Olson (also

Olsson Olsson is a common Swedish surname. It is a contraction of the surname Olofsson and it literally means "son of Olof" and seldom also "son of Ola". Notable people with the surname include: * Åke Olsson - Swedish football player * Åke Olsson (ch ...

, Oleson) is a common

patronymic A patronymic, or patronym, is a component of a personal name based on the given name of one's father, grandfather (avonymic), or an earlier male ancestor. Patronymics are still in use, including mandatory use, in many countries worldwide, alt ...

surname of Scandinavian origin that literally means "son of

Olaf Olaf or Olav (, , or British ; Old Norse: ''Áleifr'', ''Ólafr'', ''Óleifr'', ''Anleifr'') is a Scandinavian and German given name. It is presumably of Proto-Norse origin, reconstructed as ''*Anu-laibaz'', from ''anu'' "ancestor, grand-father" a ...

or Ole". Olson may refer to:

Academics

Eric T. Olson (philosopher) Eric Todd Olson is an American philosopher who specializes in metaphysics and philosophy of mind. Olson is best known for his research in the field of personal identity, and for advocating animalism, the theory that persons are animals. Olson ...

, American-born professor of philosophy at the University of Sheffield *

Hope A. Olson Hope A. Olson is Professor Emerita at the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee School of Information Studies, School of Information Studies at the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee. She was previously a professor at the University of Alberta. Fr ...

library scholar A library and information scientist, also known as a library scholar, is a researcher or academic who specializes in the field of library and information science and often participates in scholarly writing about and related to library and informati ...

known for her critical analyses of classification systems * James C. Olson (1917–2005), American historian and 17th president of the University of Missouri System *

James S. Olson James Stuart Olson is an academic and Pulitzer Prize-nominated author. In 1994, he was appointed Distinguished Professor of History at Sam Houston State University in Huntsville, Texas. Olson is the author (or co-author) of over thirty books, pr ...

, American professor of history at Sam Houston State University * Oscar L. Olson (1872–1956), third President of Luther College in Iowa

Artists and entertainers

Alix Olson Alix L. Olson (born 1975) is an American poet who works exclusively in spoken word. She graduated from Wesleyan University in 1997 and uses her work to address issues of capitalism, racism, sexism, homophobia, heterosexism, misogyny, and patria ...

(born 1975), American poet *

Candice Olson Candice Olson (born October 27, 1964) is a Canadian designer. She was the host of the Toronto-based home-makeover shows ''Divine Design'' and ''Candice Tells All'', which aired on the W Network in Canada and on HGTV in the United States. Early l ...

(born 1964), Canadian interior designer and host of the home makeover show ''Divine Design with Candice Olson'' *

Charles Olson Charles Olson (27 December 1910 – 10 January 1970) was a second generation modern American poet who was a link between earlier figures such as Ezra Pound and William Carlos Williams and the New American poets, which includes the New York ...

(1910–1970), American modernist poet *

Dante Pereira-Olson Dante Pereira-Olson (born August 13, 2008) is an American child actor best known for his work on ''You Were Never Really Here'' and '' Joker'', both starring Joaquin Phoenix. Career After appearing in several television shows, including '' Las ...

, American actor *

Evan Olson Evan Scott Olson (born 1967) is an American rock singer and songwriter based in Greensboro, North Carolina. Professionally known since the early 2000s for his work as a songwriter for film and television, Olson received renewed interest in his e ...

(born 1967), rock singer and songwriter *

James Olson (actor) James Olson (October 8, 1930 – April 17, 2022) was an American actor. Life and career Olson was born in Evanston, Illinois, on October 8, 1930, and he was a graduate of Northwestern University. From 1952 until 1954, he was a military policeman ...

(1930–2022), American actor *

Jenni Olson Jenni Olson (born October 6, 1962) is a writer, archivist, historian, consultant, and non-fiction filmmaker based in Berkeley, California. She co-founded the pioneering LGBT website PlanetOut.com. Her two feature-length essay films — ''The Joy ...

(born 1962), writer, director and documentary filmmaker * Jody Jean Olson, also known as

India Summer India Summer is an American pornographic actress and nude model and a member of the AVN and XRCO Halls of Fame. Her stage name is based on the phrase Indian summer. She also has mainstream acting credits. Career Summer received her education ...

, US porno actress * John Olson (poet and writer) (born 1947) *

Johnny Olson John Leonard Olson (May 22, 1910 – October 12, 1985) was an American radio personality and television announcer. Olson is perhaps best known for his work as an announcer for game shows, particularly the work he did for Mark Goodson-Bill Todman P ...

(1910–1985), American radio personality and television announcer *

Kaitlin Olson Kaitlin Willow Olson (born August 18, 1975) is an American actress. She began her career in The Sunday Company at the Groundlings, an improvisational theatre and school in Los Angeles, California. She had minor roles in several television series ...

