Olean (/ˈoʊliæn/ OH-lee-ann) is a town in Cattaraugus County, New York, United States.

The name is derived from the Latin word "oleum" due to the discovery of crude oil in nearby Ischua.

The United States Postal Service imposed the name Olean in 1817 to prevent confusion with Hamilton, Madison County, New York; no municipal law was ever passed changing the name.

[2] The name "Olean" was suggested for the area due to the oil found in the vicinity.

The famed Wenro Oil Spring, discovered by the Franciscan missionary Joseph de La Roche Daillon in 1627, was located approximately 14 miles (23 km) upstream (northeast) of Olean Point.

Notable inhabitants of the town have included Claude Allen, an Olympic athlete, and Catharine Young, a New York state senator.