Surname Olding - Meaning and Origin
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Olding: What does the surname Olding mean?
The surname Olding is of Anglo-Saxon origin, from the old English personal name 'Ealdwine', which was composed of the elements 'eald', meaning old, and 'wine', meaning friend. Therefore, the direct translation of Olding could be "old friend". It is quite common for surnames in English-speaking countries to have originated from personal names, especially in the early medieval period. The introduction of personal taxation in England through Poll Tax during the late Middle Ages led to individuals being documented with a greater variety of names, thus promoting the development and variation of surnames. This surname has a multitude of different spellings, including Alden, Aldin, Aldwen, Olden, and Olding among others. Like many surnames, geographical relocation and shifts in dialect over centuries have resulted in variations. Its patronymic origin means that it was likely adopted by a son of a person who was often called "old friend". It's important to note that such interpretations of surnames are largely speculative as most have been in use for centuries, evolving in spelling and meaning over time.
Order DNA origin analysisOlding: Where does the name Olding come from?
The surname Olding is of Anglo-Saxon origin, and it has its roots in pre-9th century Old English. It is a patronymic surname, which means it was derived from the first name of an ancestor. The Olding surname originates from a personal name "Ealdwine", which is composed of the elements "eald", meaning old, and "wine", meaning friend. Over time, "Ealdwine" evolved into a variety of surnames, including Aldwen, Aldwin, Holdin, and Olding.
In terms of geographical distribution, the Olding surname is primarily found in the United Kingdom, particularly in England. After England, the countries with the most Oldings are Australia, the United States, Canada, and New Zealand. Despite its British roots, the Olding name is not very common even in Britain. It is estimated to be the 120,159th most commonly occurring surname in the world and it's most prevalent in England, and the highest density is in Isle of Wight. However, it's also found in a non-trivial amount in Australia.
Variations of the surname Olding
The surname Olding is believed to be of Anglo-Saxon origin, with multiple variations and spellings that could include Oldings, Oldin, Oldins, Olding’s, Oulding, Ouldings, and Oulding's. It might also be a variant of the Scottish surname Auld, whose variants include Aulding, Auldings, and Alding. The surname Olding may also be linked to the surname Alden, which is of Old English origin and has variants like Alding, Aldin, and Aldings. Furthermore, due to phonetic similarities and transcription errors in historical records, surnames like Holding, Golding, Alding, and Elding might also be associated with Olding. However, the specific relationship and lineage of these last names would require further genealogical research.
These variations can be a result of regional vernaculars, separate family branches, or immigration records resulting in changes or misspellings. It should also be noted that different regions may have developed similar sounding surnames independently, meaning that not all bearers of the above-mentioned variants necessarily share a common ancestor with the Oldings.
Famous people with the name Olding
- Neil Olding: A long-serving member of the Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television and one of Canada's most respected film and television professionals.
- Willie Olding: Former MLB Catcher who played from 1892-1895.
- William Olding: Noted English author and journalist, well-known for writing for the Spectator.
- Emma Olding: Award-winning Australian photomedia artist and Melbourne-based cinematographer.
- Jack Olding: British author and illustrator behind the popular children’s book series the Owl Adventures, and the founder of the ecological association; Friends of the Earth.
- Joe Olding: American television producer and screenwriter, known for his work on popular shows such as Heroes, Nurse Jackie, and, most recently, the Amazon series Epsilon.
- Mica Olding: Professional surfer from British Columbia who competes on the World Surf League's Qualifying Series.
- Robert Olding: A retired Canadian figure skater and two-time gold medallist at the BMO Canadian Figure Skating Championships.
- Charles Olding: A veteran BBC sound designer and editor who worked on movies such as The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy and Stardust.
- Susanna Olding: An award-winning film producer and composer, most notably known for her work on the Oscar-nominated documentary What Happened Miss Simone?