NameCensus.

UK surname

Oliphant

An English surname derived from the Old French word "olifant," meaning "elephant" or "ivory horn."

In the 1881 census there were 1,170 people recorded with the Oliphant surname, ranking it #3,447 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,235, ranked #4,833, down from #3,447 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Strathmiglo, Cupar and St Leonard Shoreditch. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Caithness North East, Stockton-on-Tees and Carlisle.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Oliphant is 1,479 in 1901. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 5.6%.

1881 census count

1,170

Ranked #3,447

Modern count

1,235

2016, ranked #4,833

Peak year

1901

1,479 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Oliphant had 1,170 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #3,447 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,235 in 2016, ranked #4,833.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,479 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Oliphant surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Oliphant surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Oliphant 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 814 #3,301
1861 historical 951 #2,914
1881 historical 1,170 #3,447
1891 historical 1,249 #3,457
1901 historical 1,479 #3,459
1911 historical 661 #6,353
1997 modern 1,173 #4,809
1998 modern 1,197 #4,889
1999 modern 1,187 #4,978
2000 modern 1,216 #4,838
2001 modern 1,186 #4,848
2002 modern 1,189 #4,936
2003 modern 1,154 #4,972
2004 modern 1,152 #4,994
2005 modern 1,160 #4,899
2006 modern 1,161 #4,903
2007 modern 1,210 #4,780
2008 modern 1,190 #4,869
2009 modern 1,223 #4,862
2010 modern 1,234 #4,928
2011 modern 1,185 #5,039
2012 modern 1,193 #4,937
2013 modern 1,243 #4,843
2014 modern 1,247 #4,850
2015 modern 1,240 #4,834
2016 modern 1,235 #4,833

Geography

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Where Oliphants are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Strathmiglo, Cupar, St Leonard Shoreditch, Wick and London parishes. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Caithness North East, Stockton-on-Tees, Carlisle, Lancaster and Saltcoats Central. 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 Strathmiglo Fife
2 Cupar Fife
3 St Leonard Shoreditch London (East Districts)
4 Wick Caithness
5 London parishes London 3

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Caithness North East Highland
2 Stockton-on-Tees 009 Stockton-on-Tees
3 Carlisle 004 Carlisle
4 Lancaster 006 Lancaster
5 Saltcoats Central North Ayrshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Oliphant

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Oliphant

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Oliphant, 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

Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce

Group

Established but Challenged

Nationally, the Oliphant surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established but Challenged, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Oliphant household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many households in these neighbourhoods comprise separated or divorced single parents with dependent children. Residents are typically born in the UK, and these neighbourhoods have relatively few members of ethnic minorities. The prevalence of children, their parents and those at or above normal retirement age, suggests neighbourhood structures may be long-established. Levels of unpaid care are high, and long-term disability is more common than in the Supergroup as a whole. Use of the social rented sector is common, often in terraced houses. Levels of overcrowding are above the Supergroup average. Unemployment is high, while those in work are employed in elementary occupations such as caring, leisure and customer services. Many residents have low level qualifications. Neighbourhood concentrations of this Group are found in the South Wales Valleys, Belfast, Londonderry and the Central Lowlands of Scotland.

Wider pattern

Living in terraced or semi-detached houses, residents of these neighbourhoods typically lack high levels of education and work in elementary or routine service occupations. Unemployment is above average. Residents are predominantly born in the UK, and residents are also predominantly from ethnic minorities. Social (but not private sector) rented sector housing is common. This Supergroup is found throughout the UK’s conurbations and industrial regions but is also an integral part of smaller towns.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Oliphant is most associated with areas classed as Skilled Trades and Construction Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. 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

These scattered, peripheral and often low residential density neighbourhoods house more workers in skilled trades and construction. Few households rent social housing and there are few students. Multiple car ownership is higher than the Supergroup average, perhaps because of poorer public transport connectivity. Incidence of mixed or multiple ethnicity is below the Supergroup average, and the absence of individuals identifying as Pakistani or Other Asian groups is also less pronounced. Flatted accommodation is less dominant than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Oliphant is most concentrated in decile 1 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy 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.

1
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Oliphant falls in decile 10 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

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

10
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Oliphant is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 30-40 mbit/s.

