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Olay Family History

Olay Surname Meaning

Historically, surnames evolved as a way to sort people into groups - by occupation, place of origin, clan affiliation, patronage, parentage, adoption, and even physical characteristics (like red hair). Many of the modern surnames in the dictionary can be traced back to Britain and Ireland.


Similar surnames: Olan, Lay, Slay, Clay, Ola, Oley, Olah, Golay, Klay, Blay

Search for a relative to learn more about your family history.

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Where is the Olay family from?

You can see how Olay families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Olay family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1851 and 1920. The most Olay families were found in USA in 1920. In 1891 there were 2 Olay families living in Lincolnshire. This was about 67% of all the recorded Olay's in United Kingdom. Lincolnshire had the highest population of Olay families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Olay surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.
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What did your Olay ancestors do for a living?

In 1940, Laborer and Laborer were the top reported jobs for men and women in the USA named Olay. 48% of Olay men worked as a Laborer and 60% of Olay women worked as a Laborer. Some less common occupations for Americans named Olay were Machinist and Housewife.

View Census Data for Olay | Data not to scale

*We display top occupations by gender to maintain their historical accuracy during times when men and women often performed different jobs.

United States shown, England data unavailable

Top Male Occupations In 1940

  • Laborer
    48%
  • Clerk
    14%
  • Farmer
    14%
  • Machinist
    9%

Top Female Occupations In 1940

  • Laborer
    60%
  • Housewife
    40%

What Olay family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 1,000 census records available for the last name Olay. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Olay census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Olay

Passenger Lists

There are 292 immigration records available for the last name Olay. Passenger lists are your ticket to knowing when your ancestors arrived in the UK, and how they made the journey - from the ship name to ports of arrival and departure.

View all Olay immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 106 military records available for the last name Olay. For the veterans among your Olay ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Olay military records

You've only scratched the surface of Olay family history

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What is the average Olay lifespan?

Between 1966 and 2004, in the United States, Olay life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1966, and highest in 1970. The average life expectancy for Olay in 1966 was 42, and 68 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Olay

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Olay ancestors lived in harsh conditions. A short lifespan might also indicate health problems that were once prevalent in your family. The SSDI is a searchable database of more than 70 million names. You can find birthdates, death dates, addresses and more.

Discover the unique achievements of ancestors in the Olay family tree

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