Explore the Family Name Olea
The meaning of Olea
Basque and Spanish: topographic name from Basque ola ‘forge, ironworks’ (compare Ola) + the definite article -a, or a habitational name from any of the places called Olea in the provinces of Cantabria, Palencia, and Burgos (where Basque was spoken in pre-Roman times), probably from the same Basque elements. Some characteristic forenames: Spanish Jose, Juan, Carlos, Francisco, Mario, Ricardo, Agustin, Alvaro, Edmundo, Efren, Humberto, Javier.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Olea in the United States?
Based on the Decennial U.S. Census data, the surname Olea has significantly increased in popularity between 2000 and 2010. In 2000, Olea ranked 10,034th most common surname, but by 2010 it rose to 7,492nd place, marking a considerable rise of over 25 percent. The count of individuals with this surname also saw a substantial increase of over 50 percent from 2,963 in 2000 to 4,447 in 2010. This implies that for every 100,000 people, the proportion of individuals named Olea increased by 37.27 percent from 1.1 to 1.51.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #10,034 | #7,492 | 25.33% |
| Count | 2,963 | 4,447 | 50.08% |
| Proportion per 100k | 1.1 | 1.51 | 37.27% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Olea
The ethnicity breakdown of the surname Olea according to the Decennial U.S. Census data shows a diverse range of ethnic identities. In both 2000 and 2010, the highest percentage of individuals with the surname Olea identified as Hispanic (87.85% and 87.14% respectively), although there was a minor decrease of 0.81 percent. The next largest ethnic group was White, which saw an increase of nearly 10 percent from 8.67 percent in 2000 to 9.53 percent in 2010. Interestingly, despite the overall increase in the number of people with the surname Olea, the proportion identifying as Two or More Races decreased by over 70 percent. Small changes were also noted among those identifying as Asian/Pacific Islander, Black, and American Indian and Alaskan Native.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hispanic | 87.85% | 87.14% | -0.81% |
| White | 8.67% | 9.53% | 9.92% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 2.09% | 2.45% | 17.22% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0.34% | 0.38% | 11.76% |
| Black | 0.3% | 0.27% | -10% |
| Two or More Races | 0.74% | 0.22% | -70.27% |