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

Olston, 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 Olston surname is from the 2000 census data.

Popularity of Olston in America

Olston is the 146011th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Olston surname appeared 104 times in the 2000 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Olston.

The history of the last name Olston

The surname Olston is believed to have originated in England, dating back to the medieval period around the 12th to 13th centuries. The name likely has its origins in the regions of Yorkshire or Lancashire, where similar-sounding place names and surnames were common. The etymology of Olston can be traced back to Old English elements, "hol" or "holh," which mean "hollow" or "hole," and "tun," which means "enclosure" or "settlement." Thus, Olston could have originally referred to someone who lived by or near a hollow settlement.

Historical records in England reference several variations of the name, such as Holston, Ulston, and Oldeston. The name Olston might appear in old land deeds, manor court records, and tax rolls from the medieval period. Although not explicitly mentioned in the Domesday Book of 1086, which may be due to the name evolving post-Norman Conquest, similar names do appear in later medieval tax records.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Olston is in the Parish Records of Lancashire from the mid-15th century. A notable early individual with the surname is Thomas Olston, recorded as a landowner in Yorkshire in 1475. Another early bearer is William Olston, who appeared in the London Guild records in 1523 as a practicing blacksmith.

In the 17th century, John Olston, born around 1620, became a renowned figure for his contributions to local politics in the town of Oldham, Lancashire. He served as a town councillor and was noted for his charity work, passing away in 1683. Another significant bearer of the name is Richard Olston, a merchant who traded extensively with colonies in the New World in the late 1600s. His business ventures helped establish trading links that benefited his home town economically.

The 18th century saw the rise of Anne Olston, born in 1720, a well-known herbalist and healer in Yorkshire. Her remedies and potions were highly sought after, and she wrote one of the early comprehensive herbal guides in England before her death in 1790. The 19th century includes figures such as Edward Olston, a noted engineer and inventor who was instrumental in early rail transport developments in northern England. Born in 1805 and dying in 1874, his contributions were vital to the rapid industrialization of the region.

In conclusion, the surname Olston boasts a rich history dating back to medieval England with influences heavily tied to place names and old English terms describing settlement geography. The surname has been borne by several noteworthy individuals who made significant local and occupational contributions, cementing the name’s historical footprint across centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Olston

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

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 2000 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Olston 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.

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

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

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