120 Icelandic Last Names Or Surnames (With Meanings)

Iceland has one of the most fascinating naming systems in the entire world and most people have no idea how it actually works.

Unlike almost every other country on earth, Iceland does not use hereditary family surnames. Instead, Icelanders use a patronymic or matronymic system where your last name is simply your father’s or mother’s first name with the suffix -son added for boys and -dóttir added for girls. So if your father is named Jón, a son becomes Jónsson and a daughter becomes Jónsdóttir. Every generation gets a different last name. Siblings have different last names. Your surname tells people who your parent is, not what family you belong to.

It is one of the oldest naming traditions in the Nordic world and Iceland has preserved it almost perfectly while the rest of Scandinavia moved to hereditary surnames centuries ago. The result is a naming system that feels deeply personal, deeply connected to family, and entirely unlike anything else in the modern world.

Here are 120 Icelandic last names or surnames with meanings, organized by the first name they come from and what that name means.

The Most Common Icelandic Surnames

These are the last names you will encounter most often in Iceland. Every one of them comes from a first name that has been popular in Iceland for generations, and understanding the first name gives you the full meaning of the surname.

1. Jónsson / Jónsdóttir

• Origin: Icelandic, from Jón
• Meaning: Son or daughter of Jón, the Icelandic form of John The most common surname combination in Iceland. Jón comes from Hebrew Yohanan meaning God is gracious.

2. Sigurðsson / Sigurðsdóttir

• Origin: Icelandic, from Sigurður
• Meaning: Son or daughter of Sigurður, meaning victory guardian Sigurður is one of the most beloved traditional Icelandic male names. A name of Old Norse warrior heritage.

3. Guðmundsson / Guðmundsdóttir

• Origin: Icelandic, from Guðmundur
• Meaning: Son or daughter of Guðmundur, meaning God’s protection Guðmundur combines the Old Norse words for god and protection. A name of deep spiritual and Norse significance.

4. Gunnarsson / Gunnarsdóttir

• Origin: Icelandic, from Gunnar
• Meaning: Son or daughter of Gunnar, meaning warrior or battle Gunnar is one of the most enduring Norse warrior names. Appears throughout the Icelandic sagas as a name of courage and strength.

5. Magnússon / Magnúsdóttir

• Origin: Icelandic, from Magnús
• Meaning: Son or daughter of Magnús, meaning great From the Latin Magnus meaning great. Brought to Iceland through contact with the wider medieval world.

6. Björnsson / Björnsdóttir

• Origin: Icelandic, from Björn
• Meaning: Son or daughter of Björn, meaning bear Björn is one of the oldest and most powerful Norse names. Bears in Norse mythology symbolized strength, ferocity, and the warrior spirit.

7. Kristjánsson / Kristjánsdóttir

• Origin: Icelandic, from Kristján
• Meaning: Son or daughter of Kristján, the Icelandic form of Christian Reflects the Christian faith that came to Iceland in the year 1000 CE and permanently shaped the naming tradition.

8. Ólafsson / Ólafsdóttir

• Origin: Icelandic, from Ólafur
• Meaning: Son or daughter of Ólafur, meaning ancestor’s relic Ólafur is the Icelandic form of Olaf. King Olaf brought Christianity to Norway and Iceland. A name of historical weight.

9. Halldórsson / Halldórsdóttir

• Origin: Icelandic, from Halldór
• Meaning: Son or daughter of Halldór, meaning Thor’s rock A compound of the Old Norse words for rock and Thor, the god of thunder. Solid, ancient, and deeply Icelandic.

10. Einarsson / Einarsdóttir

• Origin: Icelandic, from Einar
• Meaning: Son or daughter of Einar, meaning one warrior or lone fighter Einar was the name of many Viking Age heroes. A name of individual courage and determination.

11. Haraldsson / Haraldsdóttir

• Origin: Icelandic, from Haraldur
• Meaning: Son or daughter of Haraldur, meaning ruler of the army Harald was the name of several Norse kings including Harald Fairhair who united Norway and whose sons settled Iceland.

