Surname Olyphant - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'O'
Olyphant: What does the surname Olyphant mean?
The last name Olyphant is derived from the Old French word "l’olifant," meaning an elephant, and was most likely adopted by French Huguenot refugees arriving to northern Europe and Britain during the 16th and 17th centuries. The name is still present today in Scotland, Northern England and Northern France. It is thought that the family, or families, that adopted this surname may have had some historical connection to the ancient Order of the Golden Elephant, a French-Flemish military order created in the 15th century by the Holy Roman Emperor and French King Louis XI. It was meant to embody chivalry and justice, and provided aid and military protection to foreign travelers.
The name Olyphant can also be found in several other places, including parts of India, Canada and Ireland. It's thought that ancestors of these families likely adopted the name when their forefathers first settled in these countries.
Due to its French-origin, Olyphant is considered an aristocratic and noble surname, synonymous with dignity and grace. The name is now used by people from a variety of backgrounds and cultures, all connected by the common thread of the ancient family name.
Order DNA origin analysisOlyphant: Where does the name Olyphant come from?
The last name Olyphant is most commonly found today in the United States. The surname traces its origins back to the Scottish-Irish clan of the same name that once resided in Renfrewshire in Scotland. Its earliest recorded mention dates back to a charter from the reign of Margaret, Maid of Norway in the late 13th century. The clan is said to be descended from an 11th-century warlord, Walter Mac Olyifaunt.
Today, the surname is widely distributed within the United States. The highest concentrations are in Connecticut, Tennessee, Illinois, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania. The surname's highest rate of occurrence in the United States is in Bluff City, Tennessee, where there are an estimated 145 individuals with the surname Olyphant.
The surname is also common in Canada, with notable concentrations in the provinces of Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and Ontario. It is also probable that the surname is present in New Zealand and Australia, both of which are popular destinations among the descendants of migrants from the British Isles.
In Australia and elsewhere, the surname is typically rendered as ‘Oliphant’; a spelling known to be used by the Scottish clan since the 17th century. The name is also found in other parts of the world, including India, where records of persons with the surname can be traced to the mid 19th century.
Variations of the surname Olyphant
The surname Olyphant originates from the Old English words ‘ulf’ meaning ‘wolf’ and ‘Heard’ meaning ‘brave’. This surname can be found in several forms, including Olyphant, Oliphant, Olyfant, Olyphant, Ulfant, Ullphant and Ulyphant.
These variants can also be found in surnames with similar spellings from other countries with linguistic derivations from Old English, such as Wulfant in Germany and Ulveant in the Netherlands.
The surname is also associated with different variants across various countries. In the UK alone, there are several spellings: Ulyfaunt, Ulfaunt, Ullfaunt, Olyfaunt, Olyphant, Oliphaunt, Uephant, Ullphaunt and Olyfant. In the US, spellings such as Ollifant, Ollifant, Oelifant and Olliphant are common.
Variations are also common as a result of phonetic spellings. Spellings such as Aliphant, Oalifant, Oliphene, Oaliffe, Auliff, Aalif, Alif, Ulyphaat, Ullfon, Olifan, Oulifan, Oalifan, Ollifant, Ollifon, Ollyfant, Ollipant, and Ulyphaat are all variants of the same surname.
The surname Olyphant can also be found in several surnames of different origins. Such surnames include Ould, Olliffe, Oliff, Ouless, Olles, Oulett, Oules, Ollett, Olle, Ollrod, Olliver and Ollivierre.
Famous people with the name Olyphant
- Timothy Olyphant: American actor best known for his roles as Seth Bullock in the HBO western series Deadwood and as Sheriff Raydor in the TNT series Major Crimes.
- Natasha Lyonne: American actress known for her role as Nadia in the Netflix comedy-drama series Russian Doll.
- Malcolm Olyphant: American businessman and retired university administrator.
- James Olyphant: American set decorator who has won two Academy Awards for his work on the films Beverly Hills Cop 2 and Beetlejuice.
- John Olyphant: American-Canadian painter and printmaker.
- Nancy Olyphant: American-born Canadian actress.
- Geoffrey Olyphant: British film and television actor.
- Kathryn Olyphant: American-born Canadian costume designer best known for her work on the films X-Men and X2: X-Men United.
- Christopher Olyphant: American actor and voice-over artist, best known for his roles in the films Ghost Rider, 28 Weeks Later and Drive Angry.
- James M. Olyphant: American-born Canadian Olympic athlete and ice hockey player.