Olis History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Poland

The origins of the Olis name lie with England's ancient Anglo-Saxon culture. It comes from when the family lived near a field of holly having derived from the word for holly in the language of the time. In Old English the word for holly is holegn, or possibly holen, or even holen. The original bearer of the name lived near a patch of holly noted for its fecundity. (Bardsely)

While the name is generally accepted to be Anglo-Saxon, one source claims that it originated in Normandy as the Magni Rotuli Scaccarii Normanniae records Robert de Holis, Normandy, 1198. 1

Adding the "n" as in Hollins, was quite common as both refer to the "holly" origin. 2

Early Origins of the Olis family

The surname Olis was first found in Worcester, where Adam atte Holies, atte Holye was listed in the Subsidy Rolls in 1275 and 1327. A few years later, Robert del Holins was found in Yorkshire in 1297 and Nicholas del Holyn was listed in the Subsidy Rolls there in 1301. John in the Holls was in the Subsidy Rolls for Suffolk in 1327 and Richard del Holyes was in the Subsidy Rolls for Staffordshire in 1332. 2

The Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379 included: Willelmus del Holyns; Alicia del Holyns; Johannes Holyn; Johannes Holvns; and Johannes del Holyns. 3

"Hollins was the name of a firm of potters a century ago in Stoke-on-Trent, [Staffordshire] where the name still remains." 4

Early History of the Olis family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Olis research. Another 117 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1471, 1534, 1535, 1540, 1542, 1564, 1577, 1595, 1599, 1607, 1619, 1627, 1633, 1637, 1640, 1641, 1642, 1665, 1666, 1667, 1672, 1675, 1680, 1689, 1690, 1694 and 1711 are included under the topic Early Olis History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Olis Spelling Variations

Before the last few hundred years, the English language had no fast system of spelling rules. For that reason, spelling variations are commonly found in early Anglo-Saxon surnames. Over the years, many variations of the name Olis were recorded, including Hollis, Holles, Hollys, Hollyes, Holleis, Hollies and others.

Early Notables of the Olis family

Notables of this surname at this time include: Sir William Holles (or Hollyes) (1471-1542), Lord Mayor of London; John Holles, 2nd Earl of Clare (1595-1666), an English nobleman; Gilbert Holles, 3rd Earl of Clare (1633-1689); John Holles, 1st Earl of Clare (1564-1637), an English nobleman; Denzil Holles, 1st Baron Holles PC (1599-1680), an English statesman and writer, best known as...
Another 59 words (4 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Olis Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Olis migration to the United States +

To escape oppression and starvation at that time, many English families left for the "open frontiers" of the New World with all its perceived opportunities. In droves people migrated to the many British colonies, those in North America in particular, paying high rates for passages in cramped, unsafe ships. Although many of the settlers did not make the long passage alive, those who did see the shores of North America perceived great opportunities before them. Many of the families that came from England went on to make essential contributions to the emerging nations of Canada and the United States. Research into various historical records revealed some of first members of the Olis family emigrate to North America:

Olis Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

Ignac Olis, who settled in Galveston, Texas in 1903

Contemporary Notables of the name Olis (post 1700) +

Verna Olis, American Republican politician, Delegate to Republican National Convention from Illinois, 1956 5
Anthony A. Olis, American Republican politician, Alternate Delegate to Republican National Convention from Illinois, 1952 5

Citations +

The Norman People and Their Existing Descendants in the British Dominions and the United States Of America. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing, 1975. Print. (ISBN 0-8063-0636-X)
Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
Guppy, Henry Brougham, Homes of Family Names in Great Britain. 1890. Print.
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, October 7) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html