Show ContentsSilverthorn History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Silverthorn Family Crest Download (JPG) Heritage Series - 600 DPI

Family Crest Download (JPG) Heritage Series - 600 DPI

Etymology of Silverthorn

What does the name Silverthorn mean?

The English surname Silverthorn is of several distinct origins. Firstly, it is derived from the Old English "silfor," meaning "silversmith"; in this instance, the progenitor of the name would have been someone who practiced this profession. 1

Alternatively, the name may be derived from the Old English "seolfre," meaning "silvery stream," and would in this case refer to someone who lived by such a stream. 2

Early Origins of the Silverthorn family

The surname Silverthorn was first found in Lincolnshire where the Book of Seals recorded Lucas Siluer in 1205 during the reign of King John, of England (1199-1216.) Later in Yorkshire, the Subsidy Rolls recorded John Siluer in 1301. Robert Silverhewer was listed in the Curia Regis Rolls for Yorkshire in 1212 and William Sylverour was a Freeman Of York in 1417. Thomas atte Selure (1327) and Thomas del Silvere (1332) were both recorded in the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire. 3

Up north in Scotland, "John Syllar was tenant of the garden of the Hospital of Dundee, 1464. James Silvir, "succentor Glasguensi," appears as witness in 1497, and may be James Siluer, rector of Durisdere, 1504. William Silver de Stobo was a charter witness, 1506, and another William Siluer or Silwer was a cleric in Aberdeen, 1540, and chaplain of Folaroull, 1546. The name Silver on a tomb in the Calton cemetery, Edinburgh, near the Stevenson 'lair' probably suggested to Robert Louis Stevenson the surname of his 'Long John Silver' in Treasure Island." 4

Early History of the Silverthorn family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Silverthorn research. Another 139 words (10 lines of text) covering the years 1350, 1464, 1504, 1560, 1599, 1620 and 1700 are included under the topic Early Silverthorn History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Silverthorn Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Silver, Silvar, Silber, Silvers, Silvars, Silvia, Sylvia and many more.

Early Notables of the Silverthorn family

Sir Batholemew Silver, who was seated in Hertfordshire about 1350; Alexander Silver, a wealthy East India trader from Aberdeenshire, Scotland in the 1700s; and George Silver (c.1560s-1620s), an English gentleman known for his writings on fencing...
Another 35 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Silverthorn Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Silverthorn migration to Canada +

Silverthorn Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century
  • Mr. Thomas Silverthorn U.E. who settled in Canada c. 1784 6
  • Mr. Thomas Silverthorn Sr., U.E. who settled in Stamford [Niagara Falls], Ontario c. 1784 6

Silverthorn migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia included the First Fleet and Third Fleet of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

First Fleet
  • Mr. James Silverthorn, (1770 - 1790), aged 19, British settler convicted at Somerset, England in 1788, sentenced to 7 years for breaking and entering, transported aboard the ship "Neptune" leaving in 1789 arriving in New South Wales, Australia in 1790, may have died on the ship 5
Third Fleet
  • Mr. John Silverthorn, (b. 1763), aged 24, English settler convicted in New Sarum (Salisbury), Wiltshire on 6th March 1784, sentenced for 7 years for highway robbery, transported aboard the ship "Alexander" leaving in 1787 arriving in New South Wales, Australia in 1788 6

Contemporary Notables of the name Silverthorn (post 1700) +

  • Willis Chisholm Silverthorn (1838-1916), Canadian-born, American lawyer, judge, banker, politician, Member of the Wisconsin State Senate and the Wisconsin State Assembly
  • Merwin Hancock Silverthorn (1896-1985), American 3rd Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps, awarded numerous medals including the Navy Cross, Distinguished Service Cross, Navy Distinguished Service Medal, Legion of Merit and Purple Heart
  • Jason Silverthorn (b. 1979), Canadian professional ice hockey forward
  1. Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
  2. Smith, Eldson Coles, New Dictionary of American Family Names New York: Harper & Row, 1956. Print
  3. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
  4. Black, George F., The Surnames of Scotland Their Origin, Meaning and History. New York: New York Public Library, 1946. Print. (ISBN 0-87104-172-3)
  5. Convict Records of Australia. Retrieved 4th February 2021 from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships
  6. Rubincam, Milton. The Old United Empire Loyalists List. Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc, 1976. (Originally published as; United Empire Loyalists. The Centennial of the Settlement of Upper Canada. Rose Publishing Company, 1885.) ISBN 0-8063-0331-X

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