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

6
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Oliphant

The surname Oliphant has its origins in Scotland, derived from the Old French word "oliphant," which referred to an elephant or an elephant's tusk used as a hunting horn. The name can be traced back to the 12th century, when it was first recorded in the region of Fife, Scotland.

One of the earliest known references to the name Oliphant can be found in the Ragman Rolls of 1296, a record of homages sworn to King Edward I of England. In this document, several individuals with the surname Oliphant are listed, indicating their presence in Scotland during that time period.

The Oliphant family was prominent in Scottish history, with members holding important positions and lands. One notable figure was Sir Walter Oliphant (c. 1312-1381), a Scottish knight who served as Lord High Admiral of Scotland and fought in the Battle of Neville's Cross during the Scottish Wars of Independence.

Another significant individual was Laurence Oliphant (1691-1767), a Scottish Jacobite and writer who played a role in the Jacobite risings of the 18th century. He is best known for his work "A Short Account of the Revolutionary Families," which provides insights into the lives of Jacobite families during that tumultuous period.

The name Oliphant has also been associated with various place names in Scotland, such as Oliphant's Vennel in Fife and Oliphant's Land in Edinburgh, further reflecting the family's historical significance and connections to specific locations.

In addition to Scotland, the surname Oliphant has been found in other parts of the world, likely due to migration and the spread of the Scottish diaspora. One example is Margaret Oliphant (1828-1897), a Scottish novelist and historical writer who was highly regarded during the Victorian era.

Throughout history, the surname Oliphant has been borne by numerous individuals, including Sir William Oliphant (1756-1828), a British politician and diplomat, and Laurence Oliphant (1829-1888), a British writer, traveler, and mystic who was closely associated with the spiritualist movement.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Oliphant families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Oliphant 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. Fife leads with 203 Oliphants recorded in 1881 and an index of 30.15x.

County Total Index
Fife 203 30.15x
Middlesex 103 0.91x
Cumberland 99 10.11x
Lanarkshire 86 2.34x
Aberdeenshire 69 6.55x
Midlothian 69 4.53x
Perthshire 66 12.93x
Durham 59 1.74x
Lancashire 51 0.38x
Caithness 38 24.40x
Surrey 38 0.69x
Stirlingshire 31 7.39x
Ayrshire 28 3.29x
Northumberland 23 1.36x
Cheshire 22 0.88x
Angus 20 1.90x
Yorkshire 18 0.16x
Banffshire 17 7.21x
Westmorland 15 6.00x
Sussex 12 0.63x
West Lothian 12 7.01x
Kent 8 0.21x
Argyllshire 6 1.90x
Nottinghamshire 6 0.39x
Buckinghamshire 5 0.73x
Clackmannanshire 5 5.32x
Dumfriesshire 5 1.99x
Dunbartonshire 5 1.64x
Roxburghshire 5 2.43x
Essex 4 0.18x
Hampshire 4 0.17x
Morayshire 4 2.26x
Suffolk 4 0.29x
Warwickshire 4 0.14x
Leicestershire 3 0.24x
Peeblesshire 3 5.61x
Renfrewshire 3 0.34x
Berkshire 2 0.23x
Dorset 2 0.27x
Kincardineshire 2 1.44x
Lincolnshire 2 0.11x
Berwickshire 1 0.73x
Buteshire 1 1.45x
East Lothian 1 0.66x
Gloucestershire 1 0.04x
Kinross-shire 1 3.48x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Dysart in Fife leads with 36 Oliphants recorded in 1881 and an index of 79.40x.

