Olson Surname Meaning & Origin
What the Olson last name means, where the surname began and how it spread.
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Meaning and origin of the Olson last name
Meaning of the Olson last name: son of Olaf. Olson is a Scandinavian surname meaning "son of Olaf", the American spelling of Olson/Olsen. The last name poured into the Midwest with Swedish and Norwegian settlers. Minnesota and Wisconsin farm rolls still list this surname in strength. Church books of Swedish Lutheran settlements in Minnesota are thick with this surname.
Arms associated with the Olson name
German heraldry associated with the Olson surname uses simple shapes, each coat of arms with its blazon.
Get your full Olson family history
This is only a glimpse of the Olson story. The full Olson history report goes much deeper into where the name began, who carried it and how the family spread, and it comes with a museum-style painted Olson coat of arms. Get the full Olson report.
Olson name FAQ
What does the Olson name mean?
Son of Olaf. Common variants include Olsen, Olsson.
Where does the Olson surname come from?
It originates in Sweden, and is also found in the United States, Austria and Switzerland.
Is there a Olson coat of arms?
Arms were granted to individuals rather than to everyone with a surname. Herald Lab paints a personalized Olson coat of arms in museum style, based on historic heraldry.
Sources: Duden Familiennamen; Dictionary of American Family Names (Oxford).