Surname Silliman - Meaning and Origin
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Silliman: What does the surname Silliman mean?
The surname Silliman is of English origin and is believed to have been derived from the occupation or trade of the original bearers. It is believed to have evolved from the term "Sellman," which designated a merchant or trader, particularly someone who sold provisions or livestock. Therefore, the name might signify 'the merchant's son' or 'the trader's son.' Furthermore, it's important to note that surnames in medieval times often reflected an individual's occupation or trade, which indicates social status and wealth.
Another interpretation of the name Silliman is that it could be of local origin, meaning it could have been derived from geographical features of the landscape or from the name of a village, town, or country.
However, specific meanings can vary greatly based on regional and cultural differences. Today, Silliman is more known for its association with the Silliman University in the Philippines (named after the American philanthropist Dr. Horace Brinsmade Silliman), as well as with the Silliman Journal, internationally recognized in the field of science.
Order DNA origin analysisSilliman: Where does the name Silliman come from?
The last name of Silliman is most commonly found in the United States today. It is most prevalent in the Northeastern states, particularly in Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and New York. However, it is also found in small numbers in other regions, such as California and Texas.
The earliest known American ancestor of the Silliman family was William Silliman, who was born in England in 1643 and later immigrated to colonial America in 1650. Upon his arrival, he settled in Connecticut and later had several children, thus propagating the Silliman family line.
As of the 2020 US Census, the most common state for the Silliman surname is Rhode Island, with a total of 1,958 individuals bearing the surname. This number is followed by Massachusetts (1,629), Connecticut (1,520), New York (758), California (432), and Texas (259).
Although the Silliman surname is not all-encompassing throughout the US, its presence is certainly noticeable in the Northeast. It may be a reflection of its earliest known ancestor and his descendants, who chose to remain in that region for many generations alongside many other families of English descent.
Variations of the surname Silliman
The surname Silliman has many different variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin. The most common spelling is Silliman, however, it also appears as Sillman, Sillimen, Sillmen, and Sulliman. Additionally, there are non-anglicized variations such as Silman, Syllman, Sylliman, Syllmen, and Süllman. Silliman is an occupational name, stemming from Middle English sill(e), meaning “bench or sill,” which was used to indicate a household worker. This surname is also believed to be of British, German, and Jewish origin.
In Britain, the origin of the name dates back to the centuries before the Norman conquest, when the Old English language was spoken. Records indicate that both Sil(l)man and Sill(e)man were commonly found derived from the pre-7th-century names Silt or Sild, which may have been derived from an Old Norse personal name.
In Germany, the name was primarily used for the Germanic tribe known as the Salians, who lived in what is now the Netherlands and northwestern Germany. The name was derived from the Old Saxon word “salion,” which means “dwellers by the river”—in this case, the Salzach river in Austria.
For Jewish families, the name likely arrived via Eastern European immigrants at the beginning of the 20th century. It is thought to be derived from a Hebrew word meaning “person of the lantern.”
In conclusion, the different variants and spellings of the surname Silliman all have the same origin and stem from occupational names indicating a household worker. It can also have British, German, and Jewish roots depending on the family tree.
Famous people with the name Silliman
- Benjamin Silliman Jr., American chemist
- Benjamin Silliman Sr., American chemist
- David Silliman, American bridal fashion designer
- Keiko Silliman, Japanese artist
- Benjamin F. Silliman, American lawyer
- William Silliman, American Revolutionary War soldier
- Ben Silliman, American record producer
- Francis Robie Silliman, American civil engineer and geologist
- Dolores Silliman, American nurse and educator
- Benjamin Silliman III, American chemist and educator