NameCensus.

UK surname

Olah

A Hungarian surname derived from the word "olah" meaning "Romanian" or "Vlach".

In the 1881 census there were 13 people recorded with the Olah surname, ranking it #31,761 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 313, ranked #14,318, up from #31,761 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Northumberland, Colchester and Haringey.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Olah is 313 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 2307.7%.

1881 census count

13

Ranked #31,761

Modern count

313

2016, ranked #14,318

Peak year

2016

313 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • Olah had 13 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #31,761 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 313 in 2016, ranked #14,318.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 21 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations.

Olah surname distribution map

The map shows where the Olah surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.

Distribution map

Olah surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Olah over time

The table below tracks recorded surname counts and rank from the 19th-century census years through the modern adult-register period.

Year Period Count Rank
1851 historical 4 #32,658
1861 historical 5 #33,418
1881 historical 13 #31,761
1891 historical 21 #32,526
1901 historical 17 #32,146
1911 historical 16 #31,804
1997 modern 100 #26,901
1998 modern 108 #26,417
1999 modern 119 #25,095
2000 modern 116 #25,452
2001 modern 112 #25,644
2002 modern 119 #25,231
2003 modern 112 #25,948
2004 modern 124 #24,559
2005 modern 138 #22,999
2006 modern 164 #20,715
2007 modern 188 #19,204
2008 modern 185 #19,589
2009 modern 206 #18,657
2010 modern 233 #17,606
2011 modern 233 #17,426
2012 modern 286 #15,012
2013 modern 292 #15,027
2014 modern 298 #14,911
2015 modern 300 #14,758
2016 modern 313 #14,318

Geography

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Where Olahs are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around No data. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Northumberland, Colchester, Haringey, Salford and East Lindsey. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Some modern areas include a three-digit suffix, such as Leeds 110. The suffix is a small-area code, so it stays in the table while the prose uses the plain place name.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 No data No data

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Northumberland 016 Northumberland
2 Colchester 013 Colchester
3 Haringey 027 Haringey
4 Salford 022 Salford
5 East Lindsey 017 East Lindsey

Forenames

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First names often paired with Olah

These lists show first names that appear often with the Olah surname in historical and recent records.

Historical female names

No Forenames Found

Historical male names

No Forenames Found

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Olah

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Olah, this points to the kinds of places where the surname is most concentrated today.

These neighbourhood labels describe areas, not individual people. They are useful because surnames often cluster through family history, migration, housing patterns and local work. A surname can be strongest in one type of neighbourhood even when people with that name live across the country.

The UK classification gives the national picture. The London classification is more specific to the capital, where housing, age profile, tenure and population mix can look quite different from the rest of the UK.

UK neighbourhood type

UK Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities

Group

Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations

Nationally, the Olah surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations, within Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities. This does not mean every Olah household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group is often found in less central parts of London and other major towns and cities. Adults are more likely than the Supergroup average to have never been married and are typically aged less than 45 years. Many have young dependent children and individuals may have been born in Africa. There are many members identifying with a Black ethnic group, with the other ethnic groups (as listed in the glossary) also represented, though Chinese less so. Accommodation in flats, frequently socially rented, is common in these neighbourhoods. Part time employment is also common, and work is often in elementary occupations, while unemployment is also the highest within this Supergroup.

Wider pattern

Young adults, many of whom are students, predominate in these high-density and overcrowded neighbourhoods of rented terrace houses or flats. Most ethnic minorities are present in these communities, as are people born in European countries that are not part of the EU. Students aside, low skilled occupations predominate, and unemployment rates are above average. Overall, the mix of students and more sedentary households means that neighbourhood average numbers of children are not very high. The Mixed or Multiple ethnic group composition of neighbourhoods is often associated with low rates of affiliation to Christian religions. This Supergroup predominates in non-central urban locations the UK, particularly within England in the Midlands and the outskirts of west, south and north-east London.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Olah is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Scattered across London’s Inner and Outer suburbs, residents of these neighbourhoods are typically housed in the social rented sector. Although terraced and semi-detached houses predominate, more residents live in flats than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Neighbourhoods are more ethnically diverse than the Supergroup average. Those identifying as of Bangladeshi, Pakistani and some Black ethnicities are more prevalent. Europeans born in a overseas non-EU countries make up more of the lower proportion of residents identifying as White. Few residents are very old (85+). Employment in distribution, hotels and restaurants is more common than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Olah is most concentrated in decile 10 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier end of the index.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Olah falls in decile 1 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Olah is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - Other

