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General => The Common Room => The Lighter Side => Topic started by: Copper1 on Sunday 18 December 22 01:38 GMT (UK)
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Am I reading something that isn't there? I've been struck by the frequency of the given name (w/wo any 2nd name) through all 4 quarters births in 1920 when using FreeBMD.
For one moment I was drawn towards possible POW's kept in England - but surely not!
If there's anyone with a theory - however off-the-wall it might be, I'd love to hear them.
Thanks, Keith
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Film star perhaps
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Olga_Petrova
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Possible if her films received he acclaim & showing this side of the 'Pond'. I'll look into that aspect thanks for early reply.
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Whilst I think this graph is from US statistics, it shows a trend - Olga had spikes in popularity around 1897 and again around 1916.
https://www.babycenter.com/baby-names/details/olga-3498
Another website said the name was popular in England like other "Russian" names - Vera and Sonia.
https://forebears.io/forenames/olga
Modified to add:
Here's a better graph with options for different countries (not England unfortunately)
https://www.behindthename.com/name/olga/top
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Thanks maddy - I didn't know such material was out-there.
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It was at a time when russian Jewish people were escaping pogroms .
It isn't a particularly Jewish name but maybe they brought with them Russian culture and what about tales of the royal family
Olga was one of the sisters held in isolation before execution with her parents and siblings
Was there also a rise in the names Anastasia Tatiana & Maria ?
What about versions of Alexei for boys
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Good morning & the last theory is a welcome piece of lateral-thinking I've never been that competent at myself. I'll be checking what a further search on FreeBMD produces to get a broader picture.
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Copper thank you may I quote you
thinking laterally has benefits
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Certainly - I try to be a bit of an individualist when applying the grey cells: family call me eccentric ::)
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Following brigid's suggestion earlier I have checked FreeBMD and I found there is some evidence to suggest a royal connection with the events in Russia: Anastasia's appear through 1919-1920; frequent in closely aligned districts Liverpool & West Derby and also Tynemouth deserves a mention too.
Remarkably just one Tatiana and maybe a rather significant one?
De Bolotoff Tatiana R M MMN=Selfridge Marylebone 1a 678
I think that's enough to accompany my original post (re: Olga) but sufficient to provide food for thought.
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Not very scientific but I searched the 1921 census for first name Olga by year of birth for individual years. This just an absolute count so there is no correction for total births or for immigration. There does seem to be an uptick around 1912. The value for 1921 is included: obviously not a complete year, but on course to be similar to 1920 I think.
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I'm claiming one of the post-WW1 Olgas. Mine, a very distant cousin, was born in Burnley, Lancs., in 1929. No idea why such a "foreign" name was chosen - her brother was called David. :-\
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Have a look at FreeBMD there were quite a few Lancashire lassies' born in Burnley 1920-30.
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By gum, Copper1, there certainly are, some preceding WW1.
There are plenty of actresses (oops, should have said actors!) called Olga who were born in the late 1800s, one of whom was British-American Olga Petrova born Muriel Harding 1884. Perhaps my Olga's mother was a fan of hers.
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My second cousin was named Olga. Sadly, she died earlier this year. She was born in Wales, of Welsh parents, in the early 1940s. There doesn't seem to be any reason for her being given the name. We never thought it was unusual. It might have been that her parents just liked the name.
Gadget
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Hmm! I had an aunt 'Muriel Olga' - born 1913!
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Many thanks for all replies and lately palladium. The latter - to my way of thinking, does align itself with the actress Olga Petrova(aka Muriel Harding - see Wikipedia) as she was in the limelight at that time as a silent film performer. The 1920's+ really does stump me though. Wish we had some great grandparents' views on the choice.
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Come to think of it my mother had a close friend named Olga here in Australia (must have been born in the late 1920s, and certainly not of Russian heritage).
(My mil is Olga, though she does have Russian heritage, as does my son's mil who is also Olga! :) )
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I love the Wikipedia entry for Olga Petrova the actress and film star, which says "Not to be confused with Olga Petrova, the footballer"! Although her birth is given as 10 May 1884 I can't see it registered on FreeBMD.
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I love the Wikipedia entry for Olga Petrova the actress and film star, which says "Not to be confused with Olga Petrova, the footballer"! Although her birth is given as 10 May 1884 I can't see it registered on FreeBMD.
Probably this one?
June qtr 1883
Chorlton Registration District
Vol 8c, page 709
Harding, Muriel Annie
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A northern lass like my Olga, then.
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I`ve an Olga born Jan 1918, sadly died April 1918.
Her sister Olga was born 1923, died 1924; both in Wales, of Lincolnshire and Yorkshire parents.