History of your Surname
Get access to Sylvain family records.Start a free trial

Sylvain Family History

Sylvain Name Meaning

French and West Indian (mainly Haiti): from the French personal name Sylvain from Latin Silvanus (a derivative of silva ‘forest wood’) bestowed in honor of various minor early Christian saints. This surname is most common in Haiti.

Source: Dictionary of American Family Names 2nd edition, 2022


Similar surnames: Sylvan, Salva, Savin, Silvio, Galvin, Servais, Allain, Sain, Galvan

Search for a relative to learn more about your family history.

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Black & white image of a young woman scientist

Where is the Sylvain family from?

You can see how Sylvain families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Sylvain family name was found in the USA, Canada, and Scotland between 1861 and 1920. The most Sylvain families were found in Canada in 1911. In 1911 there were 371 Sylvain families living in Quebec. This was about 93% of all the recorded Sylvain's in Canada. Quebec had the highest population of Sylvain families in 1911.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Sylvain surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.

What did your Sylvain ancestors do for a living?

In 1921, Cult and Servante were the top reported jobs for men and women in the Canada named Sylvain. 17% of Sylvain men worked as a Cult and 24% of Sylvain women worked as a Servante. Some less common occupations for Americans named Sylvain were Farmer and Commis. .

View Census Data for Sylvain | Data not to scale

*We display top occupations by gender to maintain their historical accuracy during times when men and women often performed different jobs.

Top Male Occupations In 1921

  • Cult
    17%
  • Cultivateur
    14%
  • Journalier
    11%
  • Farmer
    8%

Top Female Occupations In 1921

  • Servante
    24%
  • Couturire
    18%
  • Institutrice
    12%
  • Commis
    12%
Black & white image of two construction labourers

What Sylvain family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 8,000 census records available for the last name Sylvain. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Sylvain census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search Canadian census records for Sylvain

Passenger Lists

There are 865 immigration records available for the last name Sylvain. Passenger lists are your ticket to knowing when your ancestors arrived in Canada, and how they made the journey - from the ship name to ports of arrival and departure.

View all Sylvain immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 778 military records available for the last name Sylvain. For the veterans among your Sylvain ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Sylvain military records

You've only scratched the surface of Sylvain family history

Discover More

What is the average Sylvain lifespan?

Between 1954 and 2004, in the United States, Sylvain life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1954, and highest in 1980. The average life expectancy for Sylvain in 1954 was 31, and 69 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Sylvain

Discover the unique achievements of ancestors in the Sylvain family tree

Explore Your Tree

Browse profiles of historical people with the Sylvain last name

Search for another surname
Enter last name/surname
Start a 14-Day Free Trial