NameCensus.

UK surname

Olver

Scottish surname derived from the first name Oliver.

In the 1881 census there were 663 people recorded with the Olver surname, ranking it #5,426 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 672, ranked #7,966, down from #5,426 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Budock, St Martin and Plympton St Mary. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Cornwall and South Hams.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Olver is 818 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has stayed broadly stable by 1.4%.

1881 census count

663

Ranked #5,426

Modern count

672

2016, ranked #7,966

Peak year

1911

818 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Olver had 663 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #5,426 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 672 in 2016, ranked #7,966.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 818 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Olver surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Olver surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Olver 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 526 #4,768
1861 historical 395 #6,492
1881 historical 663 #5,426
1891 historical 654 #5,939
1901 historical 791 #5,692
1911 historical 818 #5,384
1997 modern 680 #7,410
1998 modern 705 #7,437
1999 modern 703 #7,488
2000 modern 695 #7,531
2001 modern 693 #7,433
2002 modern 688 #7,614
2003 modern 672 #7,634
2004 modern 652 #7,813
2005 modern 658 #7,701
2006 modern 630 #7,995
2007 modern 643 #7,926
2008 modern 637 #8,033
2009 modern 663 #7,955
2010 modern 694 #7,830
2011 modern 681 #7,852
2012 modern 676 #7,825
2013 modern 680 #7,917
2014 modern 685 #7,919
2015 modern 679 #7,904
2016 modern 672 #7,966

Geography

Back to top

Where Olvers are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Budock, St Martin, Plympton St Mary, Morval and Linkinhorne. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Cornwall and South Hams. 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 Budock Cornwall
2 St Martin Cornwall
3 Plympton St Mary Devon
4 Morval Cornwall
5 Linkinhorne Cornwall

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Cornwall 013 Cornwall
2 Cornwall 025 Cornwall
3 Cornwall 012 Cornwall
4 Cornwall 005 Cornwall
5 South Hams 007 South Hams

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Olver

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Olver

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Olver, 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 Olver surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Olver 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

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Olver is most associated with areas classed as London Fringe, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. 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

Predominantly located in neighbourhoods on the outskirts of Greater London, residents of these neighbourhoods typically have their highest qualifications below degree (Level 4) level, with those still in work engaged in skilled trades and occupations in distribution, hotels and restaurants. There is low ethnic diversity in these neighbourhoods and high levels of Christian religious affiliation. Detached or terraced houses predominate, often with spare rooms.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Olver is most concentrated in decile 7 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.

7
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Olver falls in decile 5 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

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

5
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Olver 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 Olver, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Olver

The surname Olver has its origins in England, tracing back to the late 12th century. It is derived from the Old English personal name "Alfar," which means "elf counsellor" or "elf ruler." This name likely originated from the Anglo-Saxon tradition of associating elves with wisdom and magic.

One of the earliest recorded mentions of the surname Olver can be found in the Curia Regis Rolls of Wiltshire in 1214, where a person named Alfar de Olveston is listed. Olveston is a village in Gloucestershire, and the name Olver is thought to have originated as a locational surname, referring to someone from this area.

In the 13th century, the surname appears in various spellings, such as Olfar, Olver, and Olfer, in records from counties like Somerset, Dorset, and Wiltshire. This suggests that the name was widespread in the southwestern region of England during this period.

One notable individual with the surname Olver was John Olver, a Member of Parliament for Bedwyn in Wiltshire during the late 15th century (born around 1450). Another early record is of William Olver, who was born in Somerset around 1520 and served as a wealthy merchant in Bristol.

In the 17th century, the name Olver is found in parish records from Devon, where a family of Olvers resided in the village of Buckerell. Thomas Olver (1612-1688) was a prominent member of this family and served as a churchwarden in Buckerell.

During the 18th century, the Olver surname appears in various parts of England, including London and the counties of Cornwall, Gloucestershire, and Somerset. One notable figure was James Olver (1734-1809), a wealthy merchant from Bristol who became a prominent figure in the city's civic affairs.

As the centuries progressed, the Olver name continued to be found across various regions of England, with individuals making their mark in various professions, such as law, medicine, and the military. Some examples include Captain John Olver (1765-1837), an officer in the British Army, and Sir Peter Olver (1825-1898), a distinguished lawyer and judge.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Olver families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Olver 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. Cornwall leads with 403 Olvers recorded in 1881 and an index of 54.22x.

County Total Index
Cornwall 403 54.22x
Devon 144 10.54x
Middlesex 32 0.49x
Lancashire 19 0.24x
Surrey 19 0.59x
Gloucestershire 11 0.85x
Staffordshire 10 0.45x
Somerset 7 0.66x
Channel Islands 6 3.08x
Kent 6 0.27x
Warwickshire 6 0.36x
Royal Navy 4 5.11x
Durham 2 0.10x
Bedfordshire 1 0.29x
Cumberland 1 0.18x
Essex 1 0.08x
Midlothian 1 0.11x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Liskeard in Cornwall leads with 43 Olvers recorded in 1881 and an index of 345.66x.