12. Þórisson / Þórisdóttir

• Origin: Icelandic, from Þórir
• Meaning: Son or daughter of Þórir, meaning Thor’s warrior Named directly for Thor, the god of thunder and storms. One of the most explicitly Norse names in the entire list.

13. Stefánsson / Stefánsdóttir

• Origin: Icelandic, from Stefán
• Meaning: Son or daughter of Stefán, the Icelandic form of Stephen From the Greek Stephanos meaning crown or wreath. A name of honor and distinction.

14. Árnason / Árnadóttir

• Origin: Icelandic, from Árni
• Meaning: Son or daughter of Árni, meaning eagle The eagle is one of the most powerful symbols in Norse mythology. A name of vision, freedom, and power.

15. Pétursson / Pétursdóttir

• Origin: Icelandic, from Pétur
• Meaning: Son or daughter of Pétur, the Icelandic form of Peter From the Greek Petros meaning rock or stone. One of the apostles gave this name its widespread use.

Icelandic Surnames From Norse Mythology

Some of the most striking Icelandic surnames come from first names that are directly connected to the gods, heroes, and creatures of Old Norse mythology. These names carry the sagas inside them.

16. Þórsson / Þórsdóttir

• Origin: Icelandic, from Þór
• Meaning: Son or daughter of Þór, the god of thunder Named directly for the god himself. Thor in the Norse tradition was the protector of humanity, the god of storms, and the wielder of Mjölnir.

17. Freyrsson / Freysdóttir

• Origin: Icelandic, from Freyr
• Meaning: Son or daughter of Freyr, the god of fertility and prosperity Freyr was one of the most beloved gods in Norse religion. A name of abundance, harvest, and peace.

18. Óðinnsson / Óðinsdóttir

• Origin: Icelandic, from Óðinn
• Meaning: Son or daughter of Óðinn, the Allfather Naming a child after Odin himself was considered an enormous honor. The god of wisdom, war, poetry, and death.

19. Lokason / Lokadóttir

• Origin: Icelandic, from Loki
• Meaning: Son or daughter of Loki, the trickster god Loki was the shape-shifter and trickster of the Norse pantheon. A rare and striking surname choice.

20. Baldursson / Baldursdóttir

• Origin: Icelandic, from Baldur
• Meaning: Son or daughter of Baldur, the god of light and purity Baldur was the most beloved of all the Norse gods. His death was the beginning of Ragnarök. A name of beauty and tragedy.

21. Tysson / Tysdóttir

• Origin: Icelandic, from Týr
• Meaning: Son or daughter of Týr, the god of justice and war Týr sacrificed his hand to bind the wolf Fenrir. A name of justice, sacrifice, and single-handed courage.

22. Heimdallsson / Heimdallsdóttir

• Origin: Icelandic, from Heimdallur
• Meaning: Son or daughter of Heimdallur, the watchman of the gods Heimdall stood guard at the rainbow bridge Bifrost. A name of vigilance and divine protection.

23. Víðarsson / Víðarsdóttir

• Origin: Icelandic, from Víðarr
• Meaning: Son or daughter of Víðarr, the silent god of revenge Víðarr was one of the few gods to survive Ragnarök. A name of endurance and quiet, inevitable strength.

24. Ulfarsson / Ulfarsdóttir

• Origin: Icelandic, from Úlfar
• Meaning: Son or daughter of Úlfar, meaning wolf warrior Wolf names were deeply prized in Norse culture. The wolf was a symbol of the warrior spirit.

25. Ormsson / Ormsdóttir

• Origin: Icelandic, from Ormur
• Meaning: Son or daughter of Ormur, meaning serpent or dragon Dragons and serpents in Norse mythology represented both wisdom and destruction. A name of ancient power.

26. Bersson / Bersdóttir

• Origin: Icelandic, from Bersi
• Meaning: Son or daughter of Bersi, meaning bear Another bear name from the Norse tradition. Warriors who fought with the ferocity of bears were called berserkers.

