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Show ContentsOliver History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
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Family Crest Download (JPG) Heritage Series - 600 DPI

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The Oliver 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 Oliver family

The surname Oliver 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 Oliver family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Oliver 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 Oliver History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Oliver Spelling Variations

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

Early Notables of the Oliver 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 1692 became the first victim of the Salem witch trials

Oliver World Ranking

In the United States, the name Oliver is the 210th most popular surname with an estimated 124,350 people with that name. 7 However, in Canada, the name Oliver is ranked the 423rd most popular surname with an estimated 11,034 people with that name. 8 And in Newfoundland, Canada, the name Oliver is the 250th popular surname with an estimated 175 people with that name. 9 France ranks Oliver as 1,710th with 3,531 people. 10 Australia ranks Oliver as 222nd with 15,097 people. 11 New Zealand ranks Oliver as 146th with 3,415 people. 12 The United Kingdom ranks Oliver as 170th with 31,982 people. 13 South Africa ranks Oliver as 976th with 7,000 people. 14

Ireland Migration of the Oliver family to Ireland

Some of the Oliver 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.

United States Oliver migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Oliver Settlers in United States in the 16th Century
  • Francisco de Oliver, who sailed to New Spain in 1536
Oliver Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • Mr. Thomas Oliver, who arrived in New England in 1632 aboard the ship "William and Francis" 15
  • Mr. Thomas Oliver, (b. 1601), aged 36, British settler from Norwich, Norfolk departing May 1637 from England aboard the ship "Mary Ann" arriving in Boston, Massachusetts, United States on 20 June 1637, heading for Salem 16
  • Mrs. Mary Oliver, (b. 1603), aged 34, British settler from Norwich, Norfolk departing May 1637 from England aboard the ship "Mary Ann" arriving in Boston, Massachusetts, United States on 20 June 1637, heading for Salem 16
  • Mr. Thomas Oliver, Jr., British settler from Norwich, Norfolk departing May 1637 from England aboard the ship "Mary Ann" arriving in Boston, Massachusetts, United States on 20 June 1637, heading for Salem 16
  • Mr. John Oliver, British settler from Norwich, Norfolk departing May 1637 from England aboard the ship "Mary Ann" arriving in Boston, Massachusetts, United States on 20 June 1637, heading for Salem 16
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Oliver Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Brattle Oliver, who arrived in Boston, Massachusetts in 1712 17
  • Isaac Oliver, who arrived in Virginia in 1714 17
Oliver Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Benjamin Oliver, aged 29, who landed in New York in 1812 17
  • Esteban Oliver, who arrived in Puerto Rico in 1816 17
  • James Oliver, who landed in South Carolina in 1821 17
  • Elizabeth Oliver, who landed in New York in 1832 17
  • Diego Oliver, who arrived in Spanish Main in 1834 17
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Canada Oliver migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Oliver Settlers in Canada in the 17th Century
Oliver Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century
  • Richard Oliver, who settled in Nova Scotia in 1774
  • Mr. Aaron Oliver U.E. who settled in Richmond [Greater Napanee], Ontario c. 1786 he served in the Indian Department 19
  • Mr. Frederick Oliver U.E. who settled in Richmond [Greater Napanee], Ontario c. 1786 he served in the Indian Department, married with 6 children 19
  • Thomas Oliver was a fisherman in Devil's Cove, Newfoundland in 1796 18
Oliver Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century
  • John Oliver, aged 40, a farmer, who arrived in Quebec aboard the ship "Baltic Merchant" in 1815
  • Mary Oliver, aged 36, who arrived in Quebec aboard the ship "Baltic Merchant" in 1815
  • Rhoda Oliver, aged 17, who arrived in Quebec aboard the ship "Baltic Merchant" in 1815
  • William Oliver, aged 15, who arrived in Quebec aboard the ship "Baltic Merchant" in 1815
  • Stephen Oliver, aged 12, who arrived in Quebec aboard the ship "Baltic Merchant" in 1815
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Australia Oliver migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Oliver Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Mr. William Oliver, English convict who was convicted in York, Yorkshire, England for life, transported aboard the "Baring" in April 1815, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 20
  • Mr. William Oliver, English convict who was convicted in Bristol, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Fame" on 9th October 1816, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 21
  • Mr. John Oliver, English convict who was convicted in London, England for life, transported aboard the "Baring" in December 1818, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 20
  • Mr. Charles Oliver, British Convict who was convicted in Essex, England for 14 years, transported aboard the "Coromandel" on 27th October 1819, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 22
  • Mr. Adam Oliver, (Jeremiah, Jackson), (b. 1799), aged 23, English convict who was convicted in Surrey, England for life for theft, transported aboard the "Eliza" on 13th July 1822, arriving in New South Wales, Australia, he died in 1830 23
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Oliver Settlers in Australia in the 20th Century
  • Mr. Samuel Oliver, (b. 1889), aged 21, Cornish settler travelling aboard the ship "Perthshire" arriving in Queensland, Australia on 26th December 1910 24

