NameCensus.

UK surname

Ollier

A locational French surname referring to someone from a place named Ollier.

In the 1881 census there were 338 people recorded with the Ollier surname, ranking it #8,962 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 600, ranked #8,721, up from #8,962 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Over, Astbury and Manchester. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Cheshire West and Chester and Cheshire East.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Ollier is 674 in 2000. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 77.5%.

1881 census count

338

Ranked #8,962

Modern count

600

2016, ranked #8,721

Peak year

2000

674 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Ollier had 338 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #8,962 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 600 in 2016, ranked #8,721.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 628 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Small Town Suburbia.

Ollier surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Ollier surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Ollier 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 182 #11,209
1861 historical 171 #13,692
1881 historical 338 #8,962
1891 historical 385 #9,150
1901 historical 527 #7,753
1911 historical 628 #6,604
1997 modern 640 #7,750
1998 modern 654 #7,865
1999 modern 668 #7,781
2000 modern 674 #7,717
2001 modern 668 #7,638
2002 modern 672 #7,760
2003 modern 631 #8,001
2004 modern 632 #8,004
2005 modern 624 #8,029
2006 modern 629 #8,005
2007 modern 638 #7,984
2008 modern 644 #7,967
2009 modern 655 #8,019
2010 modern 659 #8,152
2011 modern 653 #8,128
2012 modern 615 #8,441
2013 modern 610 #8,628
2014 modern 611 #8,681
2015 modern 612 #8,606
2016 modern 600 #8,721

Geography

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Where Olliers are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Over, Astbury, Manchester, Great Budworth (Witton with Twambrook), Davenham (Leftwich) and Middlewich. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Cheshire West and Chester and Cheshire East. 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 Over Cheshire
2 Astbury Cheshire
3 Manchester Lancashire
4 Great Budworth (Witton with Twambrook), Davenham (Leftwich) Cheshire
5 Middlewich Cheshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Cheshire West and Chester 012 Cheshire West and Chester
2 Cheshire East 036 Cheshire East
3 Cheshire East 038 Cheshire East
4 Cheshire East 039 Cheshire East
5 Cheshire West and Chester 037 Cheshire West and Chester

Forenames

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First names often paired with Ollier

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Ollier

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

Retired Professionals

Group

Small Town Suburbia

Nationally, the Ollier surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Small Town Suburbia, within Retired Professionals. This does not mean every Ollier 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 predominantly comprised of married couples with no resident dependent children, living in areas characterised neither by under-occupancy nor overcrowding throughout the UK in or adjacent to small towns. White ethnic groups and affiliation with Christianity predominates. Housing tends to be predominantly semi-detached or detached and workers are employed principally in managerial and professional occupations, with semi-skilled occupations also in evidence. These areas of the Supergroup are of higher population density.

Wider pattern

Typically married but no longer with resident dependent children, these well-educated households either remain working in their managerial, professional, administrative or other skilled occupations, or are retired from them – the modal individual age is beyond normal retirement age. Underoccupied detached and semi-detached properties predominate, and unpaid care is more prevalent than reported disability. The prevalence of this Supergroup outside most urban conurbations indicates that rural lifestyles prevail, typically sustained by using two or more cars per household.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Ollier 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

Ollier is most concentrated in decile 4 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname near the middle of the scale.

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

4
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Ollier 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 Ollier 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 Ollier, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Ollier

The surname OLLIER originated in France, with its earliest recorded use dating back to the 12th century. It is derived from the Old French word "olier," which means "oil maker" or "oil seller," indicating that the name's bearers were likely involved in the production or trade of olive oil or other oils.

OLLIER is believed to have first emerged in the southern regions of France, particularly in the areas around Provence and Languedoc, where olive cultivation and oil production were prominent industries. The name's earliest recorded spelling variations include "Olier," "Ollier," and "Oullier."

One of the earliest documented references to the OLLIER surname can be found in the 13th-century French cartulary of the Abbey of Lérins, which mentions an individual named Petrus Olier. Another notable early record is the 14th-century document "Rôles Gascons," which includes the name Guillelmus Oller.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the OLLIER surname. One of the earliest documented was Jean-Jacques Olier (1608-1657), a French Catholic priest and the founder of the Sulpicians, a religious order dedicated to the formation of priests. Another prominent figure was Pierre Ollier (1638-1698), a French painter and engraver who worked in the Baroque style.

In the 19th century, Edmund Ollier (1827-1886) was a British surgeon and anatomist who made significant contributions to the field of orthopedics. He was also the author of several medical treatises, including "Lectures on Deformities" and "On the Anatomy of the Osseous System."

Moving into the 20th century, Claude Ollier (1922-2014) was a highly regarded French writer and novelist, known for his experimental and avant-garde works, such as "La Mise en Scène" and "Le Tout sur le Tout." Another notable figure was Charles Ollier (1921-2015), a French sculptor and painter whose works were exhibited in various galleries and museums across Europe.

