Oliver

Oliver is both a given name and a surname.

Etymology

Surname
The English, German, Scottish and Welsh surname Oliver is derived from the Old French personal name Olivier. This Old French name was introduced to England by the Normans. During the Middle Ages, it was a popular name throughout Europe. It was borne by one of Charlemagne's paladins, and friend of Roland. Ostensibly, the name is said to derive from the Latin olivarius, meaning "olive tree". However, all of Charlemagne's paladins bore Germanic names; and the Latin derivation of the name may be a result of folk etymology working on an unidentified Germanic personal name, possibly a cognate of Alvaro; or possibly distantly connected with the Old Norse Óleifr, meaning "ancestral relic".

The surname Oliver is also used by Jews.

The Catalan and (Occitan) French surname is topographic name. It is derived from oliver, meaning "olive tree". It may also be related to the homonymous name listed above.

Given name
See the etymology of English, German, Scottish and Welsh surname Oliver, above. The name has remained in use since the Middle Ages. It has become more common since the 1980s. Pet forms of the given name include Ollie and Noll.

People

A

Adam Oliver
Al Oliver
Alan Oliver
Andrew Oliver
Alexander Oliver
Anton Oliver

B

Barret Oliver
Bernard M. Oliver (1919-1995), eminent American scientist and SETI advocate
Bob Oliver
Brian Oliver

C

Catriona Oliver
Chad Oliver
Craig Oliver

D

Dale Oliver
Damien Oliver
Daniel Oliver
Darren Oliver (born 1970), baseball pitcher
David Oliver (actor) (1962-1992), American actor
David Oliver (Canadian politician), politician in British Columbia, Canada
David Oliver (athlete), American athlete
Dean Oliver
Deanna Oliver
Donald Oliver

F

Farquhar Oliver
Francis Wall Oliver
Frank Oliver

G

Gene Oliver (1913-2007), American catcher and first baseman in Major League Baseball.
Geoffrey Oliver (1898-1980), British admiral
George T. Oliver (1848-1919), American lawyer, publisher, and Republican party politician
Glynis Oliver, artist and colorist in the comics industry
Graham Oliver, English guitarist.

H

Harry Oliver
Henry Oliver
Hugh Oliver

I

Isaac Oliver

J

Jack Edward Oliver
Jackie Oliver
James Harrison Oliver (1857–1928), a Rear Admiral in the U.S. Navy
James Michael Yorrick Oliver, Lord Mayor of London from 2001 to 2002
Jamie Oliver, (b. 1975), British celebrity chef
Jamie Oliver (musician)
Jimmy Oliver
Joe Oliver (baseball player)
Joe "King" Oliver
John Oliver (politician) and farmer in British Columbia, Canada
John Oliver (comedian), British political comedian
Jools Oliver
Joseph Oliver
Despot Jovan Oliver
Juan García Oliver

L

Laureen Oliver

M

Mark Oliver
Martin Oliver
Mary Oliver
Meg Oliver
Melvin Oliver
Michael Oliver (actor)
Michael Oliver (Carleton president), Canadian academic
Michael Oliver (real estate)
Mike Oliver
Miquita Oliver
M. C. Oliver

N

Nancy Oliver
Nicole Oliver

O

Oliver (singer), a pop singer

P

Pam Oliver
Paul Oliver
Paul Ambrose Oliver
Peter Oliver (painter)

R

R. D. Oliver
Rachel Oliver, New Zealand international football (soccer) player
Raymond Oliver
Reeve Oliver
Reggie Oliver
Revilo P. Oliver
Richard Martin fitz Oliver
Robert Oliver
Roland Oliver

S

Sheila Y. Oliver
Stephen Oliver (1941–2008), American actor
Stephen Oliver (1950–1992), British composer
Susan Oliver (1932–1990), American actress and aviatrix, noted for Star Trek
Sy Oliver

T

Tom Oliver
Thomas Oliver (Canadian politician) (1821–1880), Canadian businessman and political figure
Thomas Oliver (Lieutenant Governor) (1733–1815), the last Lieutenant-Governor of Massachusetts
Tommy Oliver (musician) (1932–2006), American musician and music producer
Tony Oliver
Troy Oliver

V

Vaughan Oliver
Vic Oliver

W

W. H. Oliver
Walter Oliver (1883-1957), New Zealand ornithologist
William Oliver (1695–1764), physician and philanthropist, inventor of the "Bath Oliver" biscuit
William Bacon Oliver
William J Oliver aka 'Oliver the Spy' aka W.J Richards - 19th century agent-provocateur, employed by the English Home Office against the Luddites
William M. Oliver
Winslow Oliver

Translation

The word "Oliver" occurs as such in the following languages: English, Czech, Danish, German, Norwegian (Bokmål), Norwegian (Nynorsk), Slovak, Slovenian, Finnish, Swedish.

Translation(s) in other languages: Afrikaans: Olivier (voornaam), Hungarian: Olivér, Dutch: Olivier, Polish: Oliwer.