Olson (surname)

Olson (also Olsson, Oleson) is a common patronymic surname of Scandinavian origin that literally means "son of Olaf or Ole". Olson may refer to:

Academics

 * Eric T. Olson (philosopher), American-born professor of philosophy at the University of Sheffield
 * Hope A. Olson, library scholar 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, 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 (born 1975), American poet
 * Candice Olson (born 1964), Canadian interior designer and host of the home makeover show Divine Design with Candice Olson
 * Charles Olson (1910–1970), American modernist poet
 * Dante Pereira-Olson, American actor
 * Evan Olson (born 1967), rock singer and songwriter
 * James Olson (actor) (1930–2022), American actor
 * Jenni Olson (born 1962), writer, director and documentary filmmaker
 * Jody Jean Olson, also known as India Summer, US porno actress
 * John Olson (poet and writer) (born 1947)
 * Johnny Olson (1910–1985), American radio personality and television announcer
 * Kaitlin Olson (born 1975), American actress
 * Mark Olson (musician) (born 1961), U.S. country singer-songwriter
 * Martin Olson (born 1956) American comedy writer
 * Nancy Olson (born 1928), American actress
 * Olivia Olson (born 1992), American singer-songwriter and actress
 * Scott Olson, guitarist, bassist, and recording engineer

Athletes

 * Benji Olson (born 1975), former National Football League (NFL) player
 * Bob Olson, American collegiate football player
 * Carl Bobo Olson, (1928–2002), American boxer
 * Dante Olson (born 1997), American football player
 * Drew Olson (born 1983), NFL quarterback
 * Greg Olson (baseball) (born 1960), Major League Baseball (MLB) catcher
 * Gregg Olson (born 1966), MLB pitcher
 * Josh Olson (born 1981), American ice hockey player
 * Karl Olson (1930–2010), MLB outfielder
 * Lute Olson (1934–2020), former basketball coach
 * Matt Olson (born 1994), MLB first baseman
 * Reese Olson (born 1999), MLB pitcher
 * Sasha Olson (born 1976), Canadian softball player
 * Tyler Olson (baseball) (born 1989), American baseball player

Politicians and government officials

 * Alec G. Olson (born 1930), American politician
 * Allen I. Olson (born 1938), American politician
 * Bud Olson (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, (1876–1962), American politician
 * Donovan Olson (born 1965), American politician
 * Edgar Olson (1937–2020), American politician
 * Floyd B. Olson (1891–1936), American politician
 * George W. Olson (1897–1958), American farmer and politician
 * Judy Olson Duhamel (born 1939), American politician and educator
 * Kurt Olson (1948–2023), American politician
 * Mark Douglas Olson, American politician
 * Mark W. Olson (1943–2018), American economist and bank executive
 * Ole H. Olson (1872–1954), American politician
 * Pete Olson (born 1962), American politician
 * Theodore Olson (born 1940), American politician
 * William Olson (1873–1931), American politician

Scientists and engineers

 * Everett C. Olson (1910–1993), American zoologist, paleontologist, and geologist
 * Frank Olson, (1910–28, 1953), American biological warfare scientist
 * Harry F. Olson (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, Jr. (1932–1988), American economist and social scientist
 * Storrs L. Olson (1944–2021), American biologist, ornithologist and avian paleontologist
 * Cynthia Olson Reichhardt, American physicist

Soldiers

 * Eric T. Olson (born 1952), American admiral and commander of U.S. Special Operations Command
 * Magnus Olson (Swedish Army officer) (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 (1917–1944), U.S. Army soldier posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor

Writers and commentators

 * Barbara Olson (1955–2001), television commentator, 9/11 victim, wife of Theodore Olson
 * Lisa Olson, American sportswriter
 * Sigurd F. Olson (1899–1982), American author and environmentalist
 * Walter Olson (born 1954), author and blogger

Playboy Playmates

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

Other

 * Annette Olson, Miss North Dakota 2006
 * Arthur David Olson, founding contributor of the tz database
 * Clifford Olson (1940–2011), Canadian serial killer
 * Dwight C. Olson (late 20th century), founder of Data Securities International
 * Jim Olson, Seattle architect
 * Michael Fors Olson (born 1966), American Catholic bishop
 * Norman Olson (born 1946) is an American militia movement activist
 * Sara Jane Olson, former member of the Symbionese Liberation Army