While the OLLIER surname has its origins in France, it has since spread to other parts of the world, particularly through migration and immigration. However, its historical roots and the occupational meaning behind the name remain deeply rooted in the French heritage and culture.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Ollier families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Ollier 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. Cheshire leads with 209 Olliers recorded in 1881 and an index of 28.72x.

County Total Index
Cheshire 209 28.72x
Lancashire 83 2.12x
Staffordshire 20 1.80x
Derbyshire 9 1.74x
Middlesex 8 0.24x
Nottinghamshire 3 0.68x
Kent 2 0.18x
Brecknockshire 1 1.52x
Cumberland 1 0.35x
Essex 1 0.15x
Northumberland 1 0.20x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Newton In Northwich in Cheshire leads with 24 Olliers recorded in 1881 and an index of 1081.08x.

Place Total Index
Newton In Northwich 24 1081.08x
Monks Coppenhall 23 83.76x
Pendleton In Salford 16 34.33x
Audley 15 136.24x
Broughton In Salford 14 39.14x
Congleton 14 111.38x
Bowdon 12 415.22x
Knutsford Over 10 2173.91x
Church Lawton 9 967.74x
Curbar 9 2500.00x
Ashton Under Lyne 8 9.36x
Hassall 8 2285.71x
Knutsford Nether 8 181.82x
Over 8 108.11x
Wharton 8 202.02x
Wheelock 8 888.89x
Chorley In Macclesfield 7 315.32x
Moulton Eaton In 7 1147.54x
Chorlton On Medlock 6 9.65x
Elton In Congleton 6 967.74x
Bradwall 5 666.67x
Byley Cum Yatehouse 5 3333.33x
Chelsea London 5 5.03x
Great Bolton 5 9.65x
Manchester 5 2.84x
Marston 5 450.45x
Moston In Congleton 5 2500.00x
Sandbach 5 80.52x
Stoke Upon Trent 5 4.24x
Stretford 5 23.23x
Cheetham 4 13.71x
Middlewich 4 266.67x
Widnes 4 14.17x
Atherton 3 21.07x
Chester St Oswald 3 22.76x
Crewe In Nantwich 3 625.00x
Nether Peover 3 1250.00x
Nottingham St Mary 3 2.61x
Sale 3 33.59x
Salford 3 2.61x
Audlem 2 116.28x
Flixton 2 100.00x
Haslington 2 97.56x
High Leigh 2 208.33x
Kensington London 2 1.09x
Kirkdale 2 3.04x
Lewisham 2 3.33x
Macclesfield 2 6.18x
Peover Inferior 2 1538.46x
Preston On Hill 2 317.46x
Acton In Northwich 1 149.25x
Arlecdon 1 13.25x
Barton Upon Irwell 1 3.40x
Castleton 1 2.56x
Davenham 1 151.52x
Everton 1 0.80x
Hale 1 39.84x
Heaton Norris 1 4.49x
Henbury Cum Pexhall 1 204.08x
Lower Ystradgynlais 1 24.57x
Moss Side 1 4.86x
Radcliffe 1 5.30x
Riding 1 416.67x
St George Botolph Lane 1 909.09x
West Ham 1 0.70x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 27
Elizabeth 14
Sarah 13
Martha 11
Ann 9
Jane 7
Annie 6
Ellen 6
Emma 6
Hannah 6
Margaret 6
Harriet 5
Alice 3
Edith 3
Eliza 3
Fanny 3
Agnes 2
Catherine 2
Emily 2
Frances 2
Harriett 2
Louisa 2
Lucy 2
Amelia 1
Bertha 1
Caroline 1
Clara 1
Eliz. 1
Eliz.Sarah 1
Elizth. 1
Elizth.A. 1
Elizth.Ann 1
Emelia 1
Emina 1
Emmeline 1
Esther 1
Ethel 1
Eve 1
Florence 1
Gertrude 1
Henrietta 1
Hilda 1
Jessie 1
Julia 1
Kate 1
Lydia 1
Margret 1
Maria 1
Marion 1
Theresa 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
George 24
John 19
William 19
Thomas 13
Joseph 9
Charles 8
James 6
Frank 5
Samuel 5
Matthew 4
Amos 3
Arthur 3
Alfred 2
Chas. 2
Edmund 2
Elijah 2
Ernest 2
Geo. 2
Henry 2
Herbert 2
Ralph 2
Tom 2
Albert 1
Edgar 1
Edward 1
Enoch 1
Enock 1
Ernant 1
Frederick 1
Isaac 1
Jabez 1
Josh. 1
Mark 1
Orlando 1
Peter 1
Reuben 1
Richard 1
Robert 1
Saml. 1
Saml.Henry 1
Thos. 1
Wm. 1
Wm.Geo. 1

FAQ

Ollier surname: questions and answers

How common was the Ollier surname in 1881?

In 1881, 338 people were recorded with the Ollier surname. That placed it at #8,962 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Ollier surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 600 in 2016. That gives Ollier a modern rank of #8,721.

What does the Ollier surname mean?

A locational French surname referring to someone from a place named Ollier.

What does the Ollier map show?

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