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

Oley, 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 Oley surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Oley in America

Oley is the 42094th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Oley surname appeared 516 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 Oley.

We can also compare 2010 data for Oley 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 Oley

The surname Oley has its origins in Germany and dates back to the medieval period. It is believed to have derived from the Old High German word "Olaha," which meant "olive tree" or "olive garden." This suggests that the name may have been initially associated with individuals who lived near or worked in olive groves or olive-related industries.

The earliest recorded instances of the surname Oley can be traced back to the 13th century in various regions of Germany, particularly in the southern and central parts of the country. One notable historical reference is found in the Bavarian Codex, a collection of legal documents from the 14th century, where the name "Oley" appears in connection with a landowner.

In the 15th century, the name Oley was also documented in the Heidelberg Manuscript, a significant compilation of historical records from the region of Heidelberg. This suggests that the surname had spread to different areas of Germany by that time.

One of the earliest known individuals with the surname Oley was Johann Oley, a prominent theologian and scholar who lived from 1545 to 1623. He served as a professor of theology at the University of Heidelberg and authored several influential works on religious subjects.

Another notable figure with the surname Oley was Friedrich Oley, a German artist and engraver who lived from 1711 to 1783. He is best known for his intricate engravings and etchings, many of which depicted landscapes and architectural subjects.

In the 19th century, the surname Oley gained further recognition through the work of Karl Oley, a German architect and urban planner who lived from 1835 to 1901. He was instrumental in the design and development of several important public buildings and urban spaces in various German cities.

The name Oley was also associated with the town of Oley in Pennsylvania, United States, which was founded by German immigrants in the early 18th century. It is possible that some individuals with this surname may have originated from or lived in this area.

Throughout history, the surname Oley has undergone various spelling variations, such as Ohley, Olei, and Olaye, reflecting regional differences and the evolution of language over time.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Oley

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

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

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

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