New Zealand Oliver migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Oliver Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • James Oliver, aged 13, a servant, who arrived in Port Nicholson aboard the ship "Lady Nugent" in 1841
  • James Oliver, aged 38, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Jane Gifford" in 1842 25
  • Margaret B. Oliver, aged 38, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Jane Gifford" in 1842 25
  • George B. Oliver, aged 13, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Jane Gifford" in 1842 25
  • Agnes B. Oliver, aged 11, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Jane Gifford" in 1842 25
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

West Indies Oliver migration to West Indies +

The British first settled the British West Indies around 1604. They made many attempts but failed in some to establish settlements on the Islands including Saint Lucia and Grenada. By 1627 they had managed to establish settlements on St. Kitts (St. Christopher) and Barbados, but by 1641 the Spanish had moved in and destroyed some of these including those at Providence Island. The British continued to expand the settlements including setting the First Federation in the British West Indies by 1674; some of the islands include Barbados, Bermuda, Cayman Island, Turks and Caicos, Jamaica and Belize then known as British Honduras. By the 1960's many of the islands became independent after the West Indies Federation which existed from 1958 to 1962 failed due to internal political conflicts. After this a number of Eastern Caribbean islands formed a free association. 26
Oliver Settlers in West Indies in the 17th Century
  • Mr. Robert Oliver, English settler from Crediton, Devon, England, (b. 1614), aged 20, British settler travelling from Plymouth, England aboard the ship "Margarett" arriving in St Christopher (Saint Kitts) on 1st March 1634 27

Contemporary Notables of the name Oliver (post 1700) +

  • William Hosking "W.H." Oliver (1925-2015), New Zealand historian and poet, awarded the Prime Minister's Awards for Literary Achievement, Non-Fiction in 2008
  • James Trevor "Jamie" Oliver MBE (b. 1975), English television chef, restaurateur, and media personality, perhaps best known for his global campaign for better food education
  • Sheila Y. Oliver (1952-2023), American politician, Second Lieutenant Governor of New Jersey from 2018 until her death in 2023
  • Len Oliver (1933-2022), American soccer player who played as a half back in the American Soccer League (ASL), inducted into the National Soccer Hall of Fame
  • Ralph Addison Oliver (b. 1886), American Republican politician, District Judge in Iowa, 1931-32; Justice of Iowa State Supreme Court, 1938-62; Chief Justice of Iowa State Supreme Court, 1939, 1947 28
  • Frank Louis Oliver (1922-2018), American politician, Member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives (1973-2010)
  • Susan Oliver (1937-1990), born Charlotte Gercke, an American Primetime Emmy Award nominated actress, known for her work on Peyton Place (1964), BUtterfield 8 (1960) and The Disorderly Orderly (1964)
  • George Oliver, American bronze medalist for golf at the 1904 Olympic games
  • Major-General Lunsford Errett Oliver (1889-1978), American Chief of the Military Survey Mission to Turkey (1947) 29
  • Edna May Oliver (1883-1942), born Edna May Nutter, an American stage and film actress popular in the 1930s
  • ... (Another 147 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Air New Zealand Flight 901
  • Mr. Mervyn John Oliver (1914-1979), New Zealander passenger, from Palmerston North, North Island, New Zealand aboard the Air New Zealand Flight 901 for an Antarctic sightseeing flight when it flew into Mount Erebus; he died in the crash 30
HMAS Sydney II
  • Mr. Alan Henry Oliver (1923-1941), Australian Ordinary Seaman from Lindisfarne, Tasmania, Australia, who sailed into battle aboard HMAS Sydney II and died in the sinking 31
HMS Prince of Wales
  • Mr. N Oliver, British Able Seaman, who sailed into battle on the HMS Prince of Wales (1941) and survived the sinking 32
HMS Repulse
  • Mr. Alfred Henry Oliver, British Leading Stoker, who sailed into battle on the HMS Repulse (1941) and died in the sinking 33
RMS Titanic
  • Mr. H. Oliver (d. 1912), aged 32, English Greaser from Southampton, Hampshire who worked aboard the RMS Titanic and died in the sinking 34
St. Francis Dam
  • Mr. John C. Oliver, American resident in Santa Clarita killed when the St. Francis Dam failed and flooded the area in 1928
USS Arizona
  • Mr. Raymond Brown Oliver, American Seaman First Class from California, USA working aboard the ship "USS Arizona" when she sunk during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on 7th December 1941, he died in the sinking 35

