Surname Olliver - Meaning and Origin

Olliver: What does the surname Olliver mean?

The surname Olliver is derived from the Old French name "Olivier", which itself was linked to the Latin term "olivarius" meaning “olive tree planter.” The olive tree was a symbol of peace, referencing the biblical story of the dove returning to Noah's Ark with an olive branch, indicating the great flood was over. Thus, it suggested that someone with this surname had a peaceful and compassionate nature. The name Olivier or Oliver gained wider popularity due to a famous knight in The Song of Roland, a French medieval epic poem. Given this root, it’s likely that this variant spelling Olliver, also implies an association with peace or a connection to occupation of olive farming. It is important to note that spellings and meanings of surnames can evolve over time and differ based on the cultural context, thus there might be other interpretations as well.

Olliver: Where does the name Olliver come from?

The last name Olliver is a rare surname today, but it is widely found in the United Kingdom and in many former British colonies such as Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. Olliver is also present in France, especially in the Loire Valley and Normandy regions.

Olliver is likely derived from the French name Olivier, first attested in French writings from the 11th century. The surname is thought to be of Germanic origin, from the personal name Olifard. It has various alternative spellings such as Oliffer, Alliffer, Aloffer, and Alliver.

Canada is one of the countries where the surname Olliver is most commonly found. The 2016 Canadian census showed there were 1,862 individuals with the last name Olliver spread across the country. In Australia, the 2016 census reported that there were 1,450 residents with the name Olliver, with concentrations in the states of New South Wales and Victoria.

In the United Kingdom, the 2016 census showed that the surname Olliver was mainly concentrated in Yorkshire, Northamptonshire, and Lincolnshire, although it could be found in other parts of the country, too. It was also the 64,625th most common surname in the UK.

Overall, the surname Olliver is more common in former British colonies, such as Canada, Australia, and New Zealand, than in its original countries of origin, such as France and Germany. It is also more common in some parts of the United Kingdom, particularly in Yorkshire, Northamptonshire, and Lincolnshire.

Variations of the surname Olliver

The surname Olliver has several variants, spellings, and surnames that have the same origin. These include Oliver, Ollivan, Oliva, Olivia, Olav, Olave, Olavo, and Olivar.

The primary spelling is Oliver, which is derived from the Latin-based word Oliverus. This name was popularized in Middle English as a translation of the French name Olivier. It is also believed that it may have had English, or possibly Norman, origins as a form of a the Old Norse given name Áleifr, which means “ancestor’s heir”.

In English-speaking countries, the variants Ollivan and Oliva are sometimes derived from the Irish surname O'Lavan or O'Livain, while the Spanish variant Olavo was derived from the Castilian form of Oliver. Other variants, such as Olave and Olivar, may be of unknown French origin.

The surname Olliver can also be found in some German, Scandinavian, and Slavic countries, but it is believed to have derived from the English and Irish surname forms.

Ultimately, the shared origin of the variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin is the Latin-based name Oliverus, meaning “the ancestor’s heir”. The spelling variations of this name likely came about due to different accents, languages, and geographic locations.

Famous people with the name Olliver

• Kyle Olliver, actor, director, and writer
• Tyler Olliver, American singer-songwriter
• Julianne Olliver, British record producer
• Josh Olliver, American professional golfer
• Dean Olliver, former NFL player
• John Olliver, English professional rugby league footballer
• Michael Olliver, Australian rules footballer
• Ryan Olliver, Australian actor
• Rebecca Olliver, English gymnast
• Steve Olliver, Canadian former professional ice hockey player

Other surnames

Ollivant