27. Hrólfssson / Hrólfsdóttir

• Origin: Icelandic, from Hrólf
• Meaning: Son or daughter of Hrólf, meaning famous wolf Hrólf Kraki was one of the legendary kings of Norse mythology. A name of fame and ferocity.

28. Skúlason / Skúladóttir

• Origin: Icelandic, from Skúli
• Meaning: Son or daughter of Skúli, meaning shelter or protection A name of safety and shelter in the Norse tradition.

29. Grettisson / Grettisdóttir

• Origin: Icelandic, from Grettir
• Meaning: Son or daughter of Grettir, a name from the sagas Grettir the Strong is one of the great heroes of Icelandic saga literature. His name became a surname through the fame of his story.

30. Egillsson / Egillsdóttir

• Origin: Icelandic, from Egill
• Meaning: Son or daughter of Egill, meaning edge or terror Egill Skallagrímsson was the greatest skald, or poet, of the Viking Age. His saga is one of the masterpieces of Icelandic literature.

Icelandic Surnames From Nature And The Landscape

Iceland is one of the most dramatically beautiful landscapes on earth. Volcanoes, glaciers, geysers, black sand beaches, the Northern Lights. Its first names and therefore its surnames reflect that extraordinary natural world.

31. Steinsson / Steinsdóttir

• Origin: Icelandic, from Steinn
• Meaning: Son or daughter of Steinn, meaning stone Stone is everywhere in Iceland. Lava fields, basalt columns, volcanic rock. A foundational name in every sense.

32. Bergsson / Bergsdóttir

• Origin: Icelandic, from Bergur
• Meaning: Son or daughter of Bergur, meaning mountain or rock The mountains and cliffs of Iceland are some of the most dramatic in the world. A name of geological power.

33. Eldsson / Eldsdóttir

• Origin: Icelandic, from Eldur
• Meaning: Son or daughter of Eldur, meaning fire Iceland sits on one of the most volcanically active places on earth. Fire is literally part of the landscape.

34. Jökulsson / Jökulsdóttir

• Origin: Icelandic, from Jökull
• Meaning: Son or daughter of Jökull, meaning glacier or icicle Iceland’s glaciers cover about ten percent of the country. Jökull is one of the most distinctly Icelandic nature names.

35. Hraunnsson / Hraunsdóttir

• Origin: Icelandic, from Hraun
• Meaning: Son or daughter of Hraun, meaning lava field The lava fields of Iceland stretch for miles in every direction. A name completely unique to this volcanic landscape.

36. Geysson / Geysdóttir

• Origin: Icelandic, from Geysir
• Meaning: Son or daughter of Geysir, meaning to gush Geysir is where the English word geyser comes from. A name born from one of Iceland’s most iconic natural wonders.

37. Heiðarsson / Heiðarsdóttir

• Origin: Icelandic, from Heiðar
• Meaning: Son or daughter of Heiðar, meaning heath or moorland The vast open heathland that covers much of the Icelandic interior.

38. Sandsson / Sandsdóttir

• Origin: Icelandic, from Sandur
• Meaning: Son or daughter of Sandur, meaning sand Iceland’s black volcanic sand beaches are one of the most striking sights in the natural world.

39. Fjallsson / Fjallsdóttir

• Origin: Icelandic, from Fjall
• Meaning: Son or daughter of Fjall, meaning mountain Iceland has over a hundred mountains. Fjall is the word for them all.

40. Vatnasson / Vatnasdóttir

• Origin: Icelandic, from Vatn
• Meaning: Son or daughter of Vatn, meaning lake or water Water in all its forms defines the Icelandic landscape. A name of elemental simplicity.

41. Hlíðarsson / Hlíðarsdóttir

• Origin: Icelandic, from Hlíðar
• Meaning: Son or daughter of Hlíðar, meaning hillside or slope The rolling hillsides that lead down to Iceland’s many fjords.

42. Kvíslarsson / Kvíslarsdóttir

• Origin: Icelandic, from Kvísl
• Meaning: Son or daughter of Kvísl, meaning fork in a river Iceland’s rivers split and braid across the volcanic plains in a way found almost nowhere else on earth.

