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ArchivesRe: The Uncommon Surname of 'Olds'
in reply to a message by Brian
A quick check reveals that the County of Cornwall was and still is the stronghold of this surname. The people of Cornwall had their own language when surnames were being adopted, so many Cornish surnames are from the Cornish language. A book I have on Cornish surnames explains Olds as being "from ALS; cliff, shore, strand."
I'm not convinced and would add the possibility that Olds is a version of Aldis, a female given name.
I'm not convinced and would add the possibility that Olds is a version of Aldis, a female given name.
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Thank you. This is quite interesting. Another source on the internet claimed that the name 'Olds' was from Old English and distinguished an older person from a younger, though I'm not sure that it was accurate.
The Olds family married into the Cole family, also English. Cole is a much more common name than Olds. Can you tell me anything about its possible meaning and where it first originated?
The Olds family married into the Cole family, also English. Cole is a much more common name than Olds. Can you tell me anything about its possible meaning and where it first originated?
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That is another possibility. There is a surname Youngs, so why not an Olds? I always think along the lines that older people are less likely to have children, so someone getting their surname from, say, John the Old is a long shot; which is to ignore the existence of surnames such as Elder and Senior.
I've always assumed that Cole was a diminutive of Nicholas, I'm sure Colson is. Reaney and Wilson give a different explanation. It started out as a nickname for a swarthy person, i.e., "coal-black", which over time became a baptismal name. Far more common in the South of England than the North.
I've always assumed that Cole was a diminutive of Nicholas, I'm sure Colson is. Reaney and Wilson give a different explanation. It started out as a nickname for a swarthy person, i.e., "coal-black", which over time became a baptismal name. Far more common in the South of England than the North.
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my last name is Olds...
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