NameCensus.

UK surname

Olney

From the Old English byname Æthelnoð, meaning "noble daring" or "noble boldness."

In the 1881 census there were 626 people recorded with the Olney surname, ranking it #5,649 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 678, ranked #7,909, down from #5,649 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Wellingborough, London parishes and Hitchin. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Central Bedfordshire, Mid Sussex and Dacorum.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Olney is 891 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 8.3%.

1881 census count

626

Ranked #5,649

Modern count

678

2016, ranked #7,909

Peak year

1911

891 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Olney had 626 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #5,649 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 678 in 2016, ranked #7,909.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 891 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Olney surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Olney surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Olney 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 357 #6,620
1861 historical 355 #7,198
1881 historical 626 #5,649
1891 historical 681 #5,745
1901 historical 838 #5,425
1911 historical 891 #5,000
1997 modern 766 #6,768
1998 modern 787 #6,846
1999 modern 795 #6,832
2000 modern 772 #6,962
2001 modern 756 #6,947
2002 modern 761 #7,035
2003 modern 749 #7,027
2004 modern 756 #6,980
2005 modern 714 #7,213
2006 modern 706 #7,301
2007 modern 715 #7,308
2008 modern 725 #7,288
2009 modern 731 #7,387
2010 modern 748 #7,387
2011 modern 742 #7,373
2012 modern 712 #7,509
2013 modern 711 #7,641
2014 modern 692 #7,850
2015 modern 687 #7,839
2016 modern 678 #7,909

Geography

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Where Olneys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Wellingborough, London parishes, Hitchin, Ickleford and Luton. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Central Bedfordshire, Mid Sussex, Dacorum, Ashfield and Barnet. 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 Wellingborough Northamptonshire
2 London parishes London 3
3 Hitchin Hertfordshire
4 Ickleford Hertfordshire
5 Luton Bedfordshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Central Bedfordshire 017 Central Bedfordshire
2 Mid Sussex 016 Mid Sussex
3 Dacorum 009 Dacorum
4 Ashfield 011 Ashfield
5 Barnet 029 Barnet

Forenames

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First names often paired with Olney

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Olney

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

Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities

Group

Rural Amenity

Nationally, the Olney surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Olney 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 comprises older parents or retirees, with no resident dependent children, and with the lowest residential densities in this Supergroup. Predominantly UK-born, residents typically live in detached houses, although others do live in semi-detached and terraced properties. The level of multiple car ownership is the highest in this Supergroup. Most houses are owner occupied although social renting is also present. Many concentrations occur in high amenity rural locations, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Wider pattern

Pervasive throughout the UK, members of this Supergroup typically own (or are buying) their detached, semi-detached or terraced homes. They are also typically educated to A Level/Highers or degree level and work in skilled or professional occupations. Typically born in the UK, some families have children, although the median adult age is above 45 and some property has become under-occupied after children have left home. This Supergroup is pervasive not only in suburban locations, but also in neighbourhoods at or beyond the edge of cities that adjoin rural parts of the country.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Olney is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support 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

Mainly located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

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

Olney is most concentrated in decile 5 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.

5
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Olney

The surname OLNEY is of English origin, tracing its roots back to the medieval period. It is a locational name derived from the town of Olney in Buckinghamshire, England. The name Olney itself is believed to come from the Old English words "ole" meaning "a source or spring" and "eg" meaning "an island or low-lying land surrounded by water or marshy ground."

One of the earliest recorded mentions of the name OLNEY can be found in the famous Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Ollenei." This suggests that the name was already well-established in the region by the late 11th century.

In the 13th century, a notable figure named John de Olney was mentioned in the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire in 1230. This indicates that the surname had begun to spread beyond its original geographical roots.

During the 16th century, the name OLNEY gained prominence with the birth of John Olney (c. 1515-1564), an English clergyman and Protestant martyr who was burned at the stake for his religious beliefs during the Marian persecutions.

Another notable bearer of the OLNEY surname was Thomas Olney (c. 1600-1654), one of the founders of Providence, Rhode Island, and a close associate of Roger Williams. He was among the first settlers of the colony and played a significant role in its early development.

In the 18th century, Baptismal records from the town of Olney in Buckinghamshire show the name OLNEY being used consistently among local families, cementing its longstanding connection to the area.

William Olney (1786-1859), an English mathematician and educator, was a prominent figure in the 19th century. He authored numerous mathematical textbooks and served as the headmaster of the prestigious Prospect House School in Twickenham.

Throughout history, the OLNEY surname has also been associated with notable figures in various fields, including literature, politics, and science, further contributing to its rich heritage.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Olney families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Olney 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. Bedfordshire leads with 132 Olneys recorded in 1881 and an index of 41.68x.

