Surname Olearius - Meaning and Origin
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Olearius: What does the surname Olearius mean?
The last name Olearius is of Germanic origin. It is derived from the Middle High German word ‘ol’, meaning ‘all’, and the suffix ‘arius’, which was used to create patronymic surnames. Combined, the name Olearius can be loosely interpreted as ‘descendant of All’, however its origin is most likely related to the Old German term ‘alador’. The original bearer of this title was likely a beloved leader.
The personal name Olearius was further promulgated by two Hungarian noble families, one living in the town of Devecser, the other, dominant in Szegedin, a city in Northern Hungary. The members of these two families drew their titles from a local chieftain known as ‘Olearius’. In the 1500s, a noblewoman of the family changed the spelling of her last name to ‘Olaros’, and this spelling was likely obtained by a subsequent family that moved to Northern Hungary.
Today, the meaning behind the surname has acquired similar connotations as those of ‘Alexander’, derived from the original aspect of the phrase ‘guardian of the people’. This modern interpretation is likely associated with the renowned German traveler Adam Olearius (1599 – 1671), whose detailed travels to the orient become some of the richest chronicles of the region. In this way, the last name Olearius has come to symbolize strength, prosperity, ambition, and exploration.
Order DNA origin analysisOlearius: Where does the name Olearius come from?
The last name Olearius is a surname of German origin, and is most commonly found in Germany and many other neighboring European countries such as Austria and Switzerland. Within Germany, it is most prominent in the states of Saxony, Brandenburg, and Lower Saxony. Olearii, the root of the name, is derived from the German word oleum, which means "oil". The suffix "arius" is added to the end, and was often used to denote a person of a particular line, trade, or profession.
As a result, the surname Olearius may have been a name given to people in an occupation related to oil. As the popularity of this name has grown in Germany over the centuries, it has spread across the continent and is now found in parts of Europe, the United States, Australia, and beyond.
Today, the Olearius name is still highly associated with Germany, although its origins can be traced back to medieval times. It is still among the top surnames in Germany, according to the most recent census conducted by the German Government in 2020. It is also one of the top 400 surnames in the United States, often found in major cities like New York City, Los Angeles, and Chicago.
In conclusion, the surname Olearius is a surname of German origin, and is most commonly found in Germany and many other European countries—though its popularity has resulted in its spread across the world. It is still very common in Germany, and is among the top 400 surnames in the United States.
Variations of the surname Olearius
The Olearius surname has a variety of variants, spellings and surnames of similar origin. The commonly seen variants of this surname are Olearius, Olear, Oler, Oller, Oleare, Ocler, Uleare, Ulear and Uler.
The most common spelling variation is "Olearius", which derived from the German "Olet", meaning "oil", associated with the Latinized form "olearius". The same root also appears in the surnames Olivo, Olive, Olifer, Olcott, Oli Gabriel and Oliver.
In Germany and many other parts of Europe, Olearius was often spelled "Oleare" or "Uleare" during the Middle Ages. The same influenced the Polish version being "Uler" and the Dutch version being "Oller". Both spellings have evolved into the more popularized spelling of Olearius.
In France, a variant of Olearius was commonly seen spelled as "Ocler", which was a shortened version of "Olearius Clerk", chosen to distinguish a younger version of the surname.
The Olearius surname can also be found in different variations among other countries such as England, Spain, and Italy. In England, the spelling evolved to "Olifer", while in Italy and Spain the surnames derived from Olearius are "Oliva" and "Oliver", respectively.
All in all, the Olearius surname has many spellings which are derived from its Latin root. In addition, these spellings have evolved over the centuries in various countries, each giving rise to unique surnames.
Famous people with the name Olearius
- Johann Olearius (1599-1671): German pastor, theologian and historian, who wrote the Saxony Chronicle.
- George Olearius (1602-1671): German theologian, son of Johann, who succeeded him as superintendent of church affairs in Saxony.
- Hans Olearius (1611-1684): German engraver, printmaker and painter, and son of Johann.
- Anders Christensen Olearius (17th century): Danish-German painter.
- Johann August Olearius (1645-1711): German historian and archivist, grandson of Johann.
- Christoph Olearius (1658-1711): German geographer and diplomat.
- Johann Wilhelm Olearius (1669-1717): German geographer.
- Johann Christoph Olearius (1690-1770): German botanist and zoologist, son of Christoph.
- August Olearius (1710-1784): German minerologist.
- Johann Georg Olearius (1714-1800): German physicist, son of Christoph.
- Andreas Olearius (1722–1783): German author and translator.
- Andreas Ludwig Olearius (1739–1809): German poet, grandson of Christoph.
- Carl Christian Olearius (1749–1790): German lutenist and composer, son of Johann Christoph.
- Johannes Olearius (18th century): German engraver, son of Johannes.
- Daniel Johannes Olearius (1769–1830): German flutist, grandson of Johann Christoph.
- Johanna Caroline Olearius (1769–1844): German writer, daughter of Johann August.
- Marie Charlotte Philippina Olearius (18th century): German poet, daughter of Johann Georg.
- Hans Otto Olearius (1871–1943): German sculptor and designer.