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

Olcott, 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 Olcott surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Olcott in America

Olcott is the 21926th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Olcott surname appeared 1,184 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 Olcott.

We can also compare 2010 data for Olcott 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 Olcott

The surname Olcott has its origins in England, tracing back to the medieval period. It is derived from the Old English words "olde" meaning "old" and "cot" meaning "cottage" or "dwelling." The name was likely given to someone who lived in an old cottage or a longstanding settlement.

One of the earliest recorded mentions of the name dates back to the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a survey of landowners commissioned by William the Conqueror. The name appeared as "Oldecote," referring to a place in the county of Cheshire.

In the 13th century, the name was found in various forms such as "Oldecote," "Oldcote," and "Oldecott." These variations were common during this period due to the inconsistent spelling practices of the time.

The earliest known bearer of the surname Olcott was Robert de Oldecote, who was recorded in the Pipe Rolls of Staffordshire in 1195. Another early reference is to Richard de Oldecote, who was mentioned in the Assize Rolls of Cheshire in 1286.

The name Olcott is also associated with several place names in England, such as Oldcott in Staffordshire and Oldcott in Gloucestershire. These places likely derived their names from the same Old English roots as the surname.

Among the notable individuals with the surname Olcott throughout history are:

1. Henry Steel Olcott (1832-1907), an American military officer, journalist, and co-founder of the Theosophical Society.
2. Thomas W. Olcott (1805-1887), an American lawyer and politician who served as the 20th Mayor of Albany, New York.
3. Chauncey Olcott (1860-1932), an American actor and singer, best known for his performances in Irish-themed plays and musicals.
4. Martha Olcott Fessenden (1824-1904), an American social reformer and abolitionist who actively supported the Underground Railroad.
5. William Olcott (1798-1873), an American lawyer and politician who served as a member of the New York State Assembly.

These are some of the historical details and notable figures associated with the surname Olcott, tracing its origins, variations, and presence throughout various records and contexts over the centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Olcott

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

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

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

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