Surname Older - Meaning and Origin

Older: What does the surname Older mean?

The surname Older is of English origin. It is derived from the Old English pre 7th Century word "ealdra", meaning elder, and was often used as a nickname to distinguish between the elder and younger of two people bearing the same given first name, much like the use of senior and junior today. The name was first recorded in the 13th century and has variations including Old, Older, Olderidge, and Oldridge. The name could also indicate someone who held the position of elder within the church, which was a significant and respected role in the community. Like many surnames, Older would have started out as a term used to identify or distinguish someone, and later became adopted as a surname passed down through generations.

Older: Where does the name Older come from?

The last name Older is a fairly common last name today. It is especially popular in Germany, Switzerland, the United States, Canada, Mexico, Finland, United Kingdom, and France.

In Germany the name is derived from the German word "alt" meaning old. Older is the fifth most common name in Germany after Müller, Schmidt, Schultz and Schneider. It is typically spelled with an O in German, but an U is often used as well. This spelling variation is most common in Switzerland and Austria.

In the United States, the surname Older is most common in California, Texas, and New York. It is sometimes spelled with an U, but typically still has an O.

Older is the third most common surname in Canada, behind only Smith and Brown.

It is not an uncommon name in the United Kingdom either. People with the surname Older are especially concentrated in northern England, especially Yorkshire and Durham.

Older is also popular in Mexico, Finland, and France. In those countries, it is typically spelled with an U.

Overall, the last name Older is a relatively common name today, found all over the world in different spelling variations.

Variations of the surname Older

The surname Older is believed to have Germanic, English, and Dutch ancestry, where it was used as an occupational name for a very early version of an ale brewer. As such, this surname can take on many spelling and variant forms; the most common ones are Olders, Oldurer, Ollder, Ouler, Olderr, Ullder, Olderr, Ollderr, Ulderr, Uldur, Uldrer, Oldrerr, Olderrr, and Oldrer.

Other spellings of Older are Olter, Oldere, Outere, Oada, and Oitere. Another variation of the surname is spelled "Oudar," which is the Dutch spelling. There are also a few surnames of a slightly different origin but similar pronunciation, such as Eder, Edler, and Ellder, that have been recorded in German-speaking territories.

In England, the surname Oader is a variant of Older and is believed to have first arisen around the 11th century in the county of Sussex, and over time it changed to include several different spellings. The surname Eliot was derived from Older and is still seen in the British Isles today. In America, people with the Older surname typically have English or Dutch ancestry, with some having immigrated to the United States in the mid-1800s.

Older is also an abbreviated version of the English names Owen and Oliver. For example, the surname Olliver has become shortened to Older in some cases – thereby accounting for a further variation on the name.

In conclusion, there are many variant spellings and surnames of the same origin for the word Older, from Eliot and Olliver to Ouled, Outered, and Uldurer. Depending on country of origin and time period, the spelling could have changed to accommodate regional language and culture.

Famous people with the name Older

• Al Older: American jazz musician and bandleader
• Frank Older: American National Football League (NFL) cornerback
• Elizabeth Older: British actress
• David Older: American contemporary artist
• Alexander Older: Australian rower
• Lee Older: British businessman and politician
• George Older: American football coach
• June Older: Scottish actress
• Sasha Older: American voice actress
• Leslie Older: American actress
• Michael Older: American television director
• Julio Older: Australian rugby union player
• James Older: American actor

Other surnames

OldeOldemannOldemannsOldenOldenbuettelOldenbüttelOldenhageOlderdissenOlderdißenOlderogOlderon