(born 1975), American actress *

Mark Olson (musician) Mark Olson (born September 18, 1961 in Minneapolis, Minnesota) is an American musician and singer-songwriter. He was a founding member of alternative country bands The Jayhawks and the Original Harmony Ridge Creekdippers. Career Olson formed t ...

(born 1961), U.S. country singer-songwriter *

Martin Olson Martin Olson (born April 2, 1956) is an American comedy writer, television producer, author and composer. He is known for his unusual subject matter, and is an original member of the Boston Comedy Scene. He is the father of actress Olivia Olson ...

(born 1956) American comedy writer *

Nancy Olson Nancy Ann Olson (born July 14, 1928) is an American actress. She was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her role in ''Sunset Boulevard'' (1950). She co-starred with William Holden in four films, and later appeared in ...

(born 1928), American actress *

Olivia Olson Olivia Rose Olson (born May 21, 1992) is an American singer-songwriter, actress, and writer, largely known for her voice roles as Vanessa Doofenshmirtz in ''Phineas and Ferb'' and Marceline the Vampire Queen in ''Adventure Time''. She also playe ...

(born 1992), American singer-songwriter and actress *

Scott Olson Scott Olson is an American guitarist, bassist, music producer and recording engineer. He played guitar with Heart between 1995–1998 and 2002–2003, and in 1996 he performed with Alice In Chains on their ''MTV Unplugged'' concert. Olson was ...

, guitarist, bassist, and recording engineer

Athletes

Benji Olson Benjamin Dempsey Olson (born June 5, 1975) is an American former college and professional American football player who was a guard in the National Football League (NFL) for ten seasons. He played college football for the University of Washington a ...

(born 1975), former National Football League (NFL) player *

Bob Olson Bob Olson (Born May 1948) is a former American football player born in Superior, Wisconsin. He attended Notre Dame where he played linebacker between 1968 and 1969 and became team captain. In the 1970 Cotton Bowl Classic game against the Universit ...

, American collegiate football player * Carl

Bobo Olson Carl Olson (July 11, 1928 – January 16, 2002) was an American boxer. He was the World Middleweight champion between October 1953 and December 1955, the longest reign of any champion in that division during the 1950s. His nickname, Bobo, was bas ...

, (1928–2002), American boxer *

Dante Olson Dante Olson (born January 6, 1997) is a former American football linebacker. He played college football at Montana Grizzlies football, Montana. Early life and high school Olson first began playing football in second grade, primarily playing right ...

(born 1997), American football player *

Drew Olson Drew Martin Olson (born April 6, 1983) is a former American football quarterback. He was signed by the Baltimore Ravens as an undrafted free agent in 2006. Olson has also played for the Carolina Panthers and San Francisco 49ers, but never appear ...

(born 1983), NFL quarterback *

Greg Olson (baseball) Gregory William Olson (born September 6, 1960) is an American former professional baseball player. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a catcher from 1989 to 1993 for the Minnesota Twins and the Atlanta Braves. Olson was selected to the ...

(born 1960), Major League Baseball (MLB) catcher *

Gregg Olson Greggory William Olson (born October 11, 1966) is an American former professional baseball player, coach, scout and television sports commentator. He played in Major League Baseball as a right-handed pitcher from through , most prominently a ...

(born 1966), MLB pitcher *

Josh Olson Joshua R. Olson is an American screenwriter and podcaster, known for writing the 2005 film ''A History of Violence''. Career Olson wrote and directed the low budget horror film ''Infested'' in 2002. He wrote the screenplay for the 2005 film ' ...

(born 1981), American ice hockey player *

Karl Olson Karl Arthur Olson (July 6, 1930 – December 25, 2010) of Kentfield, California, was a backup outfielder in Major League Baseball who played for the Boston Red Sox (1951, 1953–55), Washington Senators (1956–57) and Detroit Tigers (1957). He ...

(1930–2010), MLB outfielder *

Lute Olson Robert Luther "Lute" Olson (September 22, 1934 – August 27, 2020) was an American basketball coach, who was inducted into both the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame and the National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame. He was the head co ...

(1934–2020), former basketball coach *

Matt Olson Matthew Kent Olson (born March 29, 1994) is an American professional baseball first baseman for the Atlanta Braves of Major League Baseball (MLB). He has previously played in MLB for the Oakland Athletics. Olson was drafted by the Athletics i ...

(born 1994), MLB first baseman * Sasha Olson (born 1976), Canadian softball player *

Tyler Olson (baseball) Tyler Ray Olson (born October 2, 1989) is an American professional baseball pitcher who is a free agent. He has played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Seattle Mariners, New York Yankees, and Cleveland Indians. Amateur career Olson attende ...

