Map of England showing where the Da Silva arms are recorded
The Da Silva arms were recorded in England, c. 1620.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in York.
Yorkshire is the largest of the English counties, and it held more gentry families than any other. Land there was split among a great many households rather than a few, so a great many of them carried arms.
This is where the arms were entered in the register. Families often moved to other parts of the country, so the same name can turn up in more than one region.
The body that granted and recorded arms in England in this period.
James VI and I
Sovereign of the period
James VI and I
1603–1625
Reigning in England when the Da Silva arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in England
English heraldry allowed arms to be shared by all legitimate descendants of the original owner. These symbols were treated as personal property that moved through the generations to all children. While the eldest son kept the original design, other family members could use the same shield without needing to change it or register their own unique versions.
Granting authority
The College of Arms in London has regulated the use of coats of arms throughout England and Wales since 1484.
How they got arms
Families typically obtained their coats of arms through a formal grant from the Crown or by proving their ancient right to them.
Where arms were recorded
All official coats of arms are recorded in the registers kept at the College of Arms, which date back to the fifteenth century.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of England.
Origin & History of the Da Silva Family in England
The surname Da Silva is of Portuguese origin and translates literally to mean of the forest or from the woods. While the name is deeply rooted in the Iberian Peninsula, historical records confirm that members of the family had established a presence in York, England, by 1620. During this period, the movement of families across Europe was often driven by trade, religious shifts, or the search for new opportunities in growing urban centers. For those who settled in England, the name served as a link to their ancestral Mediterranean heritage while they integrated into the local community. These early settlers helped shape the diverse social fabric of seventeenth-century York, carrying their linguistic and cultural identity into a new environment.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Silva
Derived from the Latin word silva meaning forest or woodland.
This name
Da SilvaRefers to someone who lived near or worked in a forest.
also spelled
Desylva
Silva
Dasilva
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Archives: Borthwick Institute for Archives, York. Parish Registers of St. Michael le Belfrey
Archives: The National Archives, Kew. State Papers Domestic, James I
Mendes, A. P., A Origem dos Apelidos Portugueses, 1998
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
lionCourage, strength and royalty
branchPeace, and new growth
lionCourage, strength and royalty
branchPeace, and new growth
