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

Olliver, 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 Olliver surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Olliver in America

Olliver is the 71678th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Olliver surname appeared 272 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 Olliver.

We can also compare 2010 data for Olliver 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 Olliver

The surname Olliver originated in England during the medieval period, likely derived from the Old French name "Olivier," which itself comes from the Latin name "Olivarius," meaning "olive tree keeper" or "olive grower." This suggests that the earliest bearers of the name may have been involved in the cultivation or trade of olives.

The Olliver surname can be traced back to the 12th century, with records showing individuals bearing the name in various parts of England, particularly in the counties of Gloucestershire, Wiltshire, and Somerset. One of the earliest recorded instances of the name is found in the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire from 1202, where a certain William Ollyver is mentioned.

In the 13th century, the name appeared in the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire, where a John Olyver is listed. This spelling variation, "Olyver," was quite common in medieval records and highlights the fluid nature of surname spellings during that era. Other early spellings included Ollyver, Ollyvere, and Olivere.

The Olliver surname has been linked to several notable individuals throughout history. One such person was Richard Olliver, a 16th-century English priest and theologian who served as a Fellow of Magdalen College, Oxford. Another was John Olliver (c. 1564-1619), an English clergyman who served as the Archdeacon of Lewes from 1614 until his death.

In the 17th century, the name gained prominence with figures like Samuel Olliver (1638-1702), an English writer and clergyman who authored several religious works. Another notable bearer of the name was Thomas Olliver (1619-1688), an English lawyer and politician who served as a Member of Parliament for Taunton during the reign of Charles II.

The 18th century saw the rise of Jonathan Olliver (1744-1810), a British naval officer who served in the American Revolutionary War and later became a Vice-Admiral in the Royal Navy. Additionally, there was William Olliver (1758-1814), an English artist and engraver renowned for his landscape paintings and etchings.

While the surname Olliver is not as common today as some other English surnames, it has a rich history spanning several centuries and has been borne by individuals from various walks of life, including clergy, politicians, artists, and military figures.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Olliver

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

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

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

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