The Olson surname

In the 2010 U.S. Census, 164,035 people carried this name — #157 among all U.S. surnames, about 1 in every 1,800 people counted. About the same as in 2000 (163,502).

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What the name means

The meaning of the Olson surname

A patrilineal surname from Swedish.

In the USA, a common anglicization of Swedish Olsson and Danish and Norwegian Olsen, all meaning "son of Olaf".

From Wiktionary, the free dictionary (en.wiktionary.org) — entry «Olson» (English), by Wiktionary contributors · licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 (creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0) · excerpt, lightly adapted.

In Argentina’s national register

At least 27 people named Olson live in Argentina.

RENAPER only publishes a name in a province when more than ten people there share it, so the real number is higher. Most of them live in Misiones.

Too few records to say where it concentrates region by region — these are plain counts, not shares.

Where they live today

Misiones 14
Buenos Aires Province 13

RENAPER (National Registry of Persons, Argentina), surnames of residents by province, December 2021 — CC BY 4.0.

In Switzerland’s population statistics

24 people named Olson live in Switzerland.

They live in 3 of Switzerland’s 26 cantons, most of all in Geneva.

Too few records to say where it concentrates region by region — these are plain counts, not shares.

Where they live today

Geneva 10
Vaud 8
Zurich 6

Swiss Federal Statistical Office (FSO), «Surnames of the permanent resident population by canton», 2025, opendata.swiss/en/dataset/nachnamen-der-standigen-wohnbevolkerung-nach-kanton3 · names with fewer than 3 bearers in a canton are not published.

In the Nordic population registers

743 people named Olson are counted in Sweden and Finland.

Sweden’s figure is from 31 December 2022, the last count Statistics Sweden published. Finland counts its citizens, at home or abroad.

Counted, by country

Sweden (2022) 692
Finland (2026) 51

Own calculations based on data from Statistics Sweden (SCB), surnames with at least two bearers, 31 December 2022 — CC BY 4.0 (names with 20 or more bearers shown) · Digital and Population Data Services Agency (DVV), Finland, surname statistics, August 2026 — CC BY 4.0.

In print

Olson in American newspapers,
1916–1935.

Newspaper page from Evening Star carrying the name Olson
Evening Star 1916-10-09
Newspaper page from New-York Tribune carrying the name Olson
New-York Tribune 1920-10-07
Newspaper page from The Washington Daily News carrying the name Olson
The Washington Daily News 1935-12-18

Chronicling America, Library of Congress — digitised newspapers in the public domain · 578,578 pages in all carry the name.

In print

Olson in Australian newspapers,
1840s–1990s.

11,429 articles name a Mr, Mrs or Miss Olson. The most, 2,174, date from the 1930s. Weighed against how much of each state’s press from the same decades has been digitised, it stands out most in Queensland, at 1.7 times its expected share.

Articles, by state

Queensland 3,764
New South Wales 3,454
Victoria 1,968
South Australia 1,188
Western Australia 625
Tasmania 306
ACT (Canberra) 86
Northern Territory 3

Trove, National Library of Australia (trove.nla.gov.au) · articles in its digitised newspapers that name a Mr, Mrs or Miss Olson.

Who carried it

People named Olson,
with a public archive behind them.

  • Sigurd T. Olson d. 2008
  • Eileen Olson d. 1975
  • Sven Olson Hognestad 1565–1635
  • Tore Olson Ådnøy 1570–1621
  • Alv Olson Håland 1580–1639
  • Ola Olson Fuglestad 1590–1664

Wikidata (CC0) · 10 lives in all are documented under this name.

In the public record

People named Olson,
in the records of 9 countries.

Soldiers, farmers, migrants and neighbours who carried the name and left a trace in public archives. Everyone shown here died long ago or was born more than a century ago.

United States15,267 records

15,267 records of the Olson name in the United States
  • U.S. Army enlistment records, World War II 4,594
  • U.S. veterans' cemetery records, burials to 2001 3,242
  • Other U.S. records 7,431
  1. Names engraved on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, Washington, D.C.
    Example: U.S. war memorial
    War record Richard Ralph Olson

    Born 1949; from Minneapolis, Minnesota. U.S. Army, infantryman; killed in action 1969 in Quang Ngai, South Vietnam. Buried at Fort Snelling National Cemetery, Minnesota.

    U.S. National Archives, Defense Casualty Analysis System (public domain); U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Gravesite Locator (CC0)
  2. A United States Selective Service registration card, 1942
    Example: U.S. registration card, 1942
    Military record Robert O. Olson

    Born 1917 in Minnesota. Enlisted 1942 at Minneapolis; office clerk. U.S. Army Air Forces veteran of World War II; died 1975, buried at Fort Snelling National Cemetery, Minnesota.