Suggested Readings for the name Oliver +

  • James Spencer Oliver and his Wife Sarah Elizabeth Bireley by Delia Klinger Redman.
  • Oliver Genealogical Record, 1750-1970 by Claude Matthews Oliver.
  1. Smith, Eldson Coles, New Dictionary of American Family Names New York: Harper & Row, 1956. Print
  2. Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
  3. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
  4. Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
  5. Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
  6. Hutchins, Fortescue, The History of Cornwall, from the Earliest Records and Traditions to the Present Time. London: William Penaluna, 1824. Print
  7. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  8. "Surnames Meanings, Origins & Distribution Maps - Forebears." Forebears, https://forebears.io/surnames
  9. The order of Common Surnames in 1955 in Newfoundland retrieved on 20th October 2021 (retrieved from Family Names of the Island of Newfoundland by E.R. Seary corrected edition ISBN 0-7735-1782-0)
  10. http://www.journaldesfemmes.com/nom-de-famille/nom/
  11. "Most Common Last Names in Australia." Forebears, https://forebears.io/australia/surnames
  12. "Most Common Last Names in New Zealand." Forebears, https://forebears.io/new-zealand/surnames
  13. "UK surname ranking." UK Surname map, https://www.surnamemap.eu/unitedkingdom/surnames_ranking.php?p=10
  14. "Most Common Last Names in South Africa." Forebears, https://forebears.io/south-africa/surnames
  15. Pilgrim Ship's of 1600's Retrieved January 6th 2023, retrieved from https://www.packrat-pro.com/ships/shiplist.htm
  16. Passengers of the Mary Anne of Yarmouth (Retrieved 18th November 2020). Retrieved from http://www.angelfire.com/mi4/polcrt/MaryAnne.html
  17. 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)
  18. Seary E.R., Family Names of the Island of Newfoundland, Montreal: McGill's-Queen's Universtity Press 1998 ISBN 0-7735-1782-0
  19. Rubincam, Milton. The Old United Empire Loyalists List. Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc, 1976. (Originally published as; United Empire Loyalists. The Centennial of the Settlement of Upper Canada. Rose Publishing Company, 1885.) ISBN 0-8063-0331-X
  20. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 16th September 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/baring
  21. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 27th September 2022). https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/fairlie
  22. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 12th March 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/coromandel
  23. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 15th February 2022). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/eliza
  24. Cornwall Online Parish Clerks. (Retreived 3rd May 2018). Retrieved from http://www.opc-cornwall.org/Resc/pdfs/emigration_australia_queensland.pdf
  25. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
  26. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_West_Indies
  27. Cornish in the Caribbean (retrieved on 23rd September 2021). Retrieved from https://books.google.ca/books?id=gnSFDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA265&lpg=PA265&dq=wallen+lizard+cornwall&source=bl&ots=ARTnm6uRLv&sig=ACfU3U3ewicUaBkTuwC_Gpr0ic-
  28. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2016, March 16) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
  29. Generals of World War II. (Retrieved 2014, March 26) Lunsford Oliver. Retrieved from http://generals.dk/general/Oliver/Lunsford_Errett/USA.html
  30. Mount Erebus, Memorial, Roll of Remembrance (Retrieved 2018, February 21st). Retrieved from http://www.erebus.co.nz/memorialandawards/rollofremembrance.aspx
  31. HMAS Sydney II, Finding Sydney Foundation - Roll of Honour. (Retrieved 2014, April 24) . Retrieved from http://www.findingsydney.com/roll.asp
  32. HMS Prince of Wales Crew members. (Retrieved 2014, April 9) . Retrieved from http://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/biographies/listprincecrew.html
  33. HMS Repulse Crew members. (Retrieved 2014, April 9) . Retrieved from http://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/biographies/listrepulsecrew.html
  34. Titanic Passenger List - Titanic Facts. (Retrieved 2016, July 13) . Retrieved from http://www.titanicfacts.net/titanic-passenger-list.html
  35. Pearl Harbour: USS Arizona Casualties List Pearl Harbour December 7, 1941. (Retrieved 2018, July 31st). Retrieved from http://pearl-harbor.com/arizona/casualtylist.html
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