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

Olivar, 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 Olivar surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Olivar in America

Olivar is the 18808th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Olivar surname appeared 1,456 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 Olivar.

We can also compare 2010 data for Olivar 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 Olivar

The surname Olivar has its origins in the Iberian Peninsula, specifically in the regions of Spain and Portugal. It is derived from the Latin word "oliva," which means "olive." This suggests that the name may have been initially associated with individuals who cultivated olives or worked in the olive oil trade.

The earliest recorded instances of the surname Olivar can be traced back to the 13th century in various historical documents from the regions of Andalusia and Extremadura in Spain. During this time, the name was often spelled as "Olivar" or "Olivares," reflecting the regional variations in pronunciation and spelling conventions.

One notable historical reference to the name Olivar can be found in the "Repartimiento de Sevilla," a document from the 13th century that recorded the distribution of land and properties in the city of Seville after its conquest by the Christian forces. Several individuals with the surname Olivar were listed as recipients of land grants, indicating their presence and significance in the region.

In the 15th century, the name Olivar gained prominence in Portugal, where it was associated with the noble family of the Counts of Olivares. This family played a significant role in the political and military affairs of the Portuguese kingdom during the Age of Discovery.

One notable figure in the history of the surname Olivar was Gaspar de Guzmán, Count-Duke of Olivares (1587-1645), who served as the chief minister and valido (favorite) of King Philip IV of Spain. He was a powerful and influential figure in the Spanish court and played a crucial role in shaping the policies of the Spanish Empire during the Thirty Years' War.

Another prominent individual with the surname Olivar was María de Olivares (1564-1633), a Spanish painter and one of the first known female artists from Seville. Her works were highly regarded during her lifetime and can be found in various museums and collections across Spain.

In the 16th and 17th centuries, the surname Olivar also appeared in various regions of Latin America, particularly in Mexico and Peru, as a result of Spanish colonization and migration. One notable figure from this period was Juan de Olivares (1546-1624), a Spanish conquistador and explorer who participated in the conquest of Peru under Francisco Pizarro.

During the 19th century, the surname Olivar gained recognition in the literary world with the Chilean poet and diplomat Carlos Olivares Acevedo (1845-1899), whose works explored themes of nature, love, and patriotism.

Throughout its history, the surname Olivar has been associated with various professions, ranging from olive cultivation and trade to noble lineages, artistic pursuits, and military endeavors. Its origins and historical significance reflect the rich cultural and linguistic heritage of the Iberian Peninsula and its influence in the Americas.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Olivar

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

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

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

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