Show ContentsOler History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The roots of the distinguished German surname Oler lie in the region of Hessen. The name is derived from the Middle High German "öler," meaning "oil miller," and was likely first borne by a practitioner of this occupation.

Early Origins of the Oler family

The surname Oler was first found in Hessen, where it first emerged in the early Middle Ages, and the young Oler family played an important role in the region's history. The first known bearer of the name was Johann Oleier, who was living in Frankfurt in the year 1291. The young Oler family was instrumental during this early period, playing a major role in the development of medieval Hessen society.

Early History of the Oler family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Oler research. Another 63 words (4 lines of text) covering the years 1380, 1777, 1852 and 1900 are included under the topic Early Oler History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Oler Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Ohler, Oehler, Öler, Öhler, Oiler, Ohlenschlager, Ohleyer, Ohligschlager, Ohlschlager, Öhlschläger, Öhlenschläger, Oelenschlaeger and many more.

Early Notables of the Oler family

More information is included under the topic Early Oler Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


Oler migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Oler Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Peter Oler, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1730 1
Oler Settlers in United States in the 20th Century
  • Charles Oler, aged 28, arrived in New York City in 1919 aboard the ship "Wm. G. Warden" from Mexico Tempico 2
  • Axel Oler, arrived in New York in 1920 aboard the ship "Collingsworth" from Antwerp, Belgium 2
  • Anna Oler, arrived in New York in 1921 aboard the ship "Mauretania" from Southampton, England 2

Contemporary Notables of the name Oler (post 1700) +

  • Kim Oler, American television and theatrical composer
  • Wesley Marion Oler Jr. (1891-1980), American baseball player and track and field athlete at the 1912 Summer Olympics
  • Wesley M. Oler, American Republican politician, Delegate to Republican National Convention from Maryland, 1888 3
  • James Oler, Canadian bishop of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, his polygamy case is considered "the first major test of Canada's polygamy law"


  1. 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)
  2. Ellis Island Search retrieved 15th November 2022. Retrieved from https://heritage.statueofliberty.org/passenger-result
  3. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, October 7) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html


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