# Olson (surname)

Olson (also Olsson, Oleson, Olsen) 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
* 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
* Joel Olson (1967–2012), anarchist activist and political theorist
* 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
* 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, American porn 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), American 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
* Evan Olson (rower) (born 1997), American rower
* 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
* Ralph O. Olson (1902–1955), associate justice of the Washington Supreme Court
* 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

## Soldiers

* Eric T. Olson (born 1952), American admiral and commander of United States Special Operations Command
* Magnus Olson (Swedish Army officer) (1929–2018)
* Norman E. Olson (1915–1944), American World War II flying ace
* Sven-Olof Olson (1926–2021), Swedish Air Force lieutenant general
* Truman O. Olson (1917–1944), United States 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)
* 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
* Joy Olson, American humanitarian
* Michael Fors Olson (born 1966), American Catholic bishop
* Norman Olson (born 1946), American militia movement activist
* Sara Jane Olson, former member of the Symbionese Liberation Army