Brief Life History of John
When John Oliver was born on 17 September 1722, in Harborne, Staffordshire, England, United Kingdom, his father, Benjamin Oliver, was 29 and his mother, Dinah Kempster, was 22. He had at least 2 sons and 1 daughter with Elizabeth.
Photos and Memories (0)
Do you know John? Do you have a story about him that you would like to share? Sign In or Create a FREE Account
Family Time Line
Sources (3)
- Legacy NFS Source: John Oliver - Individual or family possessions: birth-name: John Oliver
- John Oliver in entry for James Oliver, "England Births and Christenings, 1538-1975"
- John Oliver in entry for Thomas Oliver, "England Births and Christenings, 1538-1975"
Spouse and Children
Parents and Siblings
Siblings (6)
+1 More Child
World Events (4)
1801 · The Act of Union
The Act of Union was a legislative agreement which united England, Scotland, Wales, and Ireland under the name of the United Kingdom on January 1, 1801.
1808 · The British West Africa Squadron
The British West Africa Squadron was formed in 1808 to suppress illegal slave trading on the African coastline. The British West Africa Squadron had freed approximately 150,000 people by 1865.
1815
The defeat of Napoleon Bonaparte at Waterloo marks the end of the Napoleonic Wars. Napoleon defeated and exiled to St. Helena.
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.
Possible Related Names
Discover Even More
As a nonprofit, we offer free help to those looking to learn the details of their family story.