Axelsen is a Danish and Norwegian patronymic surname, meaning “son of Axel.” The name Axel is the medieval Danish form of the biblical name Absalom (from Hebrew אַבְשָׁלוֹם, ʾAvshalom), meaning “father is peace,” derived from אָב (ʾav) “father” and שָׁלוֹם (shalom) “peace.” In the Old Testament, Absalom was a son of King David known for his rebellion and tragic death (II Samuel chapters 13–18). Distribution and Variants While primarily found in Denmark and Norway, the surname Axelsen is less common than its Swedish counterpart Axelsson, which also means “son of Axel.” Another Norwegian variant is Akselsen, formed from the given name Aksel, the cognate of Axel. In both countries, the surname reflects a tradition of using the father's personal name to denote lineage. Notable Bearers Among the most prominent individuals with the surname Axelsen is Viktor Axelsen (born 1994), a Danish badminton player who has won multiple world and Olympic medals. Other notable figures include Geir Axelsen (born 1965), a Norwegian economist and civil servant; John Axelsen (born 1998), a Danish professional golfer; and Ole Christian Axelsen (1849–1917), a Norwegian businessman. Related Surnames Beyond the Scandinavian countries, patronymic forms based on “Axel” also occur in related onomastic systems. Meaning: Son of Axel (derived from Absalom, “father is peace”) Origin: Danish, Norwegian Type: Patronymic surname Distribution: Primarily Denmark and Norway Other Forms: Axelsson (Swedish), Akselsen (Norwegian)