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A Hungarian surname, referring to a Vlach or Wallachian, the archaic term for a Romanian.

The word itself comes from a Germanic (Gothic) word, that is, 'walhaz', meaning 'foreigner', it was used to mean a Celt or a Roman, and was later adapted by Slavs ('Volki', 'Volochi', etc.,) to describe the modern day Romanians. It is cognate with Welsh, Walloon, Gaul/Gallia (France), and more...

On Occasion, this surname refers to the Vlax Romani, or 'Oláh-Gypsies' (Gypsies that speak Romanian). In historical times, Transylvania was a region of Hungary, which had a significant amount of Vlachs/Romanians. However, it also had Roma-Gypsies fleeing from enslavement in the Danubian (Romanian) Principalities, both Wallachia and Moldavia.

John Hunyadi, the Regent of Hungary, is an example of a Hungarian who likely held some Romanian ancestry, which may explain the surname that his nephew, Nicolaus Olahus (Miklós Oláh), held.

Vlach (Oláh) is still, albeit rarely, used to describe Romance ethno-liguistic groups today, such as Italians (the norm in Polish), and for Aromanians (Vlachs living in the southern Balkans).

for Hungarian, the term has dissolved into a derogatory slur against Romanians, sometimes meaning a hairy footed person, or a Gypsy. However, it still mostly functionates neutrally with much obscurity.

(Hungarian), The Vlach/Wallachian, i.e., A Romanian - Originally coming from a Germanic word ('walhaz') meaning 'foreigner', i.e., Celto-Roman, cognate with Welsh, Walloon (French-Belgian), Gaul/Gallia (France), etc., Occasionally referring to Oláh-Gypsies (Vlax-Romani People; Gypsies from Wallachia). In historical times Transylvania was under Hungary, which had a significant amount of Romanians and Romani/Gypsies fleeing from enslavement by Romanians, John Hunyadi for example is one of the most famous Hungarians of all time, and had heavy Romanian ancestry, hence some of his relatives had the canonised (Latinised) surname 'Olahus'. Vlach ('Oláh') is still, albeit rarely used to describe Romance-Speakers (such as Italians, the norm in Polish), or, as a derogatory slur against Romanians, however, it still mostly functionates neutrally with much obscurity.

The surname Oláh originates from Hungary and Romania. The Romanian people living in Hungary were called oláh in the middle ages. Also a tribe of middle age gypsies were called the oláh-gypsies. It had a negative meaning in the past, but now it mostly functionates as a regular surname.

(Hungarian) Ethnic name from Hungarian oláh, meaning 'Romanian', old form volách, from vlach, which means 'Italian', 'speaker of a Romance language'.