Surname Oliphint - Meaning and Origin
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Oliphint: What does the surname Oliphint mean?
The surname Oliphint is of Scottish origin and is derived from the elements "Oliph" and "ant", roughly translating into "Oliph's end" or "end of Oliph", potentially indicating a place name or landmark. However, the exact meaning and origin are uncertain as it might have evolved over the centuries and through language shifts. It is important to note that in many cases, surnames were created for identification purposes, often relating to a location, occupation, or a characteristic. Therefore, the meaning and origins are speculative and may vary based on regional histories, linguistic variations, and migration patterns. Oliphint is not a common surname, suggesting specific regional or familial origins. It is primarily found among people of Scottish descent.
Order DNA origin analysisOliphint: Where does the name Oliphint come from?
The last name Oliphint originates from the British Isles. Primarily, the presence of this name is found in present-day Northern Ireland, England and Scotland. According to census records, a large concentration of families with this last name are located in Belfast, with some also present in surrounding counties, such as Down, Antrim and Derry.
Although the spelling of the name has varied over time, with variants including: Oliphaunt, Olivant, Ollifaunt and Olifaunt, Oliphint remains the most common form used today.
In the United States, the Oliphint family can be traced to the early 1700s, with their Scottish roots suggesting they are likely descended from the Scottish-Irish. Families with this last name have migrated in large numbers to Pennsylvania, along with other areas such as New Jersey and Ohio.
The presence of the Oliphint last name is also found throughout other countries such as Australia, Canada and New Zealand. In Australia, the name could be of English, Welsh or Irish origin, with many families first emigrating during the 1840s as part of the British Colonial settlement. In Canada, the family is likely to have descended from British and Irish immigrants arriving during the 19th century.
It is thought that the Oliphint family and its variants can be traced to the olde French word: ‘Olivant’, derived from the Latin phrase: ‘Hilarus Olivans’ meaning ‘happy olive’. This is reflected the coat of arms associated with the family, which contains three silver olives on a blue shield.
Variations of the surname Oliphint
The surname Oliphint can have multiple variants, spellings, and other surnames of the same origin.
Oliphint is an uncommon surname of Anglo-Saxon origin, derived from the Norman personal name Oliver. Variants and spellings of the surname include Oliphaunt, Oliverfant, Oliphaunt, Olivaunt, Olifaunt, Olephant, and Olifant.
The surname Oliphint is also sometimes rendered as Allifan, Alofaunt, Alifaunt, Allephant, Allipant, Allifant, Allifont, and Allifunt.
The surnames with the same origin are Hallifant, Hallifont, Hallifunt, Holifant, Holiphant, Holifaunt, Hollifant, and Hallifunt.
Other surnames which are derived from the same source include Hallaphant, Hollaphant, Hollopant, Oliphont, Holopont, Hollophont, Olliphant, and Oliphant.
Variants of the surname Oliphint are usually found in countries such as England, Scotland, and Ireland, and in places like the United States, Australia, Canada, and New Zealand.
Famous people with the name Oliphint
- Thomas K. Oliphint: An American physicist, engineer, and philosopher, Oliphint is currently a Professor of Philosophy at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas. He has written extensively on the fields of epistemology, ethics, philosophy of religion, and philosophy of science.
- Erin Oliphint: An American female rodeo competitor, she was crowned Miss Rodeo USA in 2017.
- Lona Oliphint: A watercolor artist known for her landscapes, seascapes, and still life works, her artwork is featured in many public and private collections.
- David Oliphint: An American college football coach, he is currently the offensive coordinator at BYU.
- Robert Oliphint: A United States Air Force: retired: Major General.
- Evelyn Oliphint: An American educator and professor, she was the principal of Fairfax High School in Fairfax, Virginia from 1989 to 1994.
- William Oliphint: A lawyer and judge, he served as a justice of the Supreme Court of Georgia from 2001 to 2019.
- Bill Oliphint: An American radio host and television producer, he hosted a nationally syndicated show on the Mutual Broadcasting System in 1973.
- Jimmy Oliphint: A major league baseball player, he appeared in one game for the St. Louis Browns in 1950.
- Vanessa Oliphint: A Canadian rhythmic gymnast and twin sister of Lindsay Oliphint, she represented Canada at the 2005 World Rhythmic Gymnastics Championships.