Oliver History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms 

Origins Available: 
  England 
  Italy 
  Scotland 
  Spain 
  Ireland 


Scottish history reveals Oliver was first used as a surname by the Strathclyde-Briton people. It was a name for someone who lived in Roxburgh. While most of the name likely derive from the Old French Oivier, it is supposed that some of the Scottish instances of this name derive from the Old Norse name Oleifr.

Early Origins of the Oliver family

The surname Oliver was first found in Roxburghshire, where the first on record in this shire was Walter Olifer who was a Justiciar (Judge) of the district, who witnessed a gift of William the Lion to the serf Gillemachoi de Conglud with his children and all his descendants to the bishop of Glasgow c. 1180. Olyver, son of Kyluert, was one of the followers of the earl of March at end of twelfth century. 1

Despite the fact that the lion's hare of the family do originate in Scotland and into the English borders, there are significant early English records. "Its principal homes are as follows: in the north, in Northumberland and Durham, whence it extends into the Scottish border counties; in the west, in Herefordshire; in the east, in Lincolnshire; in the south - west (including the contracted form of Olver), in Cornwall; and in the south - east, in Kent and Sussex. " 2

And we would be remiss if we did not mention the earliest entry of the family in the Domesday Book of 1086 as a personal name. Later, the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 list the name as both a personal name and a surname: Oliver Crane in Huntingdonshire, 1273; and Peter filius Oliver in Oxfordshire. 3

Early History of the Oliver family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Oliver research. Another 103 words (7 lines of text) covering the years 1250, 1266, 1330, 1436, 1541, 1542, 1546, 1557 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Oliver History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Oliver Spelling Variations

It is only in the last few hundred years that rules have developed and the process of spelling according to sound has been abandoned. Scottish names from before that time tend to appear under many different spelling variations. Oliver has been spelled Oliver, Olivier, Ollivier, Olliver and others.

Early Notables of the Oliver family

Notable amongst the family at this time was John Oliuer, prepositus of Berwick, who witnessed a gift of land to the Hospital of Soltre, c. 1250-1266; William Holifarth or Holyfarth held land in Perth, c. 1330; Thomas Olyver de Swyne who witnessed a declaration dated...
Another 45 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Oliver Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

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. 4 However, in Canada, the name Oliver is ranked the 423rd most popular surname with an estimated 11,034 people with that name. 5 And in Newfoundland, Canada, the name Oliver is the 250th popular surname with an estimated 175 people with that name. 6 France ranks Oliver as 1,710th with 3,531 people. 7 Australia ranks Oliver as 222nd with 15,097 people. 8 New Zealand ranks Oliver as 146th with 3,415 people. 9 The United Kingdom ranks Oliver as 170th with 31,982 people. 10 South Africa ranks Oliver as 976th with 7,000 people. 11

Migration of the Oliver family to Ireland

Some of the Oliver family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 90 words (6 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


Oliver migration to the United States +

Unwelcome in their beloved homeland, many Scots sailed for the colonies of North America. There, they found land and freedom, and even the opportunity to make a new nation in the American War of Independence. These Scottish settlers played essential roles in the founding of the United States, and the shaping of contemporary North America. Among them:

Oliver Settlers in United States in the 16th Century
Oliver Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
Oliver Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
Oliver Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

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
Oliver Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

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
Oliver Settlers in Australia in the 20th Century

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

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. 23
Oliver Settlers in West Indies in the 17th Century

Contemporary Notables of the name Oliver (post 1700) +


The Oliver Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: Ad foedera cresco
Motto Translation: I gain by treaty


Suggested Readings for the name Oliver +
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