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

Olan, 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 Olan surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Olan in America

Olan is the 23205th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Olan surname appeared 1,099 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 Olan.

We can also compare 2010 data for Olan 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 Olan

The surname Olan is believed to have originated in Ireland, with roots dating back to the early medieval period. It is thought to be derived from the Old Irish word "ollan," which means "great" or "vast." This suggests that the name may have initially been used as a descriptive nickname or byname for someone of considerable stature or influence.

The earliest recorded instances of the name Olan can be found in ancient Irish genealogical records and annals from the 8th and 9th centuries. These documents reference individuals bearing the name, although the spelling may have varied slightly, such as "Ollán" or "Olláin." The name was particularly prevalent in the provinces of Munster and Connacht, where it was associated with several prominent families and clans.

One of the earliest notable individuals with the surname Olan was Máel Muire Ua hOlláin, who lived in the 11th century and served as the Lord of Howth, a historic town near Dublin. He is mentioned in the Annals of Ulster, a chronicle of medieval Irish history, for his involvement in various battles and conflicts during that period.

In the 13th century, the name Olan appears in the Annals of Connacht, where it is recorded that a man named Aodh Ua hOllán was appointed as the Bishop of Killala in County Mayo in 1237. This ecclesiastical appointment highlights the standing and influence of some members of the Olan family at the time.

During the medieval period, the Olan surname was also associated with several place names in Ireland, such as Ballynolan (meaning "town of the Olans") in County Mayo and Tullynolan (meaning "hill of the Olans") in County Down. These place names further solidify the historical presence of the Olan name in various regions of the country.

Another notable figure bearing the Olan surname was Domnall Ó hOlláin, a 16th-century Irish poet and scholar who served as the Chief Ollamh (a prestigious title for a learned person) of the O'Conor family in County Roscommon. His poetic works and literary contributions were highly regarded during his lifetime.

In the 17th century, Thomas Nolan (born circa 1630), an Irish Jesuit priest and writer, gained recognition for his philosophical and theological works. He was born in County Waterford and spent a significant portion of his life in Spain, where he published several influential texts.

The Olan surname has endured through the centuries, with various spellings and variations emerging over time, such as Nolan, Nowlan, and Nolen. Despite these variations, the name's Irish roots and historical significance have remained intact, serving as a testament to the rich cultural heritage of Ireland.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Olan

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

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

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

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