Map of Denmark showing where the Olson arms are recorded
The Olson arms were recorded in Denmark, c. 1722.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in Sjaælland.
Zealand held the Danish court, the crown's offices and Copenhagen itself. Families who served the king kept estates within reach of it, and royal service was the ordinary route to a coat of arms.
This is where the arms were entered in the register. Families often moved to other parts of the country, so the same name can turn up in more than one region.
The body that granted and recorded arms in Denmark in this period.
Frederik IV of Denmark
Sovereign of the period
Frederik IV of Denmark
1699–1730
Reigning in Denmark when the Olson arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in Denmark
Danish heraldry during this period was closely tied to noble status and royal favor rather than being open to all citizens. Arms were typically granted by the monarch to individuals, and these symbols were then shared by all members of the noble house. If a family line died out, the right to use those specific arms ended with them.
Granting authority
The Danish royal chancery held the power to issue and regulate official coats of arms for the kingdom.
How they got arms
Families usually received their arms through a formal royal grant that confirmed their noble status and rights.
Where arms were recorded
These grants were officially recorded in the Danish Royal Chancery records starting in the sixteenth century.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Denmark.
Origin & History of the Olson Family in Denmark
PronunciationOHL-suhn/ˈoʊlsən/
The family name Olson is a patronymic surname, which means it was originally created to identify a person as the son of someone named Ole. In the early 18th century, families in Denmark and Scandinavia did not use fixed surnames like we do today. Instead, a man named Ole would have a son who was officially recorded as "Olsen" or "Olson" to distinguish him from others in the village. By 1722, records show that members of this family were living on the island of Sjælland. Life during this time was centered around agricultural communities where families often stayed in the same region for generations. Because the name was based on a common first name, many unrelated families adopted the same surname independently across different towns. This practice makes the name a direct link to the personal history of an ancestor who lived in the rural landscapes of Denmark over three hundred years ago.
Olson Meaning & Related Branches
Root word
Olafr
Derived from the Old Norse elements for ancestor and descendant.
This name
OlsonA patronymic surname meaning son of Olaf.
also spelled
Olson
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Dansk Demografisk Database, Folketælling 1787 (1787)
Statens Arkiver, Kirkebøger for Sjællands Stift (1722)
Kruse, Arne, Names and Identities (2005)
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
branchPeace, and new growth
heartSincerity, charity and true affection
branchPeace, and new growth
heartSincerity, charity and true affection
