The surname Alves-Silva is a Portuguese compound surname, which means it consists of two separate surnames that have been combined.
The surname "Alves" has Celtic origins and originally referred to someone who lived near an alder tree. The word "alvo" in Portuguese means "alder," and the suffix "-es" was commonly added to occupational or locative names to denote a person, resulting in the name Alves.
The surname "Silva" is also of Celtic origin but refers to someone who lived near a forest or wooded area. The word "silva" means "forest" in Portuguese. Over time, it became a common surname among the Portuguese population.
Compound surnames in Portugal often consist of two unrelated names that were combined for various reasons, such as marriages between families with different last names or the merging of separate households. The combination of Alves and Silva creates a unique surname that is relatively common among the Portuguese population today.
Learn more about the origin of the last name Alves-silva
The meaning and origin of the last name Alves-silva
The surname Alves-Silva is a composite Portuguese name, formed by combining two distinct surnames: Alves and Silva. The name Alves, derived from the Latin word "albus," meaning 'white,' was often given to individuals with fair complexions or blond hair in medieval Iberia. On the other hand, Silva originates from the Latin word for 'forest' or 'wood.' It was a common surname for people living near or working in forests, such as woodcutters or gamekeepers. The name Alves-Silva might have been created to distinguish between multiple bearers of the Alves and Silva names within a family or community. This surname is primarily found among Portuguese speakers, reflecting its origins in Portugal.
Geographical distribution of the last name Alves-silva
The surname Alves-Silva is predominantly found in Portuguese-speaking countries, particularly Brazil and Portugal, due to its combined roots from the common Portuguese surnames Alves and Silva. In Brazil, it is one of the most frequent surnames, reflecting the country's large Portuguese immigration during the 16th to 19th centuries. In Portugal itself, it is also quite common, particularly in northern regions such as Minho and Trás-os-Montes, where many Portuguese emigrants originated. Additionally, due to global migration patterns over the past centuries, Alves-Silva can be found in various other countries with significant Portuguese diaspora communities, including Angola, Mozambique, and South Africa.
Variants and spellings of the last name Alves-silva
The surname Alves-Silva has several variations and spellings due to differences in transliteration, regional pronunciation, and personal preference. Here are some common versions:
1. Alves Silva: This is the most common form, with "Alves" being a patronymic derived from the given name Álvaro or another similar name, and "Silva" referring to a forest or a wooded area.
2. Alvessilva: An alternative spelling of Alves Silva, although less commonly used in English-speaking countries.
3. Alveš-Silva: A possible Czech or Slovak spelling due to the diacritical marks above the 'a' and 'e'.
4. Álvez-Silva: A variant where the Portuguese letter 'Á' has been replaced with the English letter 'Á', which may be used by speakers of Portuguese who are more familiar with the English alphabet.
5. Oliveira Alves or Alves de Oliveira: These variations suggest that "Alves" may have originally been a given name, while "Oliveira" (or "de Oliveira") is another common Portuguese surname, indicating an individual from the olive tree field.
6. Álvares-Silva: A less common variant where the given name Álvaro has been replaced with its alternative form Álvares, while "Silva" remains unchanged.
Famous people with the last name Alves-silva
Notable individuals with the surname Alves Silva include:
1. Eduardo Alves da Silva, known professionally as Dudu (born 1982), a Brazilian football forward who played for clubs such as Benfica and Internazionale.
2. Bruno Alves (born 1981), a Portuguese former professional footballer who played as a central defender for clubs like Porto, Wolfsburg, Roma, and FC Köln, as well as the Portugal national team.
3. Andre Silva (born 1995), a Portuguese professional footballer who plays as a forward for RB Leipzig and the Portugal national team, after stints at AC Milan, Sevilla, and Eintracht Frankfurt.
4. Ana Paula Alves da Silva (born 1987), a Brazilian race walker who won a bronze medal in the women's 20 km event at the 2012 Summer Olympics.
5. Marcos Paulo Alves da Silva (born 1991), commonly known as Paulinho, a Brazilian football midfielder who currently plays for Guangzhou Evergrande and the Brazil national team.
Genealogical research on the last name Alves-silva
The surname Alves-Silva is a combination of two Portuguese origin surnames: Alves and Silva. Alves, derived from the occupational name "avis," meaning falconer or bird catcher, was popularized by Saint James the Greater who was referred to as "São Tiago Matias" in Portugal, which translates to St. James the Falconer. Silva, on the other hand, is a common surname in Portuguese-speaking countries, originating from the Latin word "silva" meaning forest or wood. The combination of these two names, Alves-Silva, likely occurred due to familial ties between individuals bearing each name.
Notable persons with this surname include Brazilian actor Fábio Alves Silva and Portuguese footballer Marco Silva. The distribution of the name is predominantly in Portugal and its former colonies such as Brazil, Angola, and Cape Verde, reflecting the historical Portuguese influence in these regions. Genealogical research on the Alves-Silva lineage would likely require examination of records from these countries, particularly those related to immigration, births, marriages, and deaths.
Passionate about genealogy, name history, and linguistics, we have been analyzing the origins of names for over 3 years. Our content is based on verified historical, etymological, and statistical data.
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