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

Olivares, 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 Olivares surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Olivares in America

Olivares is the 1490th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Olivares surname appeared 23,982 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 8 people would have the surname Olivares.

We can also compare 2010 data for Olivares 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 Olivares

The surname Olivares is of Spanish origin, deriving from the olive-growing areas of Spain during the Middle Ages. It likely stemmed from the Spanish word "olivar," meaning an olive grove or orchard. The earliest recorded instances of the name can be traced back to the 13th century in regions of Andalusia and Castile.

Olivares was initially an occupational surname, given to individuals who owned or worked in olive groves. Over time, it became a hereditary family name passed down through generations. The name's prevalence in southern Spain aligns with the region's long history of olive cultivation and the production of olive oil.

In the 15th century, the name Olivares gained prominence when Gaspar de Guzmán, Count-Duke of Olivares, served as the chief minister to King Philip IV of Spain from 1621 to 1643. His influential political role during the Golden Age of Spanish literature and arts likely contributed to the wider recognition of the surname.

One notable bearer of the Olivares name was José de Olivares, a Spanish explorer and navigator who accompanied Hernán Cortés on his expedition to conquer Mexico in the early 16th century. Another historical figure was Juan de Olivares, a Spanish architect born in 1587, who designed several notable buildings in Madrid, including the Plaza Mayor.

In the realm of literature, the surname is associated with Rodrigo de Olivares, a 16th-century Spanish playwright and poet known for his contributions to the golden age of Spanish theater. Additionally, Pedro de Olivares y Wenzell was a renowned 17th-century Spanish painter renowned for his religious artworks and portraits.

While the surname Olivares originated in Spain, it has since spread to various parts of the world, particularly through Spanish colonization and migration. Descendants bearing the name can be found in Latin American countries, as well as in regions with significant Spanish influence or settlement.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Olivares

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

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

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

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