Brief Life History of John Sidney
When John Sidney Oliver was born on 20 February 1916, in Battle Creek, Calhoun, Michigan, United States, his father, Charles Oliver, was 29 and his mother, Phoebe Drucilla McCauley, was 31. He married Susanne A Sterling on 31 January 1947, in Battle Creek, Calhoun, Michigan, United States. He died on 5 October 1999, at the age of 83.
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Family Time Line
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Spouse and Children
1916–1999 Male
1917–1965 Female
Parents and Siblings
1886–1944 Male
1884–1961 Female
Siblings (1)
1916–1999 Male
World Events (8)
1917
Age 1
1917 · Joining the First World War
Age 1
1941
Age 25
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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