    U.S. National Archives, WWII Army Enlistment Records (public domain); U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Gravesite Locator (CC0)
  3. A passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, arriving at New York in 1903
    Example: passenger manifest, 1903
    Passenger record Elie Olson

    Arrived at New York in 1897 aboard the Teutonic from Liverpool, aged 23; servant. From Stockholen, Sweden.

    U.S. National Archives, Castle Garden Immigration Center Collection, Ship Passenger Records (unrestricted)

Showing 3 of 15,267 records for Olson in the United States.

Counts: U.S. National Archives, WWII Army Enlistment Records (public domain) · U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Gravesite Locator (CC0) · U.S. National Archives, Flexoline Index Data File (public domain) · NYC Department of Records & Information Services, Historical Vital Records (NYC Open Data) · U.S. National Archives, Castle Garden Immigration Center Collection, Ship Passenger Records (unrestricted) · New York State Department of Health, Genealogical Research Death Index · U.S. National Archives, Defense Casualty Analysis System (public domain) · Sacramento County, Historic Burials (CC BY 4.0) · Ramsey County, Minnesota (public domain) · New York State, Open NY (police and firefighter memorial rolls). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Vietnam Veterans Memorial, photo by U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Michael J. Carden, 2009 (public domain); U.S. Selective Service registration card, 1942 (public domain); Passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, New York, 1903 (public domain).

Canada401 records

401 records of the Olson name in Canada
  • City of Winnipeg cemetery records 135
  • Mountain View Cemetery, Vancouver 115
  • Other Canadian records 151
  1. Fairview Lawn Cemetery in Halifax, Nova Scotia
    Example: Canadian cemetery
    Burial record Morris Leonard Olson

    Buried in 1997 at Queen's Park Cemetery, Calgary, Alberta, aged 91.

    City of Calgary. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – City of Calgary.
  2. Fairview Lawn Cemetery in Halifax, Nova Scotia
    Example: Canadian cemetery
    Burial record Langford Olson

    Died 1989, aged 40; buried at Brookside Cemetery, Winnipeg, Manitoba.

    City of Winnipeg. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Winnipeg.
  3. A page of the Berlin civil register, 1880
    Example: civil register, 1880
    Death record Flossie Mae Olson

    Died 1959 in Overton, Yarmouth, Nova Scotia.

    Nova Scotia Archives. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Nova Scotia.

Showing 3 of 401 records for Olson in Canada.

Counts: City of Winnipeg. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Winnipeg. · City of Vancouver. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Vancouver. · City of Calgary. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – City of Calgary. · Nova Scotia Archives. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Nova Scotia. · Veterans Affairs Canada. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Canada. · National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain) · Archives of Ontario. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Ontario. · City of Niagara Falls. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Niagara Falls. Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Fairview Lawn Cemetery, Halifax, photo by Edgar El (CC BY 3.0); Civil register, Berlin, 1880, Landesarchiv Berlin (CC0).

Australia322 records

322 records of the Olson name in Australia
  • Victoria passenger lists, 1839–1923 138
  • Queensland State Archives indexes 75
  • Other Australian records 109
  1. A petition to the probate court of St. Louis, 1848
    Example: probate petition, 1848
    Probate record Anders Johan Olson

    Died 1894 in Launceston, Tasmania, aged 55. Will registered in Tasmania in 1894.

    Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A petition to the probate court of St. Louis, 1848
    Example: probate petition, 1848
    Probate record Jean Margaret Mavis Olson

    Gentlewoman of Murrumbeena, Victoria; died 1992.

    Public Record Office Victoria (CC BY 4.0)
  3. A passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, arriving at New York in 1903
    Example: passenger manifest, 1903
    Passenger record Hermann Olson

    Arrived in Queensland in 1890 aboard the Merkara, aged 14.

    Queensland State Archives (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 3 of 322 records for Olson in Australia.

Counts: Public Record Office Victoria (CC BY 4.0) · Queensland State Archives (CC BY 4.0) · Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0) · Museums of History NSW – State Archives Collection (CC BY) · State Library of Western Australia (CC BY 4.0) · National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Petition to the probate court, St. Louis, 1848, Missouri Historical Society (public domain); Passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, New York, 1903 (public domain).

Netherlands26 records

26 records of the Olson name in the Netherlands
  • Dutch population registers 17
  • Dutch civil registers (births, marriages, deaths) 9
  1. A marriage entry in the civil register of Tilburg, 1911
    Example: marriage register, 1911
    Marriage record Catharina Geertrui Olson

    Born 1846 in Rotterdam. Married in 1874 in Rotterdam. Died 1886 in Rotterdam, aged 39.

    Open Archives, Stadsarchief Rotterdam (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A marriage entry in the civil register of Tilburg, 1911
    Example: marriage register, 1911
    Marriage record Palmer Lijman Olson

    Married in 1945 in Haren; farmer.