(born 1989), American baseball player

Politicians and government officials

Alec G. Olson Alec Gehard Olson (born September 11, 1930) is a former member of the U.S. House of Representatives, a former state senator, who served as the 40th Lieutenant Governor of Minnesota. He was born in Mamre Township in Kandiyohi County, Minnesota. ...

(born 1930), American politician * Allen I. Olson (born 1938), American politician *

Bud Olson Horace Andrew "Bud" Olson (October 6, 1925 – February 14, 2002) was a Canadian businessman, politician, and the 14th Lieutenant Governor of Alberta from 1996 to 2000. He also served as a Member of Parliament, Senator, Minister of Agricul ...

(1925–2002), Canadian Member of Parliament, Senator and Lieutenant Governor * Conrad P. Olson (1882-1952) American judge and politician * Conrad Olson (Minnesota politician) (1895-1953), American politician and lawyer *

Culbert Olson Culbert Levy Olson (November 7, 1876 – April 13, 1962) was an American lawyer and politician. A Democratic Party member, Olson was involved in Utah and California politics and was elected as the 29th governor of California from 1939 to 1943. ...

, (1876–1962), American politician * Donovan Olson (born 1965), American politician * Edgar Olson (1937–2020), American politician *

Floyd B. Olson Floyd Bjørnstjerne "Skipper" Olson (November 13, 1891 – August 22, 1936) was an American politician and lawyer. He served as the 22nd Governor of Minnesota from January 6, 1931, to August 22, 1936, dying in office of stomach cancer. Olson wa ...

(1891–1936), American politician *

George W. Olson George W. Olson (October 25, 1893 – February 27, 1958) was an American farmer and politician. Olson was born in Jackson County, Minnesota and went to the Jackson County public schools. He served in the United States Army during World War I. O ...

(1897-1958), American farmer and politician *

Kurt Olson Kurt E. Olson (born March 24, 1948) is a Republican former member of the Alaska House of Representatives, representing the 30th District from 2005 until 2017. He is currently serving as Chair of the Labor & Commerce Committee, Vice Chair of the R ...

(born 1948), American politician *

Mark Douglas Olson Mark Douglas Olson was an American politician who served as a member of the Minnesota House of Representatives from district 16B, first elected in 1992. After his re-election in 2006, Olson was arrested and subsequently convicted of domestic assau ...

, American politician *

Mark W. Olson Mark Walter Olson (March 17, 1943 – September 12, 2018) was an American economist and bank executive who served as a member of the Federal Reserve Board of Governors from 2001 to 2006. Filling an unexpired term to end on January 31, 2010, he re ...

(1943–2018), American economist and bank executive *

Ole H. Olson Ole H. Olson (September 19, 1872 – January 29, 1954) was the 16th lieutenant governor and 18th governor of North Dakota. Biography Olson was born in Mondovi, Wisconsin. He was the oldest child of nine from parents who had emigrated from Sogn, N ...

(1872–1954), American politician *

Pete Olson Peter Graham Olson (born December 9, 1962) is an American politician who served as the U.S. representative for from 2009 to 2021. His district included much of southern Houston, as well as most of the city's southwestern suburbs such as Katy, ...

(born 1962), American politician *

Theodore Olson Theodore Bevry Olson (born September 11, 1940) is an American lawyer, practicing at the Washington, D.C., office of Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher. Olson served as United States Assistant Attorney General of the Office of Legal Counsel (1981–1984) ...

(born 1940), American politician *

William Olson William Olson (October 11, 1873 – November 1, 1931) was an American farmer and politician. Born in the town of Jordan, Wisconsin, he went to Northern Indiana Normal School (now Valparaiso University) and taught school and worked on his fami ...

(1873–1931), American politician

Scientists and engineers

Everett C. Olson Everett Claire Olson (November 6, 1910 – November 27, 1993) was an American zoologist, paleontologist, and geologist noted for his seminal research of origin and evolution of vertebrate animals. Through his research studying terrestrial verte ...

(1910–1993), American zoologist, paleontologist, and geologist *

Frank Olson Frank Rudolph Emmanuel Olson (July 17, 1910 – November 28, 1953) was an American bacteriologist, biological warfare scientist, and an employee of the United States Army Biological Warfare Laboratories (USBWL) who worked at Camp Detrick (now ...

, (1910–28, 1953), American biological warfare scientist *

Harry F. Olson Harry Ferdinand Olson (December 28, 1901 – April 1, 1982) was a prominent engineer at RCA Victor and a pioneer in the field of 20th century acoustical engineering. Biography Harry F. Olson was born in Mount Pleasant, Iowa, to Swedish immigrant ...

(1901–1982), American acoustic engineer * Jean Olson Lanjouw (1962–2005), American economist * John Melvin Olson (1929–2017), American biochemist, pioneering researcher in photosynthesis *

Mancur Olson Mançur Lloyd Olson Jr. (; January 22, 1932 – February 19, 1998) was an American economist and political scientist who taught at the University of Maryland, College Park. His most influential contributions were in institutional economics, and i ...

, Jr. (1932–1988), American economist and social scientist *

Storrs L. Olson Storrs Lovejoy Olson (April 3, 1944 – January 20, 2021) was an American biologist and ornithologist who spent his career at the Smithsonian Institution, retiring in 2008. One of the world's foremost avian paleontologists, he was best known ...

(1944–2021), American biologist, ornithologist and avian paleontologist * Cynthia Olson Reichhardt, American physicist

Soldiers

Eric T. Olson Eric Thor Olson (born January 24, 1952) is a retired United States Navy Admiral (United States), admiral who last served as the eighth Commander, United States Special Operations Command, U.S. Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) from July 2, 2 ...

(born 1952), American admiral and commander of U.S. Special Operations Command *

Magnus Olson (Swedish Army officer) Senior Colonel Anders ''Magnus'' Olson (1 February 1929 – 4 November 2018) was a Swedish Army officer. Olson served as commander of the Life Regiment Hussars from 1976 to 1980, as Chief of Staff of the Western Military District from 1984 to 19 ...

(1929–2018) * Norman E. Olson (1915–1944), U.S. Army Air Forces World War II flying ace * Sven-Olof Olson (1926–2021), Swedish Air Force lieutenant general *

Truman O. Olson Truman O. Olson (October 13, 1917 – January 31, 1944) was a United States Army sergeant who was posthumously awarded the United States military's highest decoration, the Medal of Honor, for his actions in World War II. Olson was born on October ...

(1917–1944), U.S. Army soldier posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor

Writers and commentators

Barbara Olson Barbara Kay Olson (née Bracher; December 27, 1955September 11, 2001) was an American lawyer and conservative television commentator who worked for CNN, Fox News Channel, and several other outlets. She was a passenger on American Airlines Fligh ...

(1955–2001), television commentator, 9/11 victim, wife of Theodore Olson *

Lisa Olson Lisa Olson is an American sports journalist. Her work has been featured in the anthology, "The Best American Sports Writing". She was previously a sports columnist for the ''New York Daily News'', and the first female sports columnist for the ''S ...

, American sportswriter *

Sigurd F. Olson Sigurd Ferdinand Olson (April 4, 1899 – January 13, 1982) was an American writer, environmentalist, and advocate for the protection of wilderness. For more than thirty years, he served as a wilderness guide in the lakes and forests of the Quet ...

(1899–1982), American author and environmentalist *

Walter Olson Walter K. Olson (born 1954) is an author and blogger who writes mostly about legal subjects, including tort reform. Olson is a senior fellow of the Cato Institute, a libertarian think tank in Washington, D.C. Formerly, Olson was associated with t ...

(born 1954), author and blogger

Playboy Playmates

Gale Olson The following women have appeared in the American or international edition of ''Playboy'' magazine as Playmate of the Month. Those who were also named Playmate of the Year are highlighted in green. A common misconception is that Marilyn Monroe was ...

(born 1947) * Hope Olson (born 1956) List of Playboy Playmates of 1976#October * Kalin Olson (born 1975)

Other

* Annette Olson, Miss North Dakota 2006 * Arthur David Olson, founding contributor of the

tz database The tz database is a collaborative compilation of information about the world's time zones, primarily intended for use with computer programs and operating systems. Paul Eggert is its current editor and maintainer, with the organizational backi ...

Clifford Olson Clifford Robert Olson Jr. (January 1, 1940 – September 30, 2011) was a convicted Canadian serial killer who confessed to murdering 11 children and teenagers between the ages of 9 and 18 in the early 1980s. Murders Christine Weller, 12, from ...

(1940–2011), Canadian serial killer * Dwight C. Olson (late 20th c.), founder of Data Securities International *

Jim Olson Jim Olson, FAIA (b. 1940) is the founding principal of the Seattle-based firm Olson Kundig Architects. He is best known for residential design, often for art collectors, though his designs have also included museums, commercial spaces and places o ...

, Seattle architect *

Michael Fors Olson Michael Fors Olson (born June 29, 1966) is an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He has been serving as bishop of the Diocese of Fort Worth in the state of Texas since 2013. Early life and education Michael Olson was born in Park Ri ...

(born 1966), American Catholic bishop * Norman Olson (born 1946) is an American militia movement activist *

Sara Jane Olson Sara Jane Olson (born Kathleen Ann Soliah on January 16, 1947) is an American far-left activist who was convicted of an attempted murder charge related to a failed bombing plot and a second-degree murder charge related to a botched bank robber ...

, former member of the Symbionese Liberation Army