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:

Contents

• Academics
• Artists and entertainers
• Athletes
• Politicians and government officials
• Scientists and engineers
• Soldiers
• Writers and commentators
• Playboy Playmates
• Other
• See also

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
• Olivia Olson (born 2005), American basketball player
• 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 (1938–2025), 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
• Herb Olson (born 1951), American 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 (1940–2024), American politician
• William Olson (1873–1931), American politician

Scientists and engineers

• Everett C. Olson (1910–1993), American zoologist, paleontologist, and geologist
• Frank Olson (1910–1953), 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

See also

• General Olson (disambiguation)
• Governor Olson (disambiguation)
• Justice Olson (disambiguation)
• Senator Olson (disambiguation)
• Olson (disambiguation)
• Olsen (surname)
• Olsson
• Olason

Surname list

This page lists people with the surname Olson.
If an internal link intending to refer to a specific person led you to this page, you may wish to change that link by adding the person's given name(s) to the link.