Place Total Index
Liskeard 43 345.66x
Plympton St Mary 28 354.43x
Plymouth St Andrew 27 25.65x
St Stephen In Brannel 27 398.23x
Linkinhorne 20 386.10x
Stoke Damerel 17 17.78x
Morval 16 1052.63x
Quethiock 16 1467.89x
Stoke Climsland 16 336.84x
East Looe 14 465.12x
Landrake 14 848.48x
St Gluvias Penryn 14 234.90x
Battersea 12 4.97x
Budock 12 214.67x
Much Woolton 12 113.53x
Brixham 10 63.17x
St Ive 10 209.64x
Antony 9 125.35x
Madron Penzance 9 33.30x
St Dennis 9 323.74x
St Mabyn 9 789.47x
St Mary Magdalene 9 164.84x
Menheniot 8 258.90x
St Austell 8 31.50x
Bitton Oldland 7 53.19x
Calstock 7 48.01x
Ermington 7 140.85x
Everton 7 2.82x
Kenwyn 7 36.01x
St Pancras London 7 1.32x
Buckland Tout Sts 6 5454.55x
Camberwell 6 1.43x
Cameley 6 508.47x
Ealing 6 10.23x
Fulham London 6 6.30x
Handsworth 6 10.99x
Highweek 6 123.20x
Pelynt 6 397.35x
Plympton Maurice 6 232.56x
St Dominick 6 320.86x
St Mellion 6 869.57x
St Sampson 6 68.42x
St Stephen 6 227.27x
Tormoham 6 10.38x
Westminster St 6 24.79x
Bodmin 5 40.65x
Callington 5 115.47x
Ladock 5 236.97x
Lanreath 5 393.70x
Lezant 5 301.20x
Mevagissey 5 101.21x
Phillack 5 52.14x
Saltash 5 86.81x
Sheepstor 5 2500.00x
Bere Ferrers 4 177.78x
Duloe 4 183.49x
Falmouth 4 15.20x
Gillingham 4 8.66x
Lanlivery 4 128.21x
Royal Navy 4 5.98x
St Germans 4 77.22x
St Issey 4 263.16x
St Stephens By Saltash 4 125.00x
Boconnoc 3 500.00x
Bolehall Glascote 3 42.80x
Bridgerule East 3 833.33x
East Budleigh 3 46.58x
Islington London 3 0.47x
Lostwithel 3 142.18x
Plymouth Charles The 3 4.98x
St Breock 3 74.63x
St Mewan 3 131.00x
St Thomas Apostle 3 131.00x
Tywardreath 3 62.89x
West Teignmouth 3 28.71x
Devonport 2 12.74x
Exeter St Thomas The 2 14.36x
Kingswinford 2 2.49x
St Cleer 2 31.06x
St Clement 2 25.77x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 62
Elizabeth 30
Jane 21
Ellen 12
Ann 10
Sarah 9
Annie 8
Emma 8
Louisa 8
Emily 7
Florence 7
Amelia 6
Edith 6
Bessie 5
Caroline 4
Eliza 4
Ethel 4
Laura 4
Ada 3
Alice 3
Betsey 3
Catherine 3
Charlotte 3
Eleanor 3
Fanny 3
Frances 3
Jessie 3
Margaret 3
Martha 3
Minnie 3
Agnes 2
Elizth. 2
Gertrude 2
Grace 2
Hannah 2
Hariot 2
Harriet 2
Janie 2
Julia 2
Kate 2
Louise 2
Rebecca 2
Selina 2
Sophia 2
Susan 2
Allis 1
Bertha 1
Dolly 1
Elizabet 1
Elizh. 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 61
John 55
Thomas 32
Richard 29
James 16
George 13
Charles 11
Henry 11
Joseph 10
Alfred 8
Albert 5
Arthur 5
Edwin 5
Frederick 5
Harry 5
Francis 4
Robert 4
Samuel 4
Edward 3
Jacob 3
Leonard 3
Thos. 3
Ernest 2
Frank 2
Fredrick 2
Hamilton 2
Herbert 2
Nicholas 2
Archibald 1
Arnold 1
Chas. 1
Cyril 1
Cyrus 1
David 1
Earnest 1
Edgar 1
Ellen 1
Ernis 1
Fernly 1
Frances 1
Freddy 1
Fridrick 1
Graham 1
Jonathan 1
Mark 1
Maurice 1
Percy 1
Pryce 1
Reginald 1
Wm.J. 1

FAQ

Olver surname: questions and answers

How common was the Olver surname in 1881?

In 1881, 663 people were recorded with the Olver surname. That placed it at #5,426 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Olver surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 672 in 2016. That gives Olver a modern rank of #7,966.

What does the Olver surname mean?

Scottish surname derived from the first name Oliver.

What does the Olver map show?

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