OGILVIE
Recorded variant spellings include O Gilvie, O'Gilvie, O`gilvie
Ogilvie is a surname of Scottish origin, rooted in the Gaelic landscape of the British Isles. Known in the language of the Highlands as Ó Ghillí, it reflects the cultural tapestry that has shaped Scotland for centuries.
The etymology of the name is often linked to the Gaelic words og, meaning “young”, and fear, meaning “man”. As such the literal translation is “young man” or “young warrior”, a fitting description for a family historically associated with martial prowess and noble standing.
It is a locational surname, derived from the barony of Ogilvie in Angus, close to the historic seat of Glamis. The barony was granted to Gilbert, the son of Gillebride, the first Earl of Angus, in 1172; he was the first to adopt the surname in its locational form. This event marks the earliest known instance of the name being used as an identifier rather than a patronymic or descriptive term.
Early documentary evidence displays the name in several medieval forms. The register of charters from the reign of King Alexander 11 notes an individual named Alexander de Oggoluin in 1232. Subsequent records show de Oggiluill in 1267, de Ogelvey in 1316, and later iterations such as Ogelbe (1531), Ogglebie (1665) and Oglevie (1661). These variations reveal the fluid orthography of the period and illustrate the process by which the contemporary spelling was stabilised.
Modern spellings of the surname include Ogilvie, Ogilvy, Ogelsby and Ogilby. Despite the variance, all are recognisable as belonging to the same family lineage rooted in the Angus barony.
Several members of the Ogilvie family held prominent positions in Scottish history. Walter de Ogilby is recorded as High Treasurer of the kingdom of Scotland in 1425, while David of Ogilby was a hostage for the King of Scotland in England in the same year. These appointments highlight the family’s integration into the governance and military affairs of the country during the Early Modern period.
Today, the surname is borne by many individuals across the United Kingdom and the global diaspora, particularly within communities with ancestral links to the Scottish Highlands. The name remains a marker of heritage and continuity, echoing a legacy that spans from ancient Gaelic roots to contemporary society.
Typical given names associated with the Ogilvie surname
Male
- Alan
- Alexander
- Andrew
- David
- Ian
- James
- John
- Robert
- Stuart
- Thomas
- William
Female
- Alison
- Angela
- Caroline
- Catherine
- Elizabeth
- Helen
- Karen
- Margaret
- Mary
- Nicola
- Susan
Similar and related surnames
Related and similar names are generated algorithmically based on the spelling, and may not necessarily share an etymology.
How to communicate the surname Ogilvie in...
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There are approximately 4,412 people named Ogilvie in the UK. That makes it roughly the 2,125th most common surname in Britain. Around 68 in a million people in Britain are named Ogilvie.
Origin: Celtic
Region of origin: British Isles
Country of origin: Scotland
Religion of origin: Christian
Language of origin: Gaelic
Famous people named Ogilvie
- William Henry Ogilvie - Scottish-Australian poet (1869 to 1963)
- Connor Ogilvie - Football player
- Robert Ogilvie - Football player (1853 to 1938)
- Malcolm Ogilvie - Ornithologist and writer
- Ian Ogilvie - Scottish football player
- Gary Ogilvie - Football player
- John Ogilvie - Scottish football player
- Laurie Ogilvie - Australian rules football player (1877 to 1927)
Names and descriptions courtesy of Wikipedia, and may contain errors. This is not intended to be an exhaustive list of every famous person with this name.