Surname Olifent - Meaning and Origin

Olifent: What does the surname Olifent mean?

The surname Olifent is thought to originate from the old French term "Olifant" or "Oliphant", which means 'elephant' but was also used to describe an ivory horn made from an elephant's tusk, as played by a herald or huntsman. This name is especially common in England and Scotland, possibly indicating a Norman French origin originally. However, the Olifent surname is now found in many parts of the world due to migration. As with many surnames, it may have originally been a nickname, a trade-name, or perhaps, an indication of residence or property. Overall, detailed research into the family name would provide a clearer understanding of its initial origin and evolution.

Olifent: Where does the name Olifent come from?

The last name Olifent is not widely distributed around the world, but it does have a large presence in certain countries. One of the largest concentrations of people with the last name Olifent can be found in the United Kingdom, particularly in England and Wales. It appears hundreds of times in records such as the 1881 UK Census.

In the United States, the Olifent surname is less common but still found in some larger cities like New York, Los Angeles, and Seattle. Family search records the surname as most frequently found in the US states of Virginia, Texas, and Maryland. In Canada, Olifent can be found in British Columbia, Nova Scotia, and Ontario.

Immigration records from the early twentieth century show that some people with the last name Olifent were born in France and Russia, and there are smaller populations of Olifents in other countries such as New Zealand, Australia, and South Africa.

Additional research into the origins of the surname suggest that it may have originated in Scandinavia or the Netherlands, and is an anglicized version of the Dutch or Scandinavian word for “olive.” In the Netherlands, “Olifent” is sometimes written as “Olijfent” and is more common today than it is in other countries.

In conclusion, the last name Olifent is likely of northern European origin. While it is not widely distributed, it can still be found in some parts of the UK, the US, Canada and other countries around the world.

Variations of the surname Olifent

The variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin for the surname Olifent are Olifant, Ollifant, Ollifaunt, Oliffant, Olyfaunt, Olyffant, Oliphaunt, Olifaunte, Olifaunt, Oliphant, Oliphunt, Olofaunt, Oloffat, Oloffaunt, Ollifaunt and Olliffaunt.

The surname Olifent originates from the Middle English language, which is often found in British surnames of the medieval period. It is derived from the Old French ‘olifant’, meaning ‘elephant’. The surname was likely given to someone with an elephant-like character or appearance, or in a metaphorical sense to a person who was strong and sturdy. It could also have been given to someone who was an admirer or owner of elephants.

It is likely that the surname Olifent arose independently in multiple places across Britain, as in the Middle Ages it was more common to have different spellings for the same names depending on what part of the country one was from. It is possible that the surname made its way to other countries with migrating Brits, such as America, which accounts for its presence in locations outside of Britain.

Today, the surname Olifent is not overly common; however, it is still seen most often in Britain, but also present in America and other parts of the world. In addition, there are several variant spellings for the same name, as outlined above, which can create confusion for genealogists. Nevertheless, it is clear that the same surname can have many spellings and be of the same origin.

Famous people with the name Olifent

• Bob Olifent: British athlete, becoming a world record holder for the 100m in 1998.
• David Olifent: British comedian, became well-known for his roles in popular television shows.
• Emma Olifent: English actress, starred in the cult classic film ‘Shallow Grave’ and later went on to star in other movies such as ‘Fight Club’ and ‘Mulholland Drive’.
• Stephen Olifent: American businessman and philanthropist, became a billionaire for his invention of the electric car.
• Henry Olifent: English novelist and playwright, wrote works such as ‘Lost In a Good Game’ and ‘The Bright Side of Life’.
• Mark Olifent: British Olympian, winning gold in the 1987 Games for the 1500m marathon.
• Will Olifent: British singer-songwriter, selling millions of copies of his debut album ‘The Blue Light’ in the early 2000s.
• Amy Olifent: American fashion designer, created the popular ‘Olifent’ line of clothing.
• H. M. Olifent: English poet, known for works ‘The Friction of Life’ and ‘Trust the Warm Dark Night’.
• Louise Olifent: British entrepreneur, founded the tech startup ‘MyPeopleAI’.

Other surnames

Olifer