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Olsen Family History

Olsen Name Meaning

Danish and Norwegian: patronymic from the personal name Ole a short form of Olaf Olav (see Olafsen ). This surname is the third most common in Norway. It is also established in northeastern England and in northern Germany. Compare Ohlsen Olesen Oleson and Olson . German (Ölsen): habitational name from any of several places so named in Saxony Brandenburg and the Rhineland.

Source: Dictionary of American Family Names 2nd edition, 2022


Similar surnames: Osen, Olden, Elsen, Lien, Ohlsen, Olen, Glen, Kolden, Pollen, Elden

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Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

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Where is the Olsen family from?

You can see how Olsen families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Olsen family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Olsen families were found in USA in 1920. In 1891 there were 109 Olsen families living in London. This was about 16% of all the recorded Olsen's in United Kingdom. London had the highest population of Olsen families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Olsen surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.
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What did your Olsen ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, General Labourer and Unpaid Domestic Duties were the top reported jobs for men and women in the United Kingdom named Olsen. 32% of Olsen men worked as a General Labourer and 76% of Olsen women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Olsen were Dock Labourer and Domestic Servant. .

View Census Data for Olsen | Data not to scale

*We display top occupations by gender to maintain their historical accuracy during times when men and women often performed different jobs.

Top Male Occupations In 1939

  • General Labourer
    32%
  • Incapacitated
    10%
  • Old Age Pensioner
    8%
  • Dock Labourer
    8%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    76%
  • Incapacitated
    3%
  • Private Means
    2%
  • Domestic Servant
    2%
Black & white image of two construction labourers

What Olsen family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 309,000 census records available for the last name Olsen. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Olsen census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Olsen

Passenger Lists

There are 293,000 immigration records available for the last name Olsen. Passenger lists are your ticket to knowing when your ancestors arrived in the UK, and how they made the journey - from the ship name to ports of arrival and departure.

View all Olsen immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 57,000 military records available for the last name Olsen. For the veterans among your Olsen ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

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What is the average Olsen lifespan?

Between 1941 and 2004, in the United States, Olsen life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1943, and highest in 1991. The average life expectancy for Olsen in 1941 was 33, and 76 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Olsen

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