NameCensus.

UK surname

Ohlson

A Swedish occupational surname referring to someone who brewed ale or beer.

In the 1881 census there were 64 people recorded with the Ohlson surname, ranking it #24,561 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 93, ranked #31,945, down from #24,561 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Gateshead and Lambeth. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Mid Sussex, Babergh and Kensington and Chelsea.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Ohlson is 126 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 45.3%.

1881 census count

64

Ranked #24,561

Modern count

93

2016, ranked #31,945

Peak year

1911

126 bearers

Map years

3

1901 to 1998

Key insights

  • Ohlson had 64 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #24,561 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 93 in 2016, ranked #31,945.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 126 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Diverse Educated Urban Singles.

Ohlson surname distribution map

The map shows where the Ohlson surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.

Distribution map

Ohlson surname density by area, 1998 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Ohlson over time

The table below tracks recorded surname counts and rank from the 19th-century census years through the modern adult-register period.

Year Period Count Rank
1851 historical 30 #27,891
1861 historical 15 #31,942
1881 historical 64 #24,561
1891 historical 69 #28,188
1901 historical 101 #22,726
1911 historical 126 #19,831
1997 modern 104 #26,351
1998 modern 109 #26,273
1999 modern 92 #28,833
2000 modern 88 #29,284
2001 modern 89 #28,932
2002 modern 90 #29,314
2003 modern 89 #29,380
2004 modern 90 #29,481
2005 modern 87 #29,966
2006 modern 80 #31,149
2007 modern 76 #31,966
2008 modern 76 #32,279
2009 modern 83 #31,950
2010 modern 89 #31,745
2011 modern 92 #31,301
2012 modern 83 #32,611
2013 modern 91 #32,020
2014 modern 93 #32,025
2015 modern 91 #32,153
2016 modern 93 #31,945

Geography

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Where Ohlsons are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Gateshead, Lambeth, St John Hackney and St Mary Islington. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Mid Sussex, Babergh, Kensington and Chelsea, Wandsworth and Torridge. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Some modern areas include a three-digit suffix, such as Leeds 110. The suffix is a small-area code, so it stays in the table while the prose uses the plain place name.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 London parishes London 3
2 Gateshead Durham
3 Lambeth London (South Districts)
4 St John Hackney London (North Districts)
5 St Mary Islington London (North Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Mid Sussex 007 Mid Sussex
2 Babergh 002 Babergh
3 Kensington and Chelsea 013 Kensington and Chelsea
4 Wandsworth 001 Wandsworth
5 Torridge 002 Torridge

Forenames

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First names often paired with Ohlson

These lists show first names that appear often with the Ohlson surname in historical and recent records.

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Ohlson

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Ohlson, this points to the kinds of places where the surname is most concentrated today.

These neighbourhood labels describe areas, not individual people. They are useful because surnames often cluster through family history, migration, housing patterns and local work. A surname can be strongest in one type of neighbourhood even when people with that name live across the country.

The UK classification gives the national picture. The London classification is more specific to the capital, where housing, age profile, tenure and population mix can look quite different from the rest of the UK.

UK neighbourhood type

UK Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Multicultural and Educated Urbanites

Group

Diverse Educated Urban Singles

Nationally, the Ohlson surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Diverse Educated Urban Singles, within Multicultural and Educated Urbanites. This does not mean every Ohlson household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group includes many never-married individuals not living with dependent children. Many were born in EU countries and are now aged between 25-44. This Group is characterised by its ethnic group diversity, although those identifying as Asian are not well represented. Affiliation with the Christian religion amongst residents is low. Reported disability rates are low. Neighbourhoods include some central locations in London and other major cities. Private renting is the norm, and there is some overcrowding. Many individuals are educated to degree level, and full-time employment is common, particularly in managerial and professional occupations.

Wider pattern

Established populations comprising ethnic minorities together with persons born outside the UK predominate in this Supergroup. Residents present diverse personal characteristics and circumstances: while generally well-educated and practising skilled occupations, some residents live in overcrowded rental sector housing. English may not be the main language used by people in this Group. Although the typical adult resident is middle aged, single person households are common and marriage rates are low by national standards. This Supergroup predominates in Inner London, with smaller enclaves in many other densely populated metropolitan areas.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Central Connected Professionals and Managers

Group

Senior Professionals

Within London, Ohlson is most associated with areas classed as Senior Professionals, part of Central Connected Professionals and Managers. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These very central neighbourhoods house residents whose ages are more skewed towards older age cohorts than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Few households have young children. Rates of illness are low. Indian ethnicity is rare compared to the Supergroup mean. Property under occupation is more common, despite the centrality of neighbourhoods, and more residents live in communal establishments than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

