Olofsdotter is a Swedish patronymic surname meaning "daughter of Olof". It is derived from the given name Olof, which is the Swedish form of Olaf, itself from the Old Norse Áleifr meaning "ancestor's descendant" (from elements anu "ancestor" and leif "inheritance, legacy"). In Swedish naming tradition, surnames ending in -dotter indicate daughters, while sons typically carried names ending in -sson. This patronymic system was widespread in Sweden until the late 19th century, when hereditary surnames became more common.
Historically, Olofsdotter would be applied to the daughter of a man named Olof, but it later became a fixed family name. Related surnames include Olofsson ("son of Olof") and Olsson (a contracted form of Olofsson). Equivalent patronymics in neighboring countries include Olesen (Danish), Olsen (Norwegian), and Olson (Norwegian).
The surge in popularity of the name Olof during the Christianization of Scandinavia was partly due to the reverence for Saint Olaf (King Olaf II of Norway, reigned 1015–1028), who was canonized for his efforts to Christianize the country. His cult spread across Scandinavia, influencing the use of the name and derived patronymics.
- Meaning: "daughter of Olof"
- Origin: Old Norse via Swedish
- Type: Patronymic surname
- Usage regions: Sweden