Brief Life History of John Meredith
When John Meredith Oliver was born on 4 February 1793, in Fauquier, Virginia, United States, his father, Josiah Oliver, was 35 and his mother, Mary Morehead, was 26. He married Sabella Eskridge on 5 February 1816. They were the parents of at least 6 sons and 3 daughters. He died on 4 December 1840, in Virginia, United States, at the age of 47, and was buried in Virginia, United States.
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Family Time Line
Sources (1)
- Legacy NFS Source: John Oliver - birth-name: John Oliver
Spouse and Children
1793–1840 Male
1794–1841 Female
Children (9)
1820–1910 Male
1821–1867 Female
1823–1884 Male
1825–1852 Male
1825–1924 Female
+4 More Children
Parents and Siblings
1758–1845 Male
1768– Female
Siblings (9)
1790–1855 Male
1793–1840 Male
1795–1855 Male
1803–1851 Female
1805–1855 Male
+4 More Children
World Events (8)
1794 · Creating the Eleventh Amendment
Age 1
1800 · Movement to Washington D.C.
Age 7
1808
Age 15
Name Meaning
English (northern), southern Scottish, southern French, and German: from the Old French personal name Oliver (modern French Olivier). This became common largely through the influence of the immensely popular narrative poem Chanson de Roland, in which the warrior Oliver is the wise best friend of the doomed hero Roland. The two men were peers at the court of Charlemagne, and the name is probably of ancient Germanic origin. The name ostensibly means ‘olive tree’ (see Oliveira ), but this is almost certainly the result of folk etymology working on an unidentified ancient Germanic personal name, perhaps a cognate of Alvaro . Old Norse Óláf (see Olliff ) and ancient Germanic Alfhari (composed of the elements alf ‘elf’ and hari ‘army’) have also been suggested as sources, but both personal names are difficult to explain phonetically, especially the latter. The Anglo-Norman name has been established in Ireland (Louth) since at least the 14th century, and was reinforced in Ulster and Limerick by migrants from England in the 17th century. The surname is also borne by Jews, apparently as an adoption of the non-Jewish surname.
Catalan: generally a topographic name from oliver ‘olive tree’, but in some instances possibly related to a homonymous personal name (see 1 above).
History: The surname Oliver of French origin (see 1 above) is listed in the register of Huguenot ancestors recognized by the Huguenot Society of South Carolina.
Dictionary of American Family Names © Patrick Hanks 2003, 2006.
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