County Total Index
Bedfordshire 132 41.68x
Middlesex 120 1.96x
Hertfordshire 99 23.48x
Buckinghamshire 67 18.12x
Surrey 56 1.88x
Northamptonshire 32 5.56x
Kent 27 1.29x
Essex 17 1.41x
Sussex 17 1.65x
Lancashire 13 0.18x
Warwickshire 12 0.78x
Devon 11 0.86x
Yorkshire 7 0.12x
Hampshire 6 0.48x
Derbyshire 4 0.42x
Oxfordshire 3 0.79x
Glamorgan 2 0.19x
Cambridgeshire 1 0.26x
Royal Navy 1 1.37x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Ickleford in Hertfordshire leads with 30 Olneys recorded in 1881 and an index of 2542.37x.

Place Total Index
Ickleford 30 2542.37x
Luton 29 52.90x
Leighton Buzzard 24 176.21x
Bromley London 23 17.09x
Hanslope 18 542.17x
Pulloxhill 17 1531.53x
St Pancras London 17 3.45x
Amersham 15 286.26x
Wellingborough 14 48.39x
Hitchin 13 68.31x
Hackney London 12 3.50x
Plymouth St Andrew 11 11.22x
St Mary Cray 11 275.69x
Westoning 11 797.10x
Battersea 10 4.44x
Kensington London 10 2.94x
Mile End Old Town 10 10.36x
South Mimms 9 107.27x
Harpenden 8 124.42x
Mitcham 8 42.46x
Silsoe 8 563.38x
Totteridge 8 606.06x
Brighton 7 3.36x
Coventry St Michael 7 14.13x
Deptford St Paul 7 4.35x
Floore 7 324.07x
Hampstead London 7 7.35x
Holwell 7 1555.56x
Northampton St Giles 7 31.95x
Reigate Foreign 7 21.69x
Southwark St George Martyr 7 5.69x
West Ham 7 2.63x
Hastings St Leonards 6 39.58x
Islington London 6 1.01x
Little Marlow 6 294.12x
Southampton St Mary 6 7.61x
Streatham 6 13.22x
Bedford St Paul 5 23.02x
Bengeo 5 102.25x
Birmingham 5 0.97x
Calverton 5 434.78x
Castle Thorpe 5 724.64x
Chalfont St Giles 5 188.68x
Flitwick 5 292.40x
Offley 5 182.48x
Ridge 5 588.24x
Wandsworth 5 8.49x
West Derby 5 2.35x
Arlesey 4 100.00x
Bermondsey 4 2.20x
Camberwell 4 1.02x
Houghton Regis 4 79.21x
Pudsey 4 12.35x
Sandy 4 71.68x
Shoreditch London 4 1.51x
St Albans St Peter 4 28.13x
Tilsworth 4 769.23x
Ampthill 3 63.42x
Billington 3 337.08x
Brightside Bierlow 3 2.52x
Britwell Salome 3 909.09x
Epping 3 61.10x
Hexton 3 714.29x
Kirkdale 3 2.46x
Lambeth 3 0.56x
Plumstead 3 4.31x
Salehurst 3 67.11x
St George Hanover 3 3.76x
St Ippollitts 3 141.51x
Tring 3 26.64x
Wanstead 3 14.19x
Watford 3 9.18x
Whitechapel London 3 4.98x
Wycombe 3 10.89x
Bethnal Green London 2 0.75x
Keston 2 129.03x
Liverpool 2 0.45x
Paddington London 2 0.89x
Stretford 2 5.01x
Swansea Town 2 2.29x

Top female names

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

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 46
George 22
John 21
Thomas 19
Charles 18
James 15
Frederick 12
Harry 12
Henry 12
Alfred 10
Joseph 8
Albert 7
Arthur 7
Walter 6
Daniel 5
Edward 5
Benjamin 4
Ernest 4
Frank 3
Richard 3
David 2
Fredk. 2
Percy 2
Philip 2
Richd. 2
Ruben 2
Valentine 2
Willie 2
Willm. 2
Barton 1
Bertie 1
Cornelius 1
Edwin 1
Ephraim 1
Eustace 1
Fred 1
Fredk.H. 1
Fredrick 1
Geo. 1
Guthridge 1
Infant 1
Isaac 1
Johnathan 1
Jonathan 1
Leonard 1
Oswald 1
Owen 1
Phillip 1
Ralph 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Olney surname: questions and answers

How common was the Olney surname in 1881?

In 1881, 626 people were recorded with the Olney surname. That placed it at #5,649 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Olney surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 678 in 2016. That gives Olney a modern rank of #7,909.

What does the Olney surname mean?

From the Old English byname Æthelnoð, meaning "noble daring" or "noble boldness."

What does the Olney map show?

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