"Oliver" is from Olivier, a Norman French form of a Germanic name such as Alfher or an Old Norse name such as Áleifr. The spelling was altered by association with Latin oliva "olive tree". In the Middle Ages the name became well-known in Western Europe because of the French epic La Chanson de Roland, in which Olivier was a friend and advisor of the hero Roland.
In England Oliver was a common medieval name, however it became rare after the 17th century because of the military commander Oliver Cromwell, who ruled the country following the civil war. The name was revived in the 19th century, perhaps in part due to the title character in Charles Dickens' novel Oliver Twist (1838).
- Harry Potter films (Name seen on portrait)