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

Olvey, 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 Olvey surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Olvey in America

Olvey is the 48530th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Olvey surname appeared 435 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 Olvey.

We can also compare 2010 data for Olvey 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 Olvey

The surname Olvey has its origins in England, with its earliest documented use dating back to the 13th century. It is believed to be a locational name, derived from the place name Olney, a town in Buckinghamshire. The name Olney itself is thought to have originated from the Old English words "ola" and "eg," meaning "eel" and "island" respectively, suggesting that the town was once a river island where eels were found in abundance.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Olvey can be found in the Hundred Rolls of Buckinghamshire from 1273, where it appears as "Olneye." This document, a census-like record of landowners and tenants, provides valuable insight into the distribution and variations of surnames during that time period.

In the 16th century, the surname appears in the form "Olvey" in the parish records of St. Mary's Church in Olney, Buckinghamshire. This church, which dates back to the 12th century, has been an important cultural and religious center in the area, and its records offer a glimpse into the lives of local families bearing the Olvey name.

Notably, the surname Olvey has been associated with several notable individuals throughout history. One such figure is John Olvey, a prominent merchant who lived in London during the late 16th century. Records indicate that he was involved in the lucrative wool trade and held significant influence within the city's merchant community.

Another individual of note is William Olvey, born in 1645 in Olney, Buckinghamshire. He was a respected scholar and author who wrote extensively on subjects such as philosophy and theology. His works, including "A Treatise on the Nature of the Soul" and "Reflections on the Divine Essence," were widely read and discussed during his lifetime.

In the 18th century, the Olvey name gained further recognition through the exploits of Captain James Olvey, a British naval officer who served in the Royal Navy during the Seven Years' War. He was renowned for his bravery and tactical skills, and his name is mentioned in several historical accounts of naval battles from that era.

Moving into the 19th century, the surname Olvey is associated with the renowned poet and writer, Emily Olvey. Born in 1819 in the village of Haversham, near Olney, she was celebrated for her poignant and emotionally charged works, which explored themes of love, loss, and the beauty of nature.

Throughout its history, the surname Olvey has maintained a strong connection to its roots in the town of Olney, Buckinghamshire. While the name has spread to other parts of England and beyond, its origins in this picturesque region have played a significant role in shaping its identity and legacy.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Olvey

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

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

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

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