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

Olaiz, 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 Olaiz surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Olaiz in America

Olaiz is the 61436th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Olaiz surname appeared 327 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 Olaiz.

We can also compare 2010 data for Olaiz to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name Olaiz

The surname Olaiz has its origins in the Basque region of northern Spain and southwestern France. The name likely stems from the Basque words "olha," meaning "mill," and "iz," signifying a possessive form, suggesting a connection to a mill or mill owner.

The earliest known record of the Olaiz name dates back to the 16th century in the town of Olaiz, situated in the Navarre region of northern Spain. This town's name, which shares the same root as the surname, is believed to have been derived from the Basque words for "mill" and "place," indicating a settlement near a mill.

In the 17th century, the Olaiz name appeared in various documents and records from the Basque provinces of Gipuzkoa and Bizkaia, further solidifying its presence in the region. One notable figure from this era was Juan Olaiz de Arteaga (1590-1668), a prominent Basque merchant and landowner who played a significant role in the local economy.

As the Basque people migrated to other parts of Spain and beyond, the Olaiz surname began to spread. In the 18th century, records show Olaiz families settling in areas such as Madrid and Andalusia, where they contributed to the cultural and economic fabric of these regions.

One of the most renowned individuals with the Olaiz surname was José Olaiz y Arzac (1802-1876), a Spanish military officer and politician who served as the Governor of the Philippine Islands from 1857 to 1861. His tenure was marked by significant administrative reforms and infrastructural developments in the archipelago.

Another notable figure was Ignacio Olaiz Guzmán (1855-1924), a Spanish lawyer, writer, and politician who served as a deputy in the Spanish parliament and played a pivotal role in the establishment of the Spanish Republican Party.

In the 20th century, the Olaiz surname continued to gain prominence. María Olaiz Esandi (1916-2004), a Spanish painter and sculptor, was widely celebrated for her unique artistic style that blended Basque traditions with modern techniques.

It is worth noting that while the Olaiz surname originated in the Basque region, it has since been adopted by families in various parts of the world, particularly in Spanish-speaking countries, due to migration and cultural exchange.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Olaiz

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

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 Olaiz 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.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Olaiz has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

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 Olaiz was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

Reference this page

We spend a lot of resources downloading, cleaning, merging, and formatting the data that is shown on the site.

If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!