ferdinand Silberer (1877-1935): psychoanalyst and writer that developed the theory of symbolism in dream analysis.
- Hans Silberer (1886-1922): Austrian mathematician that developed the Silberer's cube, which is a 3D representation of a magic square.
- Gustav Silberer (1860-1925): German researcher who worked in the new field of experimental psychopathology, applying psychological experiments and studies to mental illness.
- Sigfried Silberer (1877-1942): Austrian mathematician that developed the Silberer's polyhedron, used in mathematics to perfect the construction of bodies rich in symmetry and congruence.
- Maria Magdalena Silberer (1893-1984): Austrian psychoanalyst who specialized in research on the development of children's psychoanalytic thought.
- Christoph Silberer (1952-2015): Austrian contemporary artist originally from Vienna. He was known for his abstract works.
- Clara Silberer (1904-1989): American artist, printmaker, and designer who focussed on symbolic abstraction.
- Prof. Dr. Christian Silberer (born 1966): Austrian physicist specialized in Theoretical Physics and particularly in Complex Systems Theory.
- Valentine Silberer (active 2001-present): German philosopher and peace activist who has authored several pieces on postcolonial theory.
- Magdalene Silberer (active 2002-present): Austrian-American artist currently residing in the US. She is known for her canvas paintings that focus on texture and the psychological complexity of the human experience.