This surprisingly uncommon surname is an Anglicized form of the "ornamental" German name "Silberson", and means "son of silver". The surname is a patronymic form of "Silver", found also in the English form of "Silvers", where "son" is contracted to a final "s". In both English and German instances the surname may have two or three interpretations relevant to the metal, silver; it may have been a nickname for a rich man, or perhaps for someone with silvery grey hair, and "Silver" with it's variant formations may also have originated as a metonymic occupational name for a silversmith. One, Thomas Silversen married Mary Smith at Eastwood, Essex, in 1701, and in London, Elizabeth Silverson was christened at Christ Church Spitalfields, Stepney, on December 26th, 1869. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Anne Silvers (christened), which was dated December 7th 1676, St. Thomas the Apostle, London, during the reign of King Charles 11, "The Merry Monarch", 1660 - 1685. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was known as Poll Tax. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.

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