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Olea Family History

Olea Surname Meaning

Basque and Spanish: topographic name from Basque ola ‘forge ironworks’ (compare Ola) + the definite article -a.

Alternatively, it may be a habitational name from any of the places called Olea in the provinces of Cantabria, Palencia, and Burgos.

These regions are significant, as Basque was spoken in pre-Roman times.

It is likely that the name Olea is derived from the same Basque elements.

This etymology highlights the connection between geographical locations and their linguistic origins.

Source: Dictionary of American Family Names 2nd edition, 2022


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Where is the Olea family from?

You can see how Olea families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Olea family name was found in the USA, the UK, and Canada between 1880 and 1920. The most Olea families were found in USA in 1920. In 1891 there was 1 Olea family living in London. This was about 50% of all the recorded Olea's in United Kingdom. London and 1 other county had the highest population of Olea families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Olea 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 Olea ancestors do for a living?

In 1940, Laborer and Housekeeper were the top reported jobs for men and women in the USA named Olea. 59% of Olea men worked as a Laborer and 100% of Olea women worked as a Housekeeper.

View Census Data for Olea | 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
    59%
  • Gardener
    9%
  • Ranch Helper
    9%
  • Butcher
    9%

Top Female Occupations In 1940

  • Housekeeper
    100%

What Olea family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 4,000 census records available for the last name Olea. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Olea census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Olea

Passenger Lists

There are 1,000 immigration records available for the last name Olea. 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 Olea immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 526 military records available for the last name Olea. For the veterans among your Olea ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Olea military records

You've only scratched the surface of Olea family history

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What is the average Olea lifespan?

Between 1958 and 2004, in the United States, Olea life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1974, and highest in 1963. The average life expectancy for Olea in 1958 was 51, and 66 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Olea

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Olea 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 Olea family tree

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