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Olesen Family History

Olesen Name Meaning

Danish and Norwegian: variant of Olsen . It is rare in Norway. Compare Oleson .

Source: Dictionary of American Family Names 2nd edition, 2022


Similar surnames: Olsen, Ohlsen, Olson, Ottesen, Holsen, Clasen, Olden, Oveson, Kleven

Search for a relative to learn more about your family history.

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

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Where is the Olesen family from?

You can see how Olesen families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Olesen family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Olesen families were found in USA in 1880. In 1911 there were 4 Olesen families living in Alberta. This was about 29% of all the recorded Olesen's in Canada. Alberta and 1 other province had the highest population of Olesen families in 1911.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Olesen surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.

What did your Olesen ancestors do for a living?

In 1921, Farmer was the top reported job for people in the Canada named Olesen. 67% of Olesen men worked as a Farmer. .

View Census Data for Olesen | Data not to scale

*We display top occupations by gender to maintain their historical accuracy during times when men and women often performed different jobs.

Top Male Occupations In 1921

  • Farmer
    67%
  • Labourer
    34%
Black & white image of two construction labourers

What Olesen family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 12,000 census records available for the last name Olesen. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Olesen census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search Canadian census records for Olesen

Passenger Lists

There are 6,000 immigration records available for the last name Olesen. Passenger lists are your ticket to knowing when your ancestors arrived in Canada, and how they made the journey - from the ship name to ports of arrival and departure.

View all Olesen immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 1,000 military records available for the last name Olesen. For the veterans among your Olesen ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Olesen military records

You've only scratched the surface of Olesen family history

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What is the average Olesen lifespan?

Between 1944 and 2004, in the United States, Olesen life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1944, and highest in 1993. The average life expectancy for Olesen in 1944 was 34, and 80 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Olesen

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