43. Mossson / Mossdóttir

• Origin: Icelandic, from Mosi
• Meaning: Son or daughter of Mosi, meaning moss Iceland’s lava fields are carpeted in bright green moss. One of the most distinctive features of the landscape.

44. Vindsson / Vindsdóttir

• Origin: Icelandic, from Vindur
• Meaning: Son or daughter of Vindur, meaning wind Wind shapes everything in Iceland. The landscape, the weather, the way people live. A name of elemental force.

45. Ísson / Ísdóttir

• Origin: Icelandic, from Ís
• Meaning: Son or daughter of Ís, meaning ice Simple, cold, and completely elemental. Ice covers glaciers, fjords, and fills the air with the creak and groan of ancient movement.

Icelandic Surnames From Old Norse First Names

Iceland preserved Old Norse names longer than almost anywhere else in Scandinavia. Many of these names disappeared from Norway, Sweden, and Denmark centuries ago but are still in active use in Iceland today, producing surnames that feel genuinely ancient.

46. Hrafnsson / Hrafnsdóttir

• Origin: Icelandic, from Hrafn
• Meaning: Son or daughter of Hrafn, meaning raven The raven was Odin’s bird and one of the most sacred creatures in Norse mythology. Odin had two ravens called Huginn and Muninn, Thought and Memory.

47. Ulfsson / Ulfsdóttir

• Origin: Icelandic, from Ulfur
• Meaning: Son or daughter of Ulfur, meaning wolf A pure Norse wolf name. One of the oldest naming traditions in the entire Germanic world.

48. Ketilsson / Ketilsdóttir

• Origin: Icelandic, from Ketill
• Meaning: Son or daughter of Ketill, meaning cauldron or helmet An ancient Norse name that appeared frequently among the first settlers of Iceland in the ninth century.

49. Ingólfsson / Ingólfsdóttir

• Origin: Icelandic, from Ingólfur
• Meaning: Son or daughter of Ingólfur, meaning Ing’s wolf Ingólfur Arnarson was the first permanent Norse settler of Iceland. His name is at the very foundation of Icelandic history.

50. Leifsson / Leifsdóttir

• Origin: Icelandic, from Leifur
• Meaning: Son or daughter of Leifur, meaning heir or descendant Leifur Eiríksson, Leif Erikson, sailed to North America around the year 1000 CE. Five centuries before Columbus.

51. Eiríksson / Eiríksdóttir

• Origin: Icelandic, from Eiríkur
• Meaning: Son or daughter of Eiríkur, meaning ever ruler Eiríkur Rauði, Erik the Red, discovered Greenland and fathered Leif Erikson. A name of exploration and stubborn courage.

52. Snorrason / Snorradóttir

• Origin: Icelandic, from Snorri
• Meaning: Son or daughter of Snorri, possibly meaning attack or charge Snorri Sturluson was the greatest writer of the medieval Icelandic tradition. He wrote the Prose Edda, our most complete source for Norse mythology.

53. Brandsson / Brandsdóttir

• Origin: Icelandic, from Brandur
• Meaning: Son or daughter of Brandur, meaning sword or fire A name of both weapons and warmth. Swords and fire were the two most essential tools of the Viking Age.

54. Bjarnason / Bjarnadóttir

• Origin: Icelandic, from Bjarni
• Meaning: Son or daughter of Bjarni, meaning bear Bjarni Herjólfsson was the first European known to have sighted the American continent, even before Leif Erikson landed there.

55. Ketilsson / Ketilsdóttir

• Origin: Icelandic, from Ketill
• Meaning: Son or daughter of Ketill, meaning cauldron or sacrificial vessel Already appeared above. Worth noting that Ketill appears in many of the founding settler families of Iceland.

56. Þorkelsson / Þorkelsdóttir

• Origin: Icelandic, from Þorkell
• Meaning: Son or daughter of Þorkell, meaning Thor’s cauldron A compound of Thor and the word for a sacrificial vessel. A deeply Norse and ritual name.

