Origin of first name Sylvester?

[Eleesavet]

I take it it's not Scottish.

I have two ancestors with the christian name Sylvester in Perthshire in the early 19th century.  On searching IGI for Perthshire, there is a Silvester Rattray son of Patrick Rattray in the mid 15th century.

Does anyone know the origin of the christian name Sylvester?

Liz

[aghadowey]

Perhaps after Pope Saint Sylvester I?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sylvester_I

[blodwen]

My Uncle was named Sylvester and came from Ireland.

Viv

[esdel]

Does it imply "He who is clothed in silver"?

My little gson is silver too - he is Sterling - little star
esdel

[aghadowey]

No, seems to be connected to 'forest' or 'wood' (think of Latin root word sylvan).

[Eleesavet]

Sorry to be slow to respond.  My computer is giving me grief.

I had never heard of Pope Sylvester.  The site you referred me to is interesting, agh.  Perhaps Sylvester has its roots in Catholicism.

The word for wood in Greek is similar to the Lation root word.

Blod, so I'm not alone with a family member called Sylvester, other than the feline variety.

Esdel, lovel baby in the photo.   I take it he is your gson.

Liz

[esdel]

Liz

Both are. I call this picture "Me and my little bro" because of the sparkle in the 10-year-old's eyes.

Yes, agha*,  Latin for forest is better than my idea
I wonder if it therefor means "woodsman"
esdel

[Forfarian]

Does anyone know the origin of the christian name Sylvester?

It's from Latin 'silva' meaning a wood or forest, and is (according to Chambers Dictionary) used as a version of Silas, which has not a lot to do with it, being a biblical name!

See http://www.whatsinaname.net/male-names/Silvester.html

As for being Scottish, the commonest given names in Scotland are not Scottish - Alexander, Andrew, David, George, James, John, Peter, Robert, William etc are all of non-Scottish origin. Some are Latin, some Greek, some Hebrew, some German. The same applies to female given names.

[Eleesavet]

Does anyone know the origin of the christian name Sylvester?

It's from Latin 'silva' meaning a wood or forest, and is (according to Chambers Dictionary) used as a version of Silas, which has not a lot to do with it, being a biblical name!

See http://www.whatsinaname.net/male-names/Silvester.html

As for being Scottish, the commonest given names in Scotland are not Scottish - Alexander, Andrew, David, George, James, John, Peter, Robert, William etc are all of non-Scottish origin. Some are Latin, some Greek, some Hebrew, some German. The same applies to female given names.

Hi Forfarian,

Thank you for additional information and for website address.

In my quest to find origin of first name Sylvester in Scotland, I contacted Rampant Scotland, where there is a researcher into given names in Scotland.  He replied as follows:

"I'm afraid there's not much I can tell you about the name other than that it is an unusual name in Scotland. In the last two years only one baby in each year has been registered with that name according to the General Register of Scotland. The name itself is derived from the Latin adjective silvestris  meaning "wooded" or "wild", which in turn comes from the Latin noun silva meaning "woodland". Its use as a first name seems to have been prompted by Pope Sylvester I who died on 31 December 335 (there were two further Popes with that name). In some countries, New Year's Eve is known as Silvester. Pope Sylvester is one of the many saints within the Catholic church."

most of which was said in previous replies.

I think I would have to agree that Sylvester is an uncommon name in Scotland and, being uncommon, it makes you ask why it was first given in your family.

Liz