Etymology
;Surname
The English, German, Scottish and Welsh surname
Oliver
is derived from the
Old French personal name Olivier
. This Old French name was introduced to England by the
Normans. During the
Middle Ages, it was a popular name throughout Europe. It was borne by one of
Charlemagne's
paladins, and friend of
Roland.
Ostensibly, the name is said to derive from the
Latin olivarius
, meaning "olive tree".
However, all of Charlemagne's paladins bore Germanic names;
and the Latin derivation of the name may be a result of
folk etymology working on an unidentified
Germanic personal name, possibly a
cognate of
Alvaro
;
or possibly distantly connected with the
Old Norse Óleifr
, meaning "ancestral relic".
[1]
The surname
Oliver
is also used by
Jews.
The Catalan and (Occitan) French surname is topographic name. It is derived from
oliver
, meaning "olive tree". It may also be related to the
homonymous name listed above.
[2]
;Given name
See the etymology of English, German, Scottish and Welsh surname
Oliver
, above. The name as remained in use since the Middle Ages. It has become more common since the 1980s.
Pet forms of the given name include
Ollie
and
Noll
.
People
:
Top -
0–9 A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z __NOTOC__
A
- Adam Oliver
- Al Oliver
- Alan Oliver
- Andrew Oliver
- Alexander Oliver
- Anton Oliver
B
- Barret Oliver
- Bernard M. Oliver (1919-1995), eminent American scientist and SETI advocate
- Bob Oliver
- Brian Oliver
C
- Catriona Oliver
- Chad Oliver
- Craig Oliver
D
- Dale Oliver
- Damien Oliver
- Daniel Oliver
- Darren Oliver (born 1970), baseball pitcher
- David Oliver (actor) (1962-1992), American actor
- David Oliver (Canadian politician), politician in British Columbia, Canada
- David Oliver (athlete), American athlete
- Dean Oliver
- Deanna Oliver
- Donald Oliver
F
- Farquhar Oliver
- Francis Wall Oliver
- Frank Oliver
G
- Gene Oliver (1913-2007), American catcher and first baseman in Major League Baseball.
- Geoffrey Oliver (1898-1980), British admiral
- George T. Oliver (1848-1919), American lawyer, publisher, and Republican party politician
- Glynis Oliver, artist and colorist in the comics industry
- Graham Oliver, English guitarist.
H
- Harry Oliver
- Henry Oliver
- Hugh Oliver
I
J
- Jack Edward Oliver
- Jackie Oliver
- James Harrison Oliver (1857–1928), a Rear Admiral in the U.S. Navy
- James Michael Yorrick Oliver, Lord Mayor of London from 2001 to 2002
- Jamie Oliver, (b. 1975), British celebrity chef
- Jamie Oliver (musician)
- Jimmy Oliver
- Joe Oliver (baseball player)
- Joe "King" Oliver
- John Oliver (politician) and farmer in British Columbia, Canada
- John Oliver (comedian), British political comedian
- Jools Oliver
- Joseph Oliver
- Despot Jovan Oliver
- Juan García Oliver
L
M
- Mark Oliver
- Martin Oliver
- Mary Oliver
- Meg Oliver
- Melvin Oliver
- Michael Oliver (actor)
- Michael Oliver (Carleton president), Canadian academic
- Michael Oliver (real estate)
- Mike Oliver
- Miquita Oliver
- M. C. Oliver
N
- Nancy Oliver
- Nicole Oliver
O
- Oliver (singer), a pop singer
P
- Pam Oliver
- Paul Oliver
- Paul Ambrose Oliver
- Peter Oliver (painter)
R
- R. D. Oliver
- Rachel Oliver, New Zealand international football (soccer) player
- Raymond Oliver
- Reeve Oliver
- Reggie Oliver
- Revilo P. Oliver
- Richard Martin fitz Oliver
- Robert Oliver
- Roland Oliver
S
- Sheila Y. Oliver
- Stephen Oliver (1941–2008), American actor
- Stephen Oliver (1950–1992), British composer
- Susan Oliver (1932–1990), American actress and aviatrix, noted for Star Trek
- Sy Oliver
T
- Tom Oliver
- Thomas Oliver (Canadian politician) (1821–1880), Canadian businessman and political figure
- Thomas Oliver (Lieutenant Governor) (1733–1815), the last Lieutenant-Governor of Massachusetts
- Tommy Oliver (musician) (1932–2006), American musician and music producer
- Tony Oliver
- Troy Oliver
V
- Vaughan Oliver
- Vic Oliver
W
- W. H. Oliver
- Walter Oliver (1883-1957), New Zealand ornithologist
- William Oliver (1695–1764), physician and philanthropist, inventor of the "Bath Oliver" biscuit
- William Bacon Oliver
- William J Oliver aka 'Oliver the Spy' aka W.J Richards - 19th century agent-provocateur, employed by the English Home Office against the Luddites
- William M. Oliver
- Winslow Oliver
See also
- Olivier
- Oliver Twins
- Oliver (family name)
- Oliver, Nova Scotia
- All pages beginning with Oliver}}
-
References
- Oxford Dictionary of Names
- "Oliver" in ''A Dictionary of First Names'', Oxford University Press, ISBN 0192800507