Ollivier History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Scotland
Ireland

The Ollivier 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 Ollivier family

The surname Ollivier 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 Ollivier family

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

Ollivier Spelling Variations

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

Early Notables of the Ollivier 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 Ollivier Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Ollivier Ranking

In France, the name Ollivier is the 210^th most popular surname with an estimated 16,623 people with that name. 7

Migration of the Ollivier family to Ireland

Some of the Ollivier 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.

Ollivier migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Ollivier Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

John Ollivier, who settled in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1796

Contemporary Notables of the name Ollivier (post 1700) +

Jonathan Byrne Ollivier (1977-2015), British dancer, nominated as Outstanding Young Male Artist in National Dance Awards, 2002, Best Male Dancer in National Dance Awards, 2003-2004, awarded an Honorary Fellowship from the University of Northampton, 2006
Jacques Ollivier Desclozeaux, French Brigadier General during the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars from 1789 to 1815 8

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
http://www.journaldesfemmes.com/nom-de-famille/nom/
Generals Who Served in the French Army during the Period 1789-1815. (Retrieved 2015, February 27) Jacques Desclozeaux. Retrieved from http://www.napoleon-series.org/research/c_frenchgenerals.html