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Olafsen Family History

Olafsen Surname Meaning

Norwegian and Danish: patronymic from the personal name Olaf from Old Norse Óláfr Ólafr variant Óleifr earlier Anleifr from proto-Scandinavian elements meaning ‘ancestor’ + ‘heir descendant’. Olaf (also Olav in Sweden Olof) has always been one of the most common Scandinavian names;

it continued to be popular in the Middle Ages in part as a result of the fame of Saint Olaf King of Norway who brought Christianity to his country c. 1030.

This surname is rare in Denmark. Compare Olafson.

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


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Where is the Olafsen family from?

You can see how Olafsen families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Olafsen family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1880 and 1920. The most Olafsen families were found in USA in 1920. In 1891 there was 1 Olafsen family living in Glamorgan. This was about 25% of all the recorded Olafsen's in United Kingdom. Glamorgan and 3 other counties had the highest population of Olafsen families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Olafsen 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 Olafsen ancestors do for a living?

In 1940, Laborer was the top reported job for people in the USA named Olafsen. 100% of Olafsen men worked as a Laborer.

View Census Data for Olafsen | 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.

United States shown, England data unavailable

Top Male Occupations In 1940

  • Laborer
    100%

What Olafsen family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 430 census records available for the last name Olafsen. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Olafsen census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Olafsen

Passenger Lists

There are 2,000 immigration records available for the last name Olafsen. 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 Olafsen immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 76 military records available for the last name Olafsen. For the veterans among your Olafsen ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Olafsen military records

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What is the average Olafsen lifespan?

Between 1950 and 2003, in the United States, Olafsen life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1950, and highest in 2000. The average life expectancy for Olafsen in 1950 was 36, and 86 in 2003.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Olafsen

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Olafsen ancestors lived in harsh conditions. A short lifespan might also indicate health problems that were once prevalent in your family. The SSDI is a searchable database of more than 70 million names. You can find birthdates, death dates, addresses and more.

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