Adult residents of these neighbourhoods are typically aged 25 to 44, working full-time in professional, managerial or associate professional occupations. There are few families with dependent children. The predominantly Inner London neighbourhoods have an international character, including many residents born elsewhere in Europe alongside high numbers of individuals identifying as of Chinese ethnicity. Many individuals are never married, childless and/or living alone. Above average numbers of individuals, likely to be full-time students, live in communal establishments. Elsewhere, privately rented flats are the dominant housing type. Residents of these areas are well-qualified, with a significant number holding Level 4 or above qualifications. There is a correspondingly high level of individuals employed full-time in professional, managerial and associated professional or technical occupations. Employing industries are financial, real estate, professional, administration, and, to a lesser degree, transport and communications. Unemployment is uncommon.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Ohlson is most concentrated in decile 10 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier end of the index.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Ohlson falls in decile 8 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

8
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Ohlson is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 30-40 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

6
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

This describes the area pattern most associated with Ohlson, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Ohlson

The surname OHLSON originated in Sweden during the medieval period. It is a patronymic name, derived from the father's given name Ohl, which itself is a shortened form of the Old Norse name Olaf. Patronymic surnames were common in Scandinavia, where a person's surname would indicate their father's name.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name OHLSON can be found in the Swedish census records from the late 16th century. The name was particularly prevalent in the southern provinces of Skåne and Blekinge, where many families bearing the surname can be traced back to the 17th and 18th centuries.

In the early 19th century, Carl Olof Ohlson (1790-1855) was a prominent Swedish merchant and shipowner based in Gothenburg. He played a significant role in the development of the city's maritime trade and was known for his philanthropic efforts.

Another notable individual with the surname OHLSON was Erik Ohlson (1825-1896), a Swedish-American entrepreneur who founded the Ohlson Brewing Company in Minneapolis, Minnesota. His brewery was one of the largest and most successful in the region during the latter half of the 19th century.

In the realm of academia, Gustaf Ohlson (1856-1923) was a Swedish philologist and professor at Uppsala University. He made significant contributions to the study of Old Norse and Old English literature and was a member of the Swedish Academy.

Moving into the 20th century, Olof Ohlson (1901-1976) was a Swedish diplomat who served as Sweden's ambassador to several countries, including the United States and the Soviet Union. He played a crucial role in facilitating the exchange of prisoners of war during World War II.

Lastly, Nils Ohlson (1920-2006) was a renowned Swedish actor and director who had a long and distinguished career on stage and screen. He was particularly celebrated for his portrayal of King Gustav III in the acclaimed 1986 film "The King's Journey."

While the name OHLSON has Swedish roots, it has since spread to other parts of the world due to emigration and intermarriage. However, its origins and historical significance remain firmly rooted in the medieval and early modern periods of Scandinavia.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Ohlson families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Ohlson surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.

Top counties

Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Middlesex leads with 23 Ohlsons recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.68x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 23 3.68x
Surrey 16 5.26x
Yorkshire 8 1.29x
Lancashire 6 0.81x
Oxfordshire 6 15.56x
Renfrewshire 2 4.13x
Kent 1 0.47x
Sussex 1 0.95x
Warwickshire 1 0.64x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Lambeth in Surrey leads with 12 Ohlsons recorded in 1881 and an index of 22.04x.

Place Total Index
Lambeth 12 22.04x
Hackney London 7 20.00x
Rotherham 7 200.57x
Neithrop 6 461.54x
Toxteth Park 6 23.92x
Mile End Old Town 5 50.76x
Clapham 4 51.28x
Islington London 4 6.61x
Hornsey 3 38.02x
Port Glasgow 2 85.47x
St George In East 2 47.06x
Birmingham 1 1.91x
Holy Trinity 1 6.72x
Hougham 1 78.74x
Limehouse London 1 14.60x
Preston 1 54.35x
Shadwell London 1 57.14x

Top female names

These are the female first names most often recorded with the Ohlson surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
Mary 3
Annie 2
Catherine 2
Elizabeth 2
Emily 2
Ann 1
Barbara 1
Dorothy 1
Edith 1
Egena 1
Eliza 1
Ellen 1
Gertrude 1
Harriett 1
Helen 1
Jane 1
Jennie 1
Kate 1
Margaret 1
Martha 1

Top male names

These are the male first names most often recorded with the Ohlson surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
George 6
Andrew 4
Frederick 4
James 3
William 2
Adolph 1
Alfred 1
Basil 1
Edward 1
Ernest 1
Fred 1
Fredk. 1
Harold 1
John 1
Leonard 1
Louis 1
Magnus 1
Oscar 1
Otto 1
Peter 1
T...ane 1
Wallace 1

Top occupations

Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Ohlson households.

FAQ

Ohlson surname: questions and answers

How common was the Ohlson surname in 1881?

In 1881, 64 people were recorded with the Ohlson surname. That placed it at #24,561 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Ohlson surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 93 in 2016. That gives Ohlson a modern rank of #31,945.

What does the Ohlson surname mean?

A Swedish occupational surname referring to someone who brewed ale or beer.

What does the Ohlson map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Ohlson bearers relative to the surrounding population.

What records is this surname page based on?

The historical counts come from census surname records. The modern counts and neighbourhood summaries come from later surname distribution records. Counts are recorded bearers in those records, not a live estimate of everyone with the name today.