57. Hauksson / Hauksdóttir

• Origin: Icelandic, from Haukur
• Meaning: Son or daughter of Haukur, meaning hawk The hawk was a bird of prestige in Norse society. Trained hawks were valuable gifts between nobles.

58. Oddsson / Oddsdóttir

• Origin: Icelandic, from Oddur
• Meaning: Son or daughter of Oddur, meaning point of a weapon Specifically the sharp tip of a spear or sword. A warrior name of precision and lethality.

59. Gíslason / Gísladóttir

• Origin: Icelandic, from Gísli
• Meaning: Son or daughter of Gísli, meaning hostage or pledge In Norse society, hostages were exchanged between noble families as guarantees of peace. A name with deep political meaning.

60. Hallsson / Hallsdóttir

• Origin: Icelandic, from Hallur
• Meaning: Son or daughter of Hallur, meaning rock or flat stone Simple, solid, and ancient. Rock names were extremely common among the first settlers.

Icelandic Surnames From Female First Names (Matronymics)

Iceland is one of the few places on earth where a child can take their mother’s name as their surname. These matronymic surnames are increasingly common and carry something completely unique about them.

61. Katrínarson / Katrínarsdóttir

• Origin: Icelandic, from Katrín
• Meaning: Son or daughter of Katrín, the Icelandic form of Catherine A matronymic surname based on one of Iceland’s most popular female names.

62. Guðrúnarson / Guðrúnarsdóttir

• Origin: Icelandic, from Guðrún
• Meaning: Son or daughter of Guðrún, meaning God’s secret lore Guðrún was the great tragic heroine of the Völsunga saga. One of the most powerful female names in all of Norse literature.

63. Helguson / Helgudóttir

• Origin: Icelandic, from Helga
• Meaning: Son or daughter of Helga, meaning holy or sacred Helga was one of the most common female names among the first settlers of Iceland.

64. Sigríðarson / Sigríðarsdóttir

• Origin: Icelandic, from Sigríður
• Meaning: Son or daughter of Sigríður, meaning victory and beauty A compound of the Norse words for victory and beautiful. One of the most elegant Old Norse women’s names.

65. Þórdísar son / Þórdísarsdóttir

• Origin: Icelandic, from Þórdís
• Meaning: Son or daughter of Þórdís, meaning Thor’s goddess A female name directly honoring the god Thor. A name of divine feminine power.

66. Ásthildarson / Ásthildarsdóttir

• Origin: Icelandic, from Ásthildur
• Meaning: Son or daughter of Ásthildur, meaning divine battle Combines the Norse word for god or divine and the word for battle. A warrior goddess name.

67. Ragnheiðarson / Ragnheiðarsdóttir

• Origin: Icelandic, from Ragnheiður
• Meaning: Son or daughter of Ragnheiður, meaning divine brightness Combines the Norse words for counsel or power of the gods and brightness. A name of wisdom and light.

68. Ingibjargson / Ingibjargsdóttir

• Origin: Icelandic, from Ingibjörg
• Meaning: Son or daughter of Ingibjörg, meaning Ing’s protection Ing was a Norse deity associated with peace and fertility. A name of divine protection.

69. Hildurson / Hildursdóttir

• Origin: Icelandic, from Hildur
• Meaning: Son or daughter of Hildur, meaning battle The valkyries in Norse mythology were sometimes called by names meaning battle. Hildur was one of the great valkyrie names.

70. Ásdísar son / Ásdísarsdóttir

• Origin: Icelandic, from Ásdís
• Meaning: Son or daughter of Ásdís, meaning divine goddess A name of pure divine feminine power. Dís referred to a class of female divine beings in Norse religion.

Icelandic Surnames Based On Compound Norse Names

Some of the most distinctive Icelandic surnames come from compound first names that combine two powerful Norse words. These double-meaning names create some of the most beautiful and complex surnames in the Icelandic tradition.

