Olsen (surname)
Olsen is a Danish-Norwegian patronymic surname meaning "son of Ole". The surname Olesen has a similar origin. The Swedish parallel form is Olsson – "son of Ola". Danish and Norwegian immigrants to English-speaking countries often changed the spelling to Olson in order to accommodate English orthographic rules.
Notable people with the surname include:
- Andrea Olsen, American politician
- Angel Olsen, American singer.
- Anton Olsen, Spanish–American War Medal of Honor recipient
- Ben Olsen, American soccer player
- Bjørnar Olsen Norwegian archaeologist
- Brian Olsen, American mixed martial artist
- Carsten Olsen, Danish plant ecologist and physiologist
- Charles Olsen, American poet renowned for his provocative style and large body of works
- Dorothy Olsen, American aircraft pilot and member of the Women Airforce Service Pilots
- Elizabeth Olsen, American actress
- Eric Christian Olsen, American actor
- Frances Olsen, American law professor at UCLA, feminist law scholar.
- Gary Olsen, English actor
- Greg Olsen, multiple people
- Gregory Olsen, American entrepreneur and scientist, space tourist
- Harold Olsen, American college sports coach
- Helle Olsen, better known as Helle Helle, Danish writer born 1965
- Hilde Gunn Olsen, Norwegian footballer
- Jens Olsen, Danish clockmaker and locksmith
- John Olsen, Australian artist
- John Olsen, 42nd Premier of South Australia
- Ken Olsen, American engineer, co-founder of Digital Equipment Corporation
- Kirsten Olesen, Danish actress
- Kristoffer Olsen, a Norwegian sailor who competed in the 1920 Summer Olympics
- Larry Olsen, multiple people
- Lisa Olsen, Canadian skydiver
- Maria Olsen, South African film producer
- Maria Olsen, New Zealand artist
- Martin Olsen, multiple people
- Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen, American actress twins
- Merlin Olsen, Hall of Fame NFL American football player and TV color commentator
- Michael Olsen, multiple people
- Moroni Olsen, American actor
- Niels Olsen, original name of Cornelius Cruys, 17th century Norwegian-Dutch admiral in Russian service
- Ole Olsen, multiple people
- Ollie Olsen, Australian-based multi-instrumentalist, composer and sound designer.
- Peder Olsen Walløe, Danish-Norwegian Arctic explorer
- Penelope Diane Olsen, Australian ornithologist and author
- Peter B. Olsen, American politician
- Robin Olsen,, Swedish football goalkeeper
- Scott Olsen, American Major League Baseball pitcher for the Florida Marlins
- Súni Olsen, a Faroese football player
- Susan Olsen, American actress best known as Cindy Brady on The Brady Bunch
- Tava Olsen, New Zealand professor in supply chain management
- Tillie Olsen, American writer, feminist, and political activist
- Viktor Olsen, Norwegian long-distance runner
- Olsen Brothers, Danish rock/pop music duo
Fictional characters with the surname include: