NameCensus.

UK surname

Oliveira

A Portuguese toponymic surname indicating a person who came from or lived near an olive tree or olive grove.

In the 1881 census there were 5 people recorded with the Oliveira surname, ranking it #33,110 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,824, ranked #3,477, up from #33,110 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Brent, Lambeth and Westminster.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Oliveira is 1,824 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 36380.0%.

1881 census count

5

Ranked #33,110

Modern count

1,824

2016, ranked #3,477

Peak year

2016

1,824 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • Oliveira had 5 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #33,110 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,824 in 2016, ranked #3,477.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 14 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Young Families.

Oliveira surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Oliveira surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Oliveira 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 1 #33,412
1861 historical 5 #33,418
1881 historical 5 #33,110
1891 historical 9 #33,451
1901 historical 12 #32,772
1911 historical 14 #32,045
1997 modern 274 #14,374
1998 modern 331 #13,018
1999 modern 377 #11,954
2000 modern 440 #10,629
2001 modern 431 #10,606
2002 modern 501 #9,611
2003 modern 525 #9,162
2004 modern 650 #7,838
2005 modern 731 #7,091
2006 modern 921 #5,931
2007 modern 1,048 #5,403
2008 modern 1,145 #5,039
2009 modern 1,279 #4,679
2010 modern 1,491 #4,201
2011 modern 1,363 #4,455
2012 modern 1,487 #4,122
2013 modern 1,591 #3,935
2014 modern 1,683 #3,752
2015 modern 1,736 #3,615
2016 modern 1,824 #3,477

Geography

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Where Oliveiras 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 Brent, Lambeth and Westminster. 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 Brent 033 Brent
2 Brent 031 Brent
3 Lambeth 008 Lambeth
4 Westminster 004 Westminster
5 Lambeth 011 Lambeth

Forenames

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First names often paired with Oliveira

These lists show first names that appear often with the Oliveira 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 Oliveira

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

Multicultural and Educated Urbanites

Group

Ethnically Diverse Young Families

Nationally, the Oliveira surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ethnically Diverse Young Families, within Multicultural and Educated Urbanites. This does not mean every Oliveira 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 includes many younger parents born overseas (particularly in Africa or EU countries) with children aged 0-4. Individuals identifying as of Mixed or Multiple ethnicities are also common. English may not be the primary language spoken. Accommodation consists principally of flats, and many properties are socially rented and/or overcrowded. Students are also present, unemployment is common, and other adults tend to work in low skilled jobs.

Wider pattern

Established populations comprising ethnic minorities together with persons born outside the UK predominate in this Supergroup. Residents present diverse personal characteristics and circumstances: while generally well-educated and practising skilled occupations, some residents live in overcrowded rental sector housing. English may not be the main language used by people in this Group. Although the typical adult resident is middle aged, single person households are common and marriage rates are low by national standards. This Supergroup predominates in Inner London, with smaller enclaves in many other densely populated metropolitan areas.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Oliveira is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Pockets, part of Social Rented Sector Families with Children. 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

Found in pockets across London, residents are less likely to live in private sector rentals and fewer adults are students. Fewer individuals work in transport and communications occupations relative to the Supergroup average. More individuals identify as Black and were born in Africa.

Wider London pattern

Residents of these neighbourhoods include sizable numbers identifying with ethnicities originating outside Europe, particularly in Africa or Bangladesh. The proportion of residents identifying as White, Indian or Pakistani is well below the London average. Neighbourhood age profiles are skewed towards younger adults, and above average numbers of families have children. Rates of use of English at home are below average. Marriage rates are low, and levels of separation or divorce are above average. Housing is predominantly in flats, and renting in the social rented sector the norm - few residents are owner occupiers. Housing is often overcrowded, and neighbourhoods are amongst the most densely populated in London. Disability rates are above average, although levels of unpaid care provision are about average. Employment is in caring, leisure, other service occupations, sales and customer service, or process, plant, and machine operation. Part time working and full-time student study are common. Levels of unemployment are slightly above average. Most residents have only Level 1 or 2 educational qualifications or have completed apprenticeships.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Oliveira 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

Oliveira falls in decile 3 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.

3
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Oliveira 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 - Other

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

Meaning and origin of Oliveira

The surname Oliveira originated in Portugal and can be traced back to the 12th century. It is derived from the Portuguese word "oliveira," meaning "olive tree." The name likely originated as a descriptive surname, given to someone who lived near an olive grove or worked with olives in some capacity.

In the 13th century, the surname Oliveira appeared in various historical records, such as the Inquirições de D. Afonso III, a survey of properties and landholdings conducted during the reign of King Afonso III of Portugal. This suggests that the name was already established by that time.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the surname Oliveira was João de Oliveira, a Portuguese explorer and navigator who lived in the 15th century. He was part of the expeditions to the West African coast and is believed to have contributed to the development of Portuguese nautical charts.

Another notable person with the surname Oliveira was Fernão de Oliveira, a 16th-century Portuguese grammarian and humanist. He wrote the first grammar book of the Portuguese language, "Gramática da Linguagem Portuguesa," published in 1536.

In the 17th century, João de Oliveira Chagas was a prominent Portuguese playwright and poet, known for his religious works and plays. He lived from 1631 to 1693.

Moving to the 18th century, José Agostinho de Oliveira Guedes was a Brazilian poet and playwright born in 1718. He is considered one of the pioneers of Brazilian theater and wrote several plays that portrayed colonial life in Brazil.

In the 19th century, José de Oliveira Júnior was a Brazilian painter and art professor. Born in 1839, he is known for his historical and religious paintings, many of which can be found in churches and museums throughout Brazil.

The surname Oliveira has also been associated with various place names in Portugal, such as Oliveira de Azeméis, Oliveira do Bairro, and Oliveira do Hospital, among others. These place names may have influenced the adoption of the surname in certain regions.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Oliveira families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Oliveira 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 5 Oliveiras recorded in 1881 and an index of 10.31x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 5 10.31x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Kensington London in Middlesex leads with 4 Oliveiras recorded in 1881 and an index of 148.15x.

Place Total Index
Kensington London 4 148.15x
St Pancras London 1 25.64x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Constance 1
Isabel 1
Marian 1
Philadelphia 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
Alexander 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 Oliveira households.

Occupation Count
Scholar 3

FAQ

Oliveira surname: questions and answers

How common was the Oliveira surname in 1881?

In 1881, 5 people were recorded with the Oliveira surname. That placed it at #33,110 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Oliveira surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,824 in 2016. That gives Oliveira a modern rank of #3,477.

What does the Oliveira surname mean?

A Portuguese toponymic surname indicating a person who came from or lived near an olive tree or olive grove.

What does the Oliveira map show?

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