71. Sigurjónsson / Sigurjónsdóttir

• Origin: Icelandic, from Sigurjón
• Meaning: Son or daughter of Sigurjón, meaning victory and God is gracious A compound of Sigurður and Jón. Victory through divine grace.

72. Þórðarson / Þórðarsdóttir

• Origin: Icelandic, from Þórður
• Meaning: Son or daughter of Þórður, meaning Thor’s spirit Combines Thor and the Old Norse word for spirit or mind. A name of divine mental power.

73. Guðjónsson / Guðjónsdóttir

• Origin: Icelandic, from Guðjón
• Meaning: Son or daughter of Guðjón, meaning God and John combined A compound name reflecting both Norse and Christian naming traditions coexisting.

74. Óskarsson / Óskarsdóttir

• Origin: Icelandic, from Óskar
• Meaning: Son or daughter of Óskar, meaning divine spear or God’s spear A name of divine warrior power. The spear was Odin’s weapon of choice.

75. Sigþórsson / Sigþórsdóttir

• Origin: Icelandic, from Sigþór
• Meaning: Son or daughter of Sigþór, meaning Thor’s victory Thor and victory combined. A name of pure Norse martial triumph.

76. Ásbjörnsson / Ásbjörnsdóttir

• Origin: Icelandic, from Ásbjörn
• Meaning: Son or daughter of Ásbjörn, meaning divine bear God and bear combined. One of the most powerful animal-deity compound names in the Norse tradition.

77. Ásgeírsson / Ásgeírsdóttir

• Origin: Icelandic, from Ásgeír
• Meaning: Son or daughter of Ásgeír, meaning divine spear The spear of the gods. A name of both celestial and martial power.

78. Steinþórsson / Steinþórsdóttir

• Origin: Icelandic, from Steinþór
• Meaning: Son or daughter of Steinþór, meaning Thor’s stone Stone and Thor combined. Immovable divine strength.

79. Jónsson / Jónsdóttir

• Origin: Icelandic, from Jón
• Meaning: Already appeared at number one. The most common Icelandic surname by a significant margin.

80. Guðlaugsson / Guðlaugsdóttir

• Origin: Icelandic, from Guðlaugur
• Meaning: Son or daughter of Guðlaugur, meaning God’s vow A name of sacred oath and divine commitment.

Famous Icelandic Surnames In History And Culture

Iceland punches far above its size when it comes to cultural contribution. These surnames belong to some of the most remarkable people to have come from this tiny island nation.

81. Bjarkason / Bjarkadóttir

• Origin: Icelandic, from Bjarki
• Meaning: Son or daughter of Bjarki, meaning little bear Named for the legendary hero Bödvar Bjarki from Norse mythology.

82. Eiríksson

• Origin: Icelandic, from Eiríkur
• Meaning: Son of Eiríkur, ever ruler Leifur Eiríksson made this surname famous across the world when he became the first European to set foot on the American continent.

83. Sturluson

• Origin: Icelandic, from Sturla
• Meaning: Son of Sturla Snorri Sturluson made this the most important literary surname in Icelandic history. Without him, much of what we know about Norse mythology would have been lost.

84. Grímsson / Grímsdóttir

• Origin: Icelandic, from Grímur
• Meaning: Son or daughter of Grímur, meaning masked one or disguised one Grímur refers to someone in disguise. Odin often wore disguises when walking among humans. A name of shape-shifting and hidden identity.

85. Björnsson

• Origin: Icelandic, from Björn
• Meaning: Son of Björn, the bear Made internationally famous by the actor Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson, the strongest man in the world and Game of Thrones actor.

86. Sigmarsson / Sigmarsdóttir

• Origin: Icelandic, from Sigmar
• Meaning: Son or daughter of Sigmar, meaning victory famous Jón Páll Sigmarsson was one of the greatest strongmen in history. Won the World’s Strongest Man four times.

87. Laxness

• Origin: Icelandic, from a farm name Laxnes
• Meaning: From the salmon headland Halldór Laxness won the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1955. The only Icelander to have done so. His surname came from the farm where he grew up.

