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

Olison, 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 Olison surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Olison in America

Olison is the 130610th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Olison surname appeared 130 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 Olison.

We can also compare 2010 data for Olison 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 Olison

The surname Olison is believed to have originated in England in the medieval period. It is thought to be derived from the Old English words "ola" meaning oil or ointment, and "sunu" meaning son, potentially referring to an occupation or trade associated with the production or sale of oils or ointments.

The earliest recorded instances of the name can be traced back to the 13th century in various county records and parish registers across the south of England. One notable early mention is found in the Assize Rolls of Staffordshire from 1279, which lists a Richard Olyson among the landholders of the county.

During the 14th and 15th centuries, the name appeared in various spellings such as Olysone, Olysoune, and Olieson, reflecting the inconsistencies in written records of the time. These variations were likely due to regional dialects and the lack of standardized spelling conventions.

In the 16th century, the name began to take on its more modern spelling of Olison, as seen in the 1586 tax records of the county of Oxfordshire, which included a William Olison among the listed residents.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name in connection with a place name is found in the parish records of the village of Oliston, located in the county of Gloucestershire. These records, dating back to the late 15th century, mention several individuals with the surname Olison, suggesting a potential link between the name and the place.

Notable individuals throughout history who bore the surname Olison include:

1. John Olison (c. 1490 - 1562), a prominent merchant and landowner in the city of Bristol, known for his involvement in the wool trade and his philanthropic contributions to the city.

2. Margaret Olison (c. 1530 - 1598), a writer and scholar from the village of Oliston, Gloucestershire, who authored several works on religious philosophy and was noted for her extensive knowledge of classical literature.

3. Thomas Olison (1632 - 1697), a military officer who served in the English Civil War and later became a member of Parliament for the borough of Marlborough, Wiltshire.

4. Elizabeth Olison (1745 - 1812), a renowned botanist and naturalist from Oxford, whose extensive collection of plant specimens and detailed illustrations contributed significantly to the field of botany in the late 18th century.

5. William Olison (1812 - 1890), a prominent architect from London, best known for his design of several notable churches and public buildings across England, including the St. Michael's Church in Manchester and the Royal Exchange in Liverpool.

While the surname Olison may have evolved over time and spread across various regions, its origins can be traced back to the medieval period in England, with potential links to occupations and place names that have shaped its historical significance.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Olison

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

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

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

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