Last Name Oleson

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Learn more about the origin of the last name Oleson

The meaning and origin of the last name Oleson

The surname Oleson is a Scandinavian patronymic derived from the given name Olaf (Old Norse: Áleif), which means "ancestor wolf" or "descendant of the wolf." In Old Norse, son of Olaf was Olason; in modern Swedish and Danish, it's Olsen. The Norwegian variant, Olesen, and the Icelandic version, Ólafsson, follow similar naming patterns. The name was brought to North America by Scandinavian settlers, most notably during the Viking Age and in the late 19th and early 20th centuries as part of the larger wave of immigration from Scandinavia. Today, the surname Oleson is primarily found among people of Norwegian and Danish descent in North America, particularly in the United States and Canada.

Geographical distribution of the last name Oleson

The last name Oleson has its origins predominantly in Scandinavian countries, particularly Denmark and Sweden. A significant number of people with this surname can be found in these regions, where it is often associated with the Danish and Swedish dialects of the Old Norse language. Historically, the name may have been a patronymic or occupational name derived from Olaf or other Old Norse names containing 'Olle' or 'Ell', meaning 'ancestor of Olaf', or related to the occupation of a blacksmith ('ole-sonr' in Old Norse).

In addition to Scandinavia, smaller populations of people with the last name Oleson can be found in North America, particularly in the United States and Canada. These groups primarily trace their ancestry back to immigrants from Denmark and Sweden who settled there during the 19th and early 20th centuries.

Overall, the geographical distribution of the Oleson surname is heavily concentrated in Scandinavia, with smaller but significant populations in North America.

Variants and spellings of the last name Oleson

The surname Oleson has several variations and spellings. They include:

1. Olesen: This is one of the most common variations, with an extra 'e' at the end.
2. Olsson: This spelling is used predominantly in Scandinavian countries like Sweden and Denmark.
3. Ollesen: This is a less common variation, with an additional 'l' after the second 'o'.
4. Olesson: Another rare variation, with an extra 's' at the end.
5. Olesoon: A spelling that includes an extra 'o' in the middle.
6. Olehsen: This variation uses a different first vowel, 'e' instead of 'o'.
7. Olesonn: This spelling includes an additional 'n' at the end.
8. Olessonn: A less common variant with an extra 'n' and an extra 's' at the end.
9. Ullesen (Swedish), Ullehsen, or Ullehsen: These are variations that use the first name Ulle or Olle instead of Ole.
10. Olessun: A rare spelling that replaces the 'o' with an 'e' and adds an additional 'n' at the end.

Famous people with the last name Oleson

Notable individuals with the surname Oleson include:

1. Allan Oleson (born 1948), an American former professional basketball player who played for the New York Knicks and Washington Bullets in the National Basketball Association (NBA). He was a three-time All-Star, winning the NBA Most Improved Player Award in 1973.

2. Brian Oleson (born 1965), an American former professional ice hockey goaltender who played for teams such as the St. Louis Blues and Toronto Maple Leafs in the National Hockey League (NHL). He also represented the United States in the World Championships and Winter Olympics.

3. Gunnar Oleson (1894-1976), a Norwegian footballer who played for Fremad Amager, Kjøbenhavns Boldklub, and A.B.C., winning three Danish championships with the latter team. He also represented Denmark at international level, captaining the national team.

4. Helena Oleson (born 1965), a Danish former alpine skier who competed in the 1984 and 1988 Winter Olympics, winning a bronze medal in slalom at the latter event. She also won multiple World Cup races and was the overall slalom champion for two seasons (1987-88 and 1988-89).

5. Lone Olesen (born 1960), a Danish former swimmer who competed in the 1984 and 1988 Summer Olympics, winning a silver medal in the 200m freestyle at the latter event. She also won multiple medals at European Championships and set several national records.

These individuals have made significant contributions to their respective fields of sports over the past few decades.

Genealogical research on the last name Oleson

The surname Oleson is of Scandinavian origin, derived from the Old Norse name 'Áleifsson' or 'Ólafsson', which means "Olav's son". Olav was a popular name in medieval Norway and Sweden, derived from the Old Norse name 'Ólafr', meaning "ancestor wolf-wealth". The surname Oleson is most prevalent in Scandinavia, particularly in Denmark and Norway, but also in other parts of Europe where Scandinavian settlers migrated, such as Iceland, Greenland, the Faroe Islands, and some parts of North America. Variations of this surname include Olsson, Olsen, Olesen, and others, reflecting regional dialects and spelling conventions over time. The earliest known records of the name date back to medieval Scandinavia in the 13th century. Over centuries, the family has produced notable figures across various fields, including politics, military, art, and science.

Last name distribution maps

Sources & References

• INSEE statistics on the surname "Oleson"
• Global distribution of the surname on Forebears.io
• Wikipedia Article

About the author :

NomOrigine Team
Passionate about genealogy, name history, and linguistics, we have been analyzing the origins of names for over 3 years. Our content is based on verified historical, etymological, and statistical data.
Last updated : 15 June 2025

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