This describes the area pattern most associated with Olah, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Olah

The surname OLAH originates from Hungary and dates back to the Middle Ages. It is derived from the Hungarian word "olah," which means "Vlach" or "Romanian." The Vlachs were an ethnic group that inhabited parts of the Carpathian Mountains and the Balkan Peninsula.

In the 13th century, the OLAH surname began appearing in various Hungarian records, often referring to individuals of Vlach or Romanian descent who had settled in the Kingdom of Hungary. One of the earliest known references to the name comes from a document dated 1292, which mentions a person named "Olah Petrus."

During the medieval period, the OLAH surname was commonly found in regions of present-day Romania, Transylvania, and parts of modern-day Hungary, Slovakia, and Serbia. It was often associated with individuals engaged in pastoral activities, such as shepherding or livestock farming, which were traditional occupations of the Vlach people.

In the 15th century, a notable bearer of the OLAH surname was Nicolaus Olahus (1493-1568), a Hungarian Renaissance scholar, humanist, and diplomat who served as the Archbishop of Esztergom, the highest ecclesiastical position in the Kingdom of Hungary.

Another prominent figure was Emeric Olah (1470-1546), a Hungarian prelate and statesman who held the position of Archbishop of Esztergom from 1542 until his death. He played a significant role in the political and religious affairs of the Kingdom of Hungary during the tumultuous period of the Ottoman conquest.

In the 16th century, the OLAH surname appeared in various records across Central and Eastern Europe, including the "Urbaria" (land registers) of the Habsburg Monarchy. One example is the mention of a certain "Georgius Olah" in a document from 1568, referring to a landowner in the region of present-day Slovakia.

During the 17th and 18th centuries, the OLAH surname continued to be found in various official records and documents across the former territories of the Kingdom of Hungary and the Habsburg Empire. Some notable bearers of the name from this period include Janos Olah (1638-1718), a Hungarian Catholic priest and writer, and Miklos Olah (1693-1768), a Hungarian nobleman and landowner.

Throughout its history, the OLAH surname has been associated with individuals of various professions and social standings, including clergy, academics, landowners, and members of the nobility. While the name originated from the Vlach or Romanian ethnic group, it eventually became widespread across Hungary and neighboring regions.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Olah families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Olah surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.

Top counties

Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Middlesex leads with 13 Olahs recorded in 1881 and an index of 10.25x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 13 10.25x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Clerkenwell London in Middlesex leads with 11 Olahs recorded in 1881 and an index of 367.89x.

Place Total Index
Clerkenwell London 11 367.89x
Chelsea London 2 52.36x

Top female names

These are the female first names most often recorded with the Olah surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
Jane 2
Angelina 1
Annie 1
Louisa 1
Margaret 1

Top male names

These are the male first names most often recorded with the Olah surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
Charles 3
Alexander 1
George 1
John 1
M.T. 1

Top occupations

Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Olah households.

FAQ

Olah surname: questions and answers

How common was the Olah surname in 1881?

In 1881, 13 people were recorded with the Olah surname. That placed it at #31,761 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Olah surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 313 in 2016. That gives Olah a modern rank of #14,318.

What does the Olah surname mean?

A Hungarian surname derived from the word "olah" meaning "Romanian" or "Vlach".

What does the Olah map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Olah bearers relative to the surrounding population.

What records is this surname page based on?

The historical counts come from census surname records. The modern counts and neighbourhood summaries come from later surname distribution records. Counts are recorded bearers in those records, not a live estimate of everyone with the name today.