Find out how popular the last name Olaez is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Olaez.

Olaez, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Olaez surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Olaez in America

Olaez is the 99378th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Olaez surname appeared 182 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Olaez.

The history of the last name Olaez

The surname Olaez is believed to have originated in the Basque region of northern Spain and southern France. It is thought to be derived from the Basque word "olatz," which means "oak tree." This suggests that the name may have originally referred to someone who lived near an oak tree or oak forest.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Olaez surname dates back to the 12th century, when it appeared in a medieval manuscript from the Navarre region of Spain. The name was spelled "Olaiz" at the time, which was likely a variation of the modern spelling.

In the 14th century, there are records of an Olaez family living in the town of Elizondo, located in the Navarre valley of Baztan. This suggests that the name had already established itself in the region by that time.

During the 16th century, a notable individual named Juan de Olaez (1520-1587) served as a Catholic priest and theologian in Spain. He was known for his writings on religious doctrine and his participation in the Council of Trent, a significant event in the Catholic Reformation.

Another prominent figure with the Olaez surname was Pedro de Olaez (1630-1698), a Spanish military officer who fought in the Nine Years' War against France. He achieved the rank of Lieutenant General and was recognized for his bravery and leadership in various battles.

In the 18th century, a family with the surname Olaez was recorded as residing in the town of Lekunberri, also in the Navarre region. This indicates that the name had continued to maintain a presence in the area over several centuries.

One of the earliest examples of the Olaez surname appearing in a place name can be found in the village of Olaziregui, located in the Basque province of Gipuzkoa. The name is believed to be a combination of "Olaez" and the Basque word "iri," meaning "town" or "village."

While the surname Olaez has its roots in the Basque region, it has since spread to other parts of Spain and beyond, though it remains relatively uncommon outside of its place of origin.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Olaez

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Olaez.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Olaez was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

The history and meaning of the name Olaez was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Olaez, please contact us.

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