    Open Archives, Groninger Archieven (CC BY 4.0)
  3. A page of the 1910 United States census, Milwaukee
    Example: U.S. census, 1910
    Population register Gustaf Mikal Olson

    In the population register of 's-Gravenhage; born 1879 in Stockholm.

    Open Archives, Haags Gemeentearchief (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 3 of 26 records for Olson in the Netherlands.

Counts: Open Archives (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Marriage register, Tilburg, 1911, Regionaal Archief Tilburg (public domain); U.S. census of 1910, Milwaukee (public domain).

New Zealand14 records

14 records of the Olson name in New Zealand
  • Christchurch City cemetery records 11
  • Thames-Coromandel District cemetery records 2
  • Marlborough District cemetery records 1
  1. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record John William Olson

    Died 1997, aged 71; buried at Totara Memorial Park Cemetery, Thames-Coromandel District, Waikato.

    Thames-Coromandel District Council (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Jack Olson

    Died 1933, aged 48; buried at Lyttelton Anglican Cemetery, Christchurch, Canterbury.

    Christchurch City Council (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 2 of 14 records for Olson in New Zealand.

Counts: Christchurch City Council (CC BY 4.0) · Thames-Coromandel District Council (CC BY 4.0) · Marlborough District Council (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Burial register of Newtown, Montgomeryshire, 1858, National Library of Wales (CC0).

Germany11 records

11 records of the Olson name in Germany Germany's First World War casualty lists, 1914–1919
  1. A page of the German First World War casualty lists, 18 April 1918
    Example: German casualty list, 1918
    Casualty list Friedrich Olson

    From Güstrow. Reported wounded in the Prussian casualty list of 18 April 1916 (Reserve Infantry Regiment No. 214).

    Verein für Computergenealogie e.V. (2026). Deutsche Verlustlisten des Ersten Weltkriegs – Datensammlung (Version 1.0), DOI 10.5281/zenodo.18330751 (CC0)
  2. A page of the German First World War casualty lists, 18 April 1918
    Example: German casualty list, 1918
    Casualty list Hermann Olson

    From Hilgermissen, Hoya. Reported wounded in the Prussian casualty list of 29 September 1916 (Infantry Regiment No. 132).

    Verein für Computergenealogie e.V. (2026). Deutsche Verlustlisten des Ersten Weltkriegs – Datensammlung (Version 1.0), DOI 10.5281/zenodo.18330751 (CC0)

Showing 2 of 11 records for Olson in Germany.

Counts: Verein für Computergenealogie e.V. (2026). Deutsche Verlustlisten des Ersten Weltkriegs – Datensammlung (Version 1.0), DOI 10.5281/zenodo.18330751 (CC0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Deutsche Verlustlisten, Prussian list 1116, 18 April 1918 (scan via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 3.0).

France5 records

5 records of the Olson name in France France's national death register, 1970–2001
  1. A page of the death register of Nice, 1930
    Example: French death register, 1930
    Death record Malcom Olson

    Born 1957 in the United Kingdom; died 1992 in Paris.

    Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte)
  2. A page of the death register of Nice, 1930
    Example: French death register, 1930
    Death record Jean Claude Olson

    Born 1933 in A Strasbourg (Bas-Rhin); died 1998 in Paris.

    Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte)

Showing 2 of 5 records for Olson in France.

Counts: Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Death register of Nice, 1930, Archives départementales des Alpes-Maritimes (public domain).

United Kingdom2 records

2 records of the Olson name in the United Kingdom
  • Scottish rolls of honour, First World War 1
  • Stirling Council burial records 1
  1. A First World War roll of honour of the staff of C. & E. Morton Ltd
    Example: roll of honour, 1914–1919
    War record James William Olson

    Born 1895 at Castletown. Served in the First World War. Named in the University of Aberdeen roll of service in the Great War, 1914-1919.

    National Library of Scotland, Rolls of Honour (public domain)

Showing 1 of 2 records for Olson in the United Kingdom.

Counts: National Library of Scotland, Rolls of Honour (public domain) · Stirling Council. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Example pages, not the records of the people shown: C. & E. Morton Ltd roll of honour, 1914–1919, photo by Adrian S Pye via Geograph (CC BY-SA 2.0).

Norway1 record

1 record of the Olson name in Norway Norway's 1910 census
  1. A page of the 1910 United States census, Milwaukee
    Example: U.S. census, 1910
    Census record Jens Olson

    Census of 1910: Kolve, Voss; farmer, born 1853 in Voss.

    Arkivverket, Digitalarkivet, 1910 census (CC BY 3.0 NO)

Counts: Arkivverket, Digitalarkivet, 1910 census (CC BY 3.0 NO). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: U.S. census of 1910, Milwaukee (public domain).

Nearby in the index

Surnames next to Olson.

When the index is not enough

This page says where Olson is.
A volume says what happened to it.

Every page in the index is free and stays free. The Heritage Volume is the long form: the full paper trail, the arms, the crossing — bound, and yours.

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