Place Total Index
Dysart 36 79.40x
Govan 36 3.96x
Shoreditch London 36 7.30x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 32 5.22x
Cupar 30 102.46x
Barony 27 2.90x
Strathmiglo 23 285.71x
Leslie 21 123.17x
Everton 20 4.65x
Caldewgate 19 35.41x
Glasgow 19 2.91x
Wallasey 19 222.22x
Bower 18 287.08x
Wick 16 31.81x
St Andrews 15 48.96x
Bethnal Green London 13 2.63x
Rathen 13 117.75x
Falkirk 12 12.22x
Newington 12 2.86x
Oulton 12 833.33x
St Fergus 12 201.34x
Cummersdale 11 329.34x
Dalry 11 27.46x
Kilrenny 11 88.35x
Kirkcaldy 11 32.94x
Montrose 11 17.23x
Aberdeen St Nicholas 10 5.07x
Cleator 10 24.53x
Edinburgh Buccleuch 10 27.74x
Hastings St Mary 10 20.95x
Newhills 10 46.36x
Westoe 10 5.21x
Bothkennar 9 71.89x
Crumpsall 9 28.29x
Edmonton 9 9.82x
Gateshead 9 3.55x
Hackney London 9 1.41x
Perth West Church 9 37.16x
St George Hanover 9 6.06x
Berwick Upon Tweed 8 22.31x
Camberwell 8 1.10x
Dunino 8 677.97x
Fraserburgh 8 26.98x
Kilmaurs 8 55.25x
Linlithgow 8 36.41x
Dunning 7 109.72x
Dyce 7 154.19x
Longside 7 55.64x
Perth Middle Church 7 36.46x
Redgorton 7 123.67x
St Leonards 7 232.56x
Bowmore 6 82.30x
Coundon 6 43.73x
Crook Billy Row 6 13.85x
Dundee 6 1.53x
Dunfermline 6 5.80x
Great Little Marsden 6 9.70x
Holy Trinity 6 2.21x
Lasswade 6 17.22x
Leeds 6 0.94x
Leuchars 6 70.51x
Logie 6 32.77x
North Leith 6 8.51x
Bishopwearmouth 5 1.72x
Clarborough 5 43.59x
Collessie 5 64.52x
Dalmellington 5 19.98x
Datchet 5 106.38x
Dollar 5 51.39x
East Thickley 5 72.89x
Elie 5 188.68x
Forteviot 5 204.92x
High Bolton 5 471.70x
Kensington London 5 0.79x
Langholm 5 27.69x
Langwathby 5 375.94x
Lonmay 5 52.30x
Penrith 5 13.82x
Ruswarp 5 39.87x
Temple Sowerby 5 304.88x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 30
Elizabeth 29
Jane 17
Margaret 17
Sarah 13
Ann 9
Emily 7
Hannah 7
Annie 6
Catherine 6
Eliza 5
Ellen 5
Agnes 4
Anne 4
Caroline 4
Edith 4
Alice 3
Fanny 3
Gertrude 3
Henrietta 3
Isabella 3
Ruth 3
Charlotte 2
Eleanor 2
Ethel 2
Frances 2
Jessie 2
Julias 2
Laura 2
Lucy 2
Maria 2
Martha 2
Phillis 2
Selina 2
Susan 2
Augusta 1
Cecelia 1
Charlot 1
Clementina 1
Daisy 1
Esther 1
Euphemia 1
Floray 1
Florence 1
Jean 1
Jesse 1
Kate 1
Lilian 1
Lily 1
Louisa 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 35
William 30
Thomas 22
George 17
James 15
Robert 15
Joseph 13
Henry 10
Edward 6
Jonathan 6
Richard 6
Arthur 5
Wm. 5
Geo. 3
Alfred 2
Bill 2
Charles 2
Daniel 2
David 2
Frederick 2
Grainger 2
Joshua 2
Laurence 2
Matthew 2
Thos. 2
Anthony 1
Colin 1
Corrale 1
Cyril 1
Duncan 1
E. 1
Esau 1
F. 1
Ferdinand 1
Francis 1
G.W. 1
Herbert 1
Jno. 1
Lawrence 1
Leonard 1
Mmo. 1
Nigel 1
Phillip 1
Reuben 1
Robt. 1
Samuel 1
Stuart 1
Thos 1
Walter 1
Wm.Hayton 1

FAQ

Oliphant surname: questions and answers

How common was the Oliphant surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,170 people were recorded with the Oliphant surname. That placed it at #3,447 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Oliphant surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,235 in 2016. That gives Oliphant a modern rank of #4,833.

What does the Oliphant surname mean?

An English surname derived from the Old French word "olifant," meaning "elephant" or "ivory horn."

What does the Oliphant map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Oliphant 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.