Surname Olliphant - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'O'
Olliphant: What does the surname Olliphant mean?
The last name Olliphant is Scottish in origin and is thought to have derived from a place name. The name can be broken down into two separate parts, ‘Olla’, which is the name of a river or stream in Scotland, and ‘phaunt’, which is derived from the Gaelic word ‘fant’ meaning a slope or hillside. This suggests that the original bearer of the name may have come from an area situated on a stream or riverbank with higher ground nearby.
Throughout Scottish history, the name Olliphant has featured prominently in many different records. Records show that the first recorded use of the Olliphant surname dates back to 1228 in Aberdeenshire, Scotland. The Olliphants were known to have been powerful landholders in Scotland with a long history of loyal and influential service to their rulers.
At the dawn of the 16th century, hordes of Olliphants emigrated to the New World, mostly settling in North America. Since then, the surname Olliphant has evolved with its current bearers having achieved notable wealth and higher stations within society. Today, Olliphants throughout the world are investigators, teachers, players of sports and leaders of industry.
Order DNA origin analysisOlliphant: Where does the name Olliphant come from?
Today, the last name Olliphant is most commonly found in the United States, Australia, and the United Kingdom. Olliphant is a derivation of the ancient surname Oliphant, recorded in Scotland and England as early as the 12th century.
The earliest occurrence of the surname in Scotland dates from 1214 AD, in the form 'Ulfaund' in the Registrum of the diocese of Glasgow and 'Olifant' in the Ragman Roll of 1296 AD. The surname is believed to have been of Norman origin, descending from the Le Sauvage family of Normandy. The Sauvage name evolved from the Latin 'salvaticus' or in Old French, 'sauvage', meaning 'savage', from their Wild Man of the Woods crest.
The earliest American branches of the Olliphant family are associated with Texas and South Carolina. In the late eighteenth century, James Olliphant migrated from Scotland to the US, settling in the Carolinas with some members of the family later moving to Texas.
Today, Olliphants in the US can be found in Florida, North Carolina, Colorado, California, and Texas - where the surname is particularly common - as well as other states. In the UK, the majority of Olliphants can be found in Scotland, with smaller numbers in England and Wales. In Australia, the surname is found mainly in New South Wales, Victoria, and South Australia.
Variations of the surname Olliphant
The surname Olliphant is an ancient name of Scottish origin. It is derived from the Gaelic Ollamh, which literally means ‘The learned one’ or ‘Master’. It is believed that the first recorded bearer of the surname was Aluinn Olliphant, who lived in the ancient kingdom of Fife in the 12th century.
Variants of the surname Olliphant include Olliffant, Oliphant, Olifand and Olyphant. Spellings of the name also exist, such as Oliphaunt, Oliffaunt and Oluphaunt.
The surname Olliphant has been found in several sections of Europe including Scotland, England, Ireland, Germany, France and the Netherlands. The surname has been anglicized to different forms over time, as evidenced by its numerous variants.
Surnames of the same origin include Oliffe, Olliff, Olif, Oliford, Ollivant and Olliver. Olphond is also noted as a derivative of Olliphant.
The surname Olliphant has appeared throughout history, particularly in records of ancient Scotland. The name has since spread and can now be found as a relatively common name across the world.
Famous people with the name Olliphant
- Cameron Olliphant: Professional basketball player
- William Olliphant: Musician and composer
- Kenneth Olliphant: Chair and CEO of Simeio Solutions
- John Olliphant: Former Member of the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia
- Kristine Olliphant: Author and lecturer
- Isobel Olliphant: Member of the Order of Canada
- Ross Olliphant: Canadian entrepreneur
- Logan Olliphant: Lead singer of the band Summer's End
- Robert Olliphant: Former Canadian politician
- Shirley Olliphant: Film and television actress
- Eduish Olliphant: American personal trainer
- Duncan Olliphant: Scottish actor
- William Olliphant Hutchison: Scottish sculptor
- John Olliphant: Scottish footballer
- Henry Olliphant: Royal Canadian Navy officer
- Nancy Olliphant: Canadian equestrian champion
- George Olliphant: Canadian adventurer and entrepreneur
- Hector Olliphant: British First World War soldier
- Charles Olliphant: US Congressman representing New Jersey
- Graeme Olliphant: English footballer