Surname Olejar - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'O'
Olejar: What does the surname Olejar mean?
The surname Olejar is of Slovak origin, derived from the Slavic “just”, meaning “the just one”. It is most likely related to the earlier Czech surname Olejář, which later changed to Olejar.
The Olejar surname is a noble name associated with the Holy Roman Empire, dating back to 1520. Records suggest that it was borne by a knightly family, whose estate, Olejář, formed part of the former Countship of Hanska. Members of the family were often granted titles of nobility, such as Count, Sheik, Prince, and Baron; although not all with the Olejar surname were part of the noble house.
The name Olejar is most commonly found today in Slovakia. It's meaning and history have been largely forgotten, but even now families of the same name remain proud of their heritage.
Generally, the Olejar surname has come to signify wisdom, honor, courage, protector of the weak, and guardian of the law. These traits were all embodied in the knightly class of the Holy Roman Empire. Today, the name is still seen as a sign of dignity, and it is taken with pride by many families.
Order DNA origin analysisOlejar: Where does the name Olejar come from?
The last name Olejar is most common in Central Europe, particularly in the countries of Slovakia, the Czech Republic, and Poland. Within those countries, the name is most common in the larger cities and towns. In Slovakia, Olejar is the 121st most common surname, with about 1,810 people bearing the name. In the Czech Republic, the name is about the 555th most common surname, with around 2,200 individuals using the name. In Poland, Olejar is the 2,127th most common surname, with approximately 3,660 people using it.
Olejar is also present in the United States and Canada, although it not as common as in Central Europe. In the United States, the last name Olejar is ranked 16,460th in terms of popularity. There are about 1,900 individuals that share the name Olejar in the US. In Canada, there are about 600 people with the surname, ranking it among the 21,397th most common names in the country.
The origin of the name is believed to come from the Slavic word olej (or olej), which means oil in English. This would make Olejar a common occupational surname, as those with the name likely originally worked in the oil industry. Other variants of the name include Olejnik, Olejarczyk, Olejko, and Olejarz.
Variations of the surname Olejar
The surname Olejar can be spelled in many different ways, as most surnames with a Slavic origin. Common spellings include Oleyar, Olejarik, Olyar, Olejnik, and Olejarz. The surname is derived from the Old Polish word that means "beer" and can be found in its feminine form Olejarka.
The story of the Olejar surname can be traced back to the time of Poland's Kingdom in the 15th century. It has become popular in many parts of Eastern Europe, including Poland, Belarus, Ukraine, and Slovakia. Over time, the name has been adapted into various forms in order to accommodate different local languages.
Variants of the Olejar surname include Lewczuk, Lewczyk, Lewczak, Lewcza, Lewczuk-Oleyar, Olejarenko, Oliar, Olczak, and Oleshko. These variants are all found in scattered regions throughout Eastern Europe, including Poland, Belarus, Ukraine, Slovakia, Czech Republic, Romania, and even as far away as the United States.
The presence of the Olejar surnames in the United States was first documented in the mid-19th century. At that time, the majority of Poles in the United States were from the Galicia region of Poland. As a result, the Olejar surname is largely exclusive to Polish-Americans, although some other variants can be found in smaller population pockets around the country.
In summary, the Olejar surname has various spellings, variants, and surnames of the same origin. The most common forms of the name are Olejarik, Olejnik, Olejarz, Oleshko, Lewczuk, and Lewczyk, and these can be found in Poland, Belarus, Ukraine, Slovakia, Czech Republic, Romania, and the United States.
Famous people with the name Olejar
- Alfred Olejar: a Hungarian decathlete and soccer player who competed in the 1948 London Olympics
- Berislav Olejar: a Slovenian football manager
- Jan Olejar: a Slovakian road cyclist who competed in the 2000 Summer Olympics
- Karol Olejar: a Slovak football manager
- Tomislav Olejar: a Croatian alpine skier who competed in the 2006 Winter Olympics
- Caitlin Olejarz: an American professional soccer player who plays for Racing Louisville
- Kimberely Olejar: an American diver and rising star for the US National Team
- Carl Olejar: a former American college basketball player for the Michigan Wolverines
- George Olejar: a Slovak ice hockey player who competed in the 1992 Winter Olympics
- Anna Olejar: a Slovakian cyclist who competed in the 2008 Summer Olympics