88. Ólafsson

• Origin: Icelandic, from Ólafur
• Meaning: Son of Ólafur, ancestor’s relic Ólafur Ragnar Grímsson served as President of Iceland for twenty years. Also the surname of Einar Ólafsson, one of Iceland’s greatest poets.

89. Magnússon

• Origin: Icelandic, from Magnús
• Meaning: Son of Magnús, the great one One of the most common surnames in Iceland and carried by many of the country’s most distinguished figures.

90. Halldórsson

• Origin: Icelandic, from Halldór
• Meaning: Son of Halldór, Thor’s rock Björn Halldórsson was an eighteenth century Icelandic bishop and scholar who compiled one of the first major Icelandic dictionaries.

Rare And Unusual Icelandic Surnames

These are the last names found less frequently in Iceland but carry some of the most interesting origins and meanings in the entire naming tradition.

91. Hreiðarsson / Hreiðarsdóttir

• Origin: Icelandic, from Hreiðar
• Meaning: Son or daughter of Hreiðar, meaning nest A bird’s nest. A name of home, safety, and the natural world.

92. Þrándsson / Þrándsdóttir

• Origin: Icelandic, from Þrándur
• Meaning: Son or daughter of Þrándur, the name of a legendary warrior Þrándur appears in several Icelandic sagas as a figure of cunning and survival.

93. Flókason / Flókadóttir

• Origin: Icelandic, from Flóki
• Meaning: Son or daughter of Flóki Hrafna-Flóki Vilgerðarson was the first Norse settler to intentionally sail to Iceland. He gave the island its name after a harsh winter.

94. Koðránsson / Koðránsdóttir

• Origin: Icelandic, from Koðrán
• Meaning: Son or daughter of Koðrán, an ancient Norse name Appears in the early settlement records of Iceland among the first families to arrive.

95. Bjálkason / Bjálkadóttir

• Origin: Icelandic, from Bjálki
• Meaning: Son or daughter of Bjálki, meaning beam of wood Named for the heavy wooden beams that were prized building materials in tree-scarce Iceland.

96. Þuríðarson / Þuríðarsdóttir

• Origin: Icelandic, from Þuríður
• Meaning: Son or daughter of Þuríður, meaning Thor’s battle A female name honoring Thor in the context of combat. A warrior goddess name.

97. Vermundsson / Vermundsdóttir

• Origin: Icelandic, from Vermundur
• Meaning: Son or daughter of Vermundur, meaning protecting man One of the settlement-era names found in the Landnámabók, the Book of Settlements.

98. Sæmundsson / Sæmundsdóttir

• Origin: Icelandic, from Sæmundur
• Meaning: Son or daughter of Sæmundur, meaning sea protection Sæmundur the Wise was a famous Icelandic scholar of the twelfth century. A name of learning and the sea combined.

99. Þorvaldsson / Þorvaldsdóttir

• Origin: Icelandic, from Þorvaldur
• Meaning: Son or daughter of Þorvaldur, meaning Thor’s ruler Þorvaldur Eiríksson was one of the sons of Erik the Red who explored the American coast after Leif Erikson.

100. Ófeigsson / Ófeigsdóttir

• Origin: Icelandic, from Ófeigur
• Meaning: Son or daughter of Ófeigur, meaning not doomed to die young A name specifically given to express the hope that a child would live a long life. Deeply personal and touching in its meaning.

101. Hvítfeldtsson / Hvítfeldtsdóttir

• Origin: Icelandic, from Hvítfeldt
• Meaning: Son or daughter of Hvítfeldt, meaning white field A landscape name describing the white snowfields of Iceland in winter.

102. Hrímsson / Hrímsdóttir

• Origin: Icelandic, from Hrímur
• Meaning: Son or daughter of Hrímur, meaning frost or hoarfrost The frost that covers Iceland in winter. A name of cold beauty.

103. Kötlusson / Kötludóttir

• Origin: Icelandic, from Katla
• Meaning: Son or daughter of Katla, meaning kettle Katla is also the name of one of Iceland’s most powerful and feared volcanoes. A name