Poulsen History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Denmark
Scotland
Ireland

Etymology of Poulsen

What does the name Poulsen mean?

Poulsen is an ancient Viking-Scottish name derived from the personal name Paul. This name, which is derived from the Norse name Pál, was very popular among the Northmen. The "son" suffix typically denotes "son of Paul." 1

"The name Paul was a favourite one among the Norse, and hence its popularity in Cathanesia." 1

Early Origins of the Poulsen family

The surname Poulsen was first found in Caithness (Gaelic: Gallaibh), the northern tip of Scotland, a Norse/Viking controlled region from the 9th century.

Some of the first records include "Magnus Paulsoun, tacksman of the Bull ('headhouse,' ON. bol, farm) of Halkisnes, 1502 (REO., p. 419). James Palsone was part proprietor of Grindlie and Arnie in 1618. "From that time there is no further record of Paulsons in Sanday. It would, therefore, seem that the Paulsons had dropped their patronymic and taken the surname of Fea, probably from the lands of Fea in the near neighbourhood of Stove, which very possibly were at one time their odal property" (REO., p. 206). Sir John Paulson was vicar of Kilmaly in diocese of Lismore, 1559." 1

Early History of the Poulsen family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Poulsen research. Another 103 words (7 lines of text) covering the years 1370, 1456, 1500, 1783, 1829, 1858, 1865 and 1946 are included under the topic Early Poulsen History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Poulsen Spelling Variations

Scottish names from the Middle Ages vary enormously in their spellings. This is a result of the fact that there were no universal standards like dictionaries for scribes to judge by. The recorded spelling variations of the name Poulsen include Polson, Poulson, Poulsen, Poulsin, Poleson, Pole and many more.

Early Notables of the Poulsen family

George Poulson (1783-1858), English topographer, was born in 1783. His first publication was ‘Beverlac; or the Antiquities and History of the Town of Beverley, in the county of York, and of the Provostry and Collegiate...
Another 35 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Poulsen Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Poulsen Ranking

the United States, the name Poulsen is the 10,174^th most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 2

Migration of the Poulsen family to Ireland

Some of the Poulsen family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 41 words (3 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Poulsen migration to the United States +

Settlers found farms all along the eastern part of what would become the United States and Canada. They provided a base and a backbone that would strengthen two great nations in the making. In the 20th century, the ancestors of those brave Scots have rediscovered their heritage through highland games and Scottish historical societies. Early North American immigration records have revealed a number of people bearing the Scottish name Poulsen or a variant listed above, including:

Poulsen Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

Agnes Johanne L. Poulsen, aged 3, who landed in America from Aarhue, Denmark, in 1907
Andrea L. Poulsen, aged 18, who immigrated to the United States from Sonderbroen, Denmark, in 1909
Andreas G. Poulsen, aged 19, who landed in America from Dragor, Denmark, in 1909
Alfred Poulsen, aged 18, who landed in America from Hindbjerg, Denmark, in 1910
Amisten Martinus Poulsen, aged 18, who landed in America from Hounsted, Denmark, in 1910
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Poulsen (post 1700) +

Erik Edmund Poulsen (b. 1964), American politician
Niels I. Poulsen, American Republican politician, Member of Connecticut Republican State Central Committee, 1940 3
Roald Poulsen (1950-2024), Danish-Norwegian association football manager
Søren Pape Poulsen (1971-2024), Danish politician who served as a member of the Folketing for the Danish Conservative Party and its leader from 2014 until his death
Ulla Poulsen Skou (1905-2001), (née Iversen), formerly Baroness Ulla Rosenørn-Lehn, Danish ballerina and actress
Olaf Poulsen (1849-1923), Danish comedic stage actor, known for playing roles in A Midsummer Night's Dream and Falstaff
Rikard Axel Poulsen (1887-1972), Danish sculptor
Gudrun Thorgerd Erna Poulsen (1918-1999), Danish painter
Hanna Poulsen (b. 1984), (née Ek), Finnish model and beauty pageant titleholder, crowned Miss Finland in 2005
... (Another 30 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Historic Events for the Poulsen family +

SS Norge

Mr. Alfred Julius Poulsen (b. 1887), Danish passenger who was aboard the ship "SS Norge" when she ran aground and sunk on 28th June 1904, he was saved on life boat 3
Mr. Christian Laurits Poulsen (1865-1904), Danish passenger who was aboard the ship "SS Norge" when she ran aground and sunk on 28th June 1904, he died
Mr. Vilhelm Johannes Peter Poulsen (1872-1923), Danish passenger who was aboard the ship "SS Norge" when she ran aground and sunk on 28th June 1904, he was saved on life boat 5

Sources +

Black, George F., The Surnames of Scotland Their Origin, Meaning and History. New York: New York Public Library, 1946. Print. (ISBN 0-87104-172-3)
"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, November 13) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html