Silva

Silva
Family name
Coat of arms associated to Silva surname
Meaning	"forest, woodland or jungle"
Region of origin	Portugal

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

It is also widespread in regions of the former Portuguese Empire in America (from Galicia (Spain)), Africa and Asia, including India and Sri Lanka. Movement of people has led to the name being used in many places; da Silva is the fifth most common surname in the French department of Val-de-Marne, outside Paris and it was the 19th most-common family name given to newborns between 1966 and 1990 in France.

Many people on this list are not generally known as Silva.