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

Olden, 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 Olden surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Olden in America

Olden is the 14749th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Olden surname appeared 2,014 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Olden.

We can also compare 2010 data for Olden 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 Olden

The surname Olden is of English origin, deriving from the Old English word "alden," which means "aged" or "old one." It is believed to have originated in the 12th or 13th century as a descriptive name, likely given to someone who was elderly or had a venerable appearance.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Hundred Rolls of 1273, where it appears as "Aldene." This suggests that the surname was already in use during the medieval period. The Olden name is also found in various medieval records, such as the Subsidy Rolls of Yorkshire from the late 13th century.

In the 16th century, the surname appears in various spellings, including "Olden," "Oulden," and "Owlden." These variations reflect the inconsistencies in spelling that were common during that time period. One notable individual from this era was Thomas Olden, a prominent merchant from London who was born in 1520 and died in 1588.

The Olden surname has been associated with several place names in England, such as Olden in Cheshire and Olden Chapelry in Lancashire. These places may have influenced the development of the surname or been named after individuals bearing the Olden name.

Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals with the surname Olden. One example is Sir John Olden (1618-1682), an English politician and lawyer who served as Lord Mayor of London in 1666. Another notable figure was Thomas Olden (1737-1808), an American Revolutionary War soldier and politician from New Jersey.

Other individuals of note include William Olden (1786-1859), a prominent banker and politician from New Jersey, and Ralph Olden (1823-1900), an English cricketer who played for Middlesex County Cricket Club in the mid-19th century. Additionally, Henry Olden (1856-1920) was a British playwright and actor known for his works in the late Victorian and Edwardian eras.

The Olden surname has a rich history rooted in the English language and has been borne by individuals from various walks of life, including merchants, politicians, soldiers, and artists. Its origins as a descriptive name reflecting age or venerability have given it a unique character and significance within the realm of English surnames.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Olden

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

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

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

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