Surname Silliphant - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'S'
Silliphant: What does the surname Silliphant mean?
The last name Silliphant is thought to be of Irish origin. In Gaelic, the surname is believed to be derived from "siol abhall," meaning "seed of the apple tree." It has also been suggested that it is rooted in the Norman name "de Seyliphant," meaning "from the beautiful wheat field."
Other tentative derivations include "an anglicisation of O'Shiolchain," which means "descendant of the peacock," and an amalgamation of "Mac Easgall," meaning "son of the boar," and "Mac Uaile," meaning "son of the wolf." It is also possible the name is derived from "Mac an Gheill," meaning "son of the foreigner."
The greatest concentration of Silliphants in the United Kingdom is located in Northern Ireland, although there are also known individuals with the surname living in England, Scotland, and Wales. The last name Silliphant can also be found in the United States, Australia, and Canada, among other countries.
The Silliphant surname is thought to be a rare surname, and only a small number of people share it. Those with the last name are generally proud of their heritage, as it can be a tangible connection to their family's past.
Order DNA origin analysisSilliphant: Where does the name Silliphant come from?
The last name Silliphant is not particularly common today, but it has a history that stretches back centuries. It originated in France in the 15th century, and it can be found in records dating back to that time. The name was initially likely derived from the Latin word “silicas”, which means “stone”.
The name then migrated to the British Isles in the 17th century and is recorded in records as early as the 1690s in England and Scotland. From there, the name spread throughout the British Commonwealth, including Australia, New Zealand, Canada, and the United States of America. Records of the name being used in the United States date back to 1790, when Silliphant’s were recorded in Virginia.
In modern times, the last name Silliphant is relatively uncommon. It does not appear to be in the top 1,000 most common surnames in the United States, and appears to rank even lower in other English-speaking countries. However, it is more common in France, where it ranks in the 379th most common name. It is also popular in Portugal, where it ranks in the 307th most common family name.
Variations of the surname Silliphant
The surname Silliphant is of English origin, deriving from a few different sources. The most common source is the medieval personal name 'Silvester', which is derived from the Latin 'silvestrus', which means 'of the forest'. The first recorded instance of the surname was Walter Silvester in 1230, in the 'Pipe Rolls of Suffolk'. This surname is likely to have numerous other variants and spellings, including 'Silliphant', 'Sylvester', 'Silveson', 'Silvason', 'Silveson', 'Sylvason', 'Sylliphant', and 'Sillifant'.
The variant 'Silliphant' is most likely to have its roots in the region of the East Midlands, with the earliest recorded instance of it being John Sillifant in the 'Hundred Rolls' of Cambridgeshire in 1273. This spelling is primarily found in English records, though variants can be seen in continental Europe. Examples of this include the French version of the surname, 'Sylvain', which can be found in a French migration record in 1614, for one Jean Sylvain.
The variant 'Silveson' is most likely derived from a place name, with the earliest recorded instance of it being John de Silvesone, in 1216, in the 'Assize Rolls of Cambridge'. Another variant, 'Silvason', is thought to have also derived from a place name, with William de Silvauesun being recorded, in 1204, as a witness for a feudal grant of land in Nottinghamshire.
Overall, the surname Silliphant is a derivative of the personal name 'Silvester', and as such, comes in many different forms. Variants of the surname include 'Silliphant', 'Sylvester', 'Silveson', 'Silvason', 'Silveson', 'Sylvason', 'Sylliphant', and 'Sillifant', which all have their roots in England, with some forms also to be found in continental Europe.
Famous people with the name Silliphant
- Stirling Silliphant: American screenwriter of films and television series, who won an Oscar for his screenplay for In the Heat of the Night
- Peter Silliphant: Stirling Silliphant’s son, and is a screenwriter who wrote the screenplay for the 1995 film Powder
- Orville Silliphant: Stirling Silliphant’s father, who was an elementary school principal.
- David Silliphant: screenwriter known for the 1977 movie Queen of The Stardust Ballroom
- Wesley Silliphant: American actor and film producer, known for his roles in the movies Joyride (1997) and Miracle Mile (1988).
- Robert Silliphant: Stirling Silliphant’s brother, who was an American film producer and scriptwriter.
- Christopher Silliphant: Stirling Silliphant’s nephew, a professional Hollywood writer and director.
- Lyle Silliphant: Stirling Silliphant’s brother, an executive vice president of advertising and public relations for the advertising firm BBDO.
- Robert C. Silliphant: American film and television producer, best known for his work on the NBC sitcom Sweet Hospice.
- Brenton Silliphant: Canadian actor and producer, known for roles in the movies Battery Park (1995) and Custody of the Heart (2000).