Olivia History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Scotland
Ireland

The Olivia surname in Britain is derived from the Old French name "Olivier", a baptismal name originally derived as "son of Oliver." One of Charlemagne's paldins better know as one of the Twelve Peers made the name popular and thus gave it the knightly sound. The Breton variant "Olier" was very popular. 1

"Both as a baptismal name and a surname, was probably imported from France, where it was long associated with romantic literature. The Domesday of Devonshire presents us with a tenant called Oliver, in the modern orthography." 2

"The French Olivier, recorded in 1011, was at first southern and later became common through the influence of the Chanson de Roland. Dauzat takes it as symbolic, from olivier 'an olive branch', the emblem of peace. This can hardly be the origin of the name of the peer of Charlemagne which is probably Teutonic." 3

Early Origins of the Olivia family

The surname Olivia was first found in the Domesday Book of 1086 where Oilverus was recorded (no county was provided in the entry.) 4 As a forename, Oliuerus de Vendouer was recorded in Lincolnshire (1149-1162.) 3

Later in Cornwall and the West country, Jordan Oliver, Olivier was on record in the Assize Rolls of Somerset in 1201, and in the Pipe Rolls for Cornwall in 1204. The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 list Peter filius Oliver in Oxfordshire. 5

The barton of Treneere in the parish of Madern, Cornwall was sold alienated by the family of Oliver in the year 1768, to which family it had belonged a considerable time prior to that period. 6

Early History of the Olivia family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Olivia research. Another 243 words (17 lines of text) covering the years 1180, 1206, 1260, 1275, 1327, 1463, 1532, 1545, 1556, 1571, 1582, 1601, 1617, 1679, 1692, 1695, 1706 and 1771 are included under the topic Early Olivia History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Olivia Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Oliver, Olivier, Ollivier, Olliver and others.

Early Notables of the Olivia family

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was John Oliver, dean of King Henry VIII's College at Oxford (1532-1545); Thomas Oliver (c. 1601-1679), the second husband of Bridget Bishop, who on 10 June...
Another 32 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Olivia Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Olivia family to Ireland

Some of the Olivia family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt. More information about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Olivia migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Olivia Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Jean Baptiste Olivia, aged 1, who arrived in South Carolina in 1763 7

Olivia Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

E Olivia, aged 53, who arrived in New Orleans, La in 1851 7

Contemporary Notables of the name Olivia (post 1700) +

Ida Olivia Keeling (1915-2021), American centenarian track and field athlete, she held the Masters records in 60 meter and 100 meter distances for women in the 95-99 and 100-plus age groups
Marlène Olivia Harnois (b. 1986), Canadian-born, French three-time gold and four-time bronze medalist taekwondo athlete
Lisa Olivia Munn (b. 1980), American comedic actress and model
Bernice Olivia Oehler, American artist
Dame Olivia de Havilland D.B.E. (1916-2020), British-American Academy Award winning actress, known for her roles in Gone with the Wind (1939), The Adventures of Robin Hood (1938), Dodge City (1939), Santa Fe Trail (1940), and They Died with Their Boots On (1941) was appointed Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire on 17th June 2017
Olivia Isabel Rodrigo (b. 2003), American singer-songwriter and actress, known for her roles on the Disney television programs Bizaardvark (2016–2019) and High School Musical: The Musical: The Series (2019–2022)
Olivia Wilde (b. 1984), stage name of Olivia Jane Cockburn, American actress who took her stage name from Irish author Oscar Wilde, best known for her roles in the television series House (2007-2012), Tron: Legacy (2010), Cowboys and Aliens (2011) and more
Olivia Syson, British actress, known for The Ups and Downs of a Handyman (1975)
Olivia Jane Cockburn (b. 1984), birth name of Olivia Wilde, an American multiple award winning actress, known for her roles in Rush (2013), In Time (2011), TRON: Legacy (2010) and House M.D. (2004) and more
Olivia Blissett, American musician, known for The Boy (2016), The Forest and Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. (2013)

Citations +

Smith, Eldson Coles, New Dictionary of American Family Names New York: Harper & Row, 1956. Print
Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
Hutchins, Fortescue, The History of Cornwall, from the Earliest Records and Traditions to the Present Time. London: William Penaluna, 1824. Print
Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)