OLIVIER
Olivier is a French surname of Latin origin. It has its roots in the given name Olivier, which itself is derived from the Latin form Olivarius and ultimately from the word oliva meaning “olive tree”. The surname is therefore symbolically linked to the olive tree, an emblem of peace, and may originally have been a nickname for one who lived near or worked with olive trees.
The name has been recorded in more than one hundred different spellings. French and English variants include Oliver, Ollivier, Olver, Olive, Oliverio and many others that appear in local dialects across Europe. In Italy the name appears as Vieiro or Vieri; in Spain and Portugal it is found as Olivera, while in Scotland early spellings such as Olifer are documented.
Historical documentation of the surname dates back to the eleventh and twelfth centuries. The Domesday Book of 1086 records an instance of the baptismal name Oliverus, and the first known use of the name as a surname is that of Walter Olifer, a charter witness in Scotland in 1180. Further early examples include Jordanus Oulieri in the Pipe Rolls of Cornwall in 1206 and John Oliver in the charters of the Soltre Hospital in Scotland in 1250.
A particularly famous bearer of the name was John, later known as Lord Olivier, who was a celebrated Shakespearean actor in the twentieth century. His prominence has contributed to the name’s lasting recognition beyond France.
In the modern era the surname is widely distributed throughout French‑speaking regions and former colonies. In France it is common in Paris, the Brittany, Poitou‑Charentes and the centre‑western parts of the country. French Canada, especially Quebec, also has a high concentration of individuals with the surname. In the United Kingdom it is found in modest numbers, and in the United States it appears mainly in Louisiana as well as in communities with substantial French heritage in New York, Florida and other states.
Today the surname remains a common and respected name in many countries, particularly those with French cultural influence. Its historical associations with noble families, the medieval paladins of Charlemagne and the symbolic link to the olive tree continue to give it a sense of heritage and pride for bearers of French descent across the globe.
Typical given names associated with the Olivier surname
Male
- Charles
- Daniel
- James
- John
- Justin
- Mark
- Michael
- Paul
- Philip
- Richard
- Robert
- Simon
Female
- Anel
- Barbara
- Bronwyn
- Carolyn
- Christine
- Elizabeth
- Emma
- Jean
- Joanne
- Linda
- Lorraine
- Simone
- Susan
- Wendy
Similar and related surnames
- Aliver
- Olifer
- Olifiers
- Olivie
- Oliviera
- Olivieri
- Oliviero
- Oiliver
- Oilver
- Olaver
- Olayvar
- Olever
- Olevir
- Olivar
- Olivares
- Olivarez
- Olivari
- Oliveira
- Oliveire
- Oliveiro
- Oliver
- Olivera
- Oliveras
- Olivere
- Oliveri
- Oliveria
- Oliverio
- Oliverira
- Olivero
- Oliveros
- Olivers
- Oliverson
- Olivieira
- Olivir
- Olivr
- Olliver
- Ollivere
- Ollivier
- Ollivierre
- Olveira
- Olver
- Olvera
- Olvier
- Olyver
- Olive
Related and similar names are generated algorithmically based on the spelling, and may not necessarily share an etymology.
How to communicate the surname Olivier in...
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Morse
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There are approximately 901 people named Olivier in the UK. That makes it roughly the 8,012th most common surname in Britain. Around 14 in a million people in Britain are named Olivier.
Region of origin: Europe
Country of origin: France
Language of origin: French
Famous people named Olivier
- Joan Ann Olivier - Actress
- Laurence Olivier - Actor, director and producer (1907 to 1989)
- Philip Olivier - Actor
- Sydney Olivier, 1st Baron Olivier - Civil servant (1859 to 1943)
- Edith Olivier - Writer (1872 to 1948)
- Sidney Olivier - Cricketer (1870 to 1932)
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.