50+ Popular and Intriguing Icelandic Last Names

The Name Game

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Icelandic Last Names That Are Wildly Popular & Fascinating

Naming inspiration for your little bumbubúi (meaning “belly dweller”). by Jamie Thompson Updated: Oct. 6, 2021 Originally Published: June 28, 2021

William Shakespeare pondered, “What’s in a name?” Ironically, Romeo Montague, the tragic hero who spoke those words, may have asked, “What’s in a last name?” as it was central to his tale. In many cultures, surnames form the essence of identity, embodying traditions, origins, and histories. The way surnames are passed down is often unique. For instance, the baby naming tradition in Iceland is quite fascinating if you aren’t familiar with it. Unlike the generational last names in the United States, Iceland—and other nations like Russia—places a unique emphasis on familial connections when it comes to names.

To illustrate, in the U.S., one partner usually adopts the other’s last name after marriage, which becomes the family name. In Iceland, however, couples retain their original surnames post-marriage, meaning a family may not share the same last name. When a child is born, parents often spend several months getting to know their baby before deciding on a name. The surname given doesn’t function as a traditional surname; instead, it’s a patronym based on the father’s name. Similar to some Slavic cultures, sons and daughters receive variations of their father’s name, with suffixes that literally mean “son” or “daughter.”

For example, if Anna Kristjánsdóttir and Magnús Pétursson have a daughter named Kristín, her surname would be Magnúsdóttir, indicating she is Magnús’s daughter. This naming system is intriguing and logical. While many cultures have surnames that are passed down through family trees, Icelandic naming conventions have evolved to also allow matronymic names.

Additionally, Iceland has a unique rule that requires parents to select from a pre-approved list of first names for their babies; if they wish to use a name not on the list, it must be approved by the Icelandic Naming Committee. Yes, that’s a real entity!

Common Icelandic Last Names

If you’re curious about some of the most common Icelandic last names (which are primarily patronyms), here’s a list:

1. Jónsdóttir – “Daughter of Jón” (God has been gracious)
2. Jónsson – “Son of Jón” (God has been gracious)
3. Kristjánsdóttir – “Daughter of Kristján” (follower of Christ)
4. Kristjánsson – “Son of Kristján” (follower of Christ)
5. Ólafsdóttir – “Daughter of Ólafur” (ancestor’s relic)
6. Ólafsson – “Son of Ólafur” (ancestor’s relic)
7. Magnúsdóttir – “Daughter of Magnús” (great)
8. Magnússon – “Son of Magnús” (great)
9. Jóhannsdóttir – “Daughter of Jóhann” (noble and bright)
10. Jóhannsson – “Son of Jóhann” (noble and bright)
11. Björnsdóttir – “Daughter of Björn” (bear)
12. Björnsson – “Son of Björn” (bear)
13. Gunnarsdóttir – “Daughter of Gunnars” (brave warrior)
14. Gunnarsson – “Son of Gunnars” (brave warrior)
15. Helgadóttir – “Daughter of Helgi” (holy)
16. Helgason – “Son of Helgi” (holy)
17. Karlsdóttir – “Daughter of Karl” (free)
18. Karlsson – “Son of Karl” (free)
19. Pétursdóttir – “Daughter of Péturs” (strong)
20. Pétursson – “Son of Péturs” (strong)
21. Ragnarsdóttir – “Daughter of Ragnar” (warrior of God)
22. Ragnarsson – “Son of Ragnar” (warrior of God)
23. Árnason – “Son of Árna”
24. Árnadóttir – “Daughter of Árna”
25. Ásgeirsdóttir – “Daughter of Ásgeir”
26. Gísladóttir – “Daughter of Gisli”
27. Gíslason – “Son of Gísla”
28. Guðjónsdóttir – “Daughter of Guðjón”
29. Guðmundsdóttir – “Daughter of Guðmund”
30. Guðmundsson – “Son of Guðmund”
31. Guðjónsson – “Son of Guðjón”
32. Waage – “Weights” or weighing machine
33. Blöndal – “Blonde-haired person”
34. Möller – “Miller” or mill operator
35. Briem – “Pseudo foreign”
36. Hall – “Big rock or stone”
37. Schram – “Cleft in a rock” or someone living near a rock
38. Beck – “Brook” or stream
39. Gröndal – “Green dale”
40. Gray – No specific meaning
41. Strom – Related to Thor, the Nordic god of thunder
42. Bui – “Dweller”
43. Almr – “Elm tree”
44. Araujo – A climbing plant with fragrant flowers
45. Agnarsson – “Son of Agnar” (warrior)
46. Albertsson – “Son of Albert” (noble)
47. Alexandersdóttir – “Daughter of Alexander” (defender of men)
48. Andersen – “Son of Anders” (manly)
49. Annadóttir – “Daughter of Anna” (grace)
50. Aradóttir – “Daughter of Ara” (sky’s platform)
51. Arason – “Son of Ara” (altar of the sky)

This article was originally published on June 28, 2021.

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In summary, Icelandic last names follow a distinctive naming system that reflects familial ties through patronymics and matronymics. This cultural practice not only showcases the rich heritage of Iceland but also emphasizes individual identity in a unique way.

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