This page needs Javascript enabled in order to work properly. Click here for instructions on how to enable it in your browser.
Surname Header Image
Get access to Olson family records.Start a 14-Day Free Trial

Olson Family History

Olson Surname Meaning

Americanized form (and a rare Swedish variant) of Swedish Olsson. In some cases this is also an Americanized form of the variant Ohlsson.

Americanized form of Danish, Norwegian, or North German Olsen and Ohlsen cognates of.

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


Similar surnames: 

Search for a relative to learn more about your family history.

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Where is the Olson family from?

You can see how Olson families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Olson family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Olson families were found in USA in 1920. In 1891 there were 45 Olson families living in London. This was about 20% of all the recorded Olson's in United Kingdom. London had the highest population of Olson families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Olson surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.
Mapbox
© Mapbox © OpenStreetMap Improve this map

What did your Olson 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 Olson. 28% of Olson men worked as a General Labourer and 88% of Olson women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Olson were Railway Porter and Private Means.

View Census Data for Olson | 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
    28%
  • Builders Labourer
    19%
  • Dock Labourer
    19%
  • Railway Porter
    19%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    88%
  • Domestic Duties
    4%
  • Unpaid Domestic
    3%
  • Private Means
    3%

What Olson family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 754,000 census records available for the last name Olson. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Olson census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Olson

Passenger Lists

There are 168,000 immigration records available for the last name Olson. 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 Olson immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 127,000 military records available for the last name Olson. For the veterans among your Olson ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Olson military records

You've only scratched the surface of Olson family history

Discover More

What is the average Olson lifespan?

Between 1940 and 2004, in the United States, Olson life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1940, and highest in 2000. The average life expectancy for Olson in 1940 was 34, and 77 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Olson

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Olson 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.

Discover the unique achievements of ancestors in the Olson family tree

Explore Your Tree
Search for another surname
Enter last name/surname
Start a 14-Day Free Trial