Olafsson

Olafsson is a surname of Icelandic and broader Nordic origin, meaning “son of Olaf.” It is derived from the given name Olaf (Old Norse Óláfr) with the patronymic suffix -sson, a common building block in Nordic naming traditions.

Etymology and usage: The -sson suffix indicates patrilineal descent and is used to form a surname from the father’s given name. In Iceland, this system historically produced patronymics rather than fixed family surnames, so Ólafsson would change with each generation (the son of Óláfr would be Ólafsson, the daughter would be Ólafsdóttir). In practice, many Icelanders living abroad or in modern contexts may adopt Ólafsson as a fixed surname, even though it is still fundamentally a patronymic in Icelandic tradition.

Geographic distribution and variants: Olafsson is most commonly associated with Iceland and people of Icelandic heritage. Related spellings appear in other Nordic contexts, such as Olafsson or Ólafsson, with local orthographic variations. Anglicized forms include Olafsson or Olafsen. The name is also encountered among diaspora communities in North America and other regions with Icelandic or Norse ancestry.

See also: Ólafsson, a related Icelandic surname with the definite article of Óláfr, reflecting similar origin and usage.