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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: Oleson, Ohlson, Olsson, Olsen, Olesen, Elson, Ohlsson, Monson, Osen

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Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Black & white image of a young woman scientist

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 1840 there were 4 Olson families living in Illinois. This was about 50% of all the recorded Olson's in USA. Illinois had the highest population of Olson families in 1840.
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.

What did your Olson ancestors do for a living?

In 1940, Farmer and Stenographer were the top reported jobs for men and women in the USA named Olson. 19% of Olson men worked as a Farmer and 8% of Olson women worked as a Stenographer. Some less common occupations for Americans named Olson were Salesman and Housekeeper. .

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 1940

  • Farmer
    19%
  • Laborer
    12%
  • Carpenter
    4%
  • Salesman
    4%

Top Female Occupations In 1940

  • Stenographer
    8%
  • Teacher
    6%
  • Housewife
    6%
  • Housekeeper
    6%
Black & white image of two construction labourers

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 US 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 USA, and how they made the journey - from the ship name to ports of arrival and departure.

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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.

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You've only scratched the surface of Olson family history

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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

Discover the unique achievements of ancestors in the Olson family tree

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