Where does “Olson” come from?

Olson is an English surname derived from the Swedish surname Olsson, which is a patronymic formation based on the given name Olof.

Ancestry of “Olson”, step by step

Olson traces back through 3 separate lines of ancestry.

via Danish Olsen

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1DanishOlsen—
2DanishOle—
3DanishOlafof origin
4Old NorseÓláfr—
5Proto-Norseᚨᚾᚢᛚᚨᛁᛒᚨᛉ—
6Proto-Germanicanulaibaz—
7Proto-Germaniclaibōwhat is left, remainder, remnant
8Proto-Indo-Europeanleyp-to stick; fat or sticky substance
9Proto-Indo-Europeanlēy-to leave, let; to want, desire; to let; leave...

via Swedish Olsson

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1SwedishOlsson—
2SwedishOlas—
3Swedishsonson; someone's male child
4Old Swedishsonson
5Old Norsesonrson
6Proto-Germanicsunuzson
7Proto-Indo-European*suhnús—

via Norwegian Olsen

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1NorwegianOlsen—
2NorwegianOlav—

Words derived from “Olson”

Every word from Proto-Indo-European lēy- →Every word from Proto-Indo-European leyp- →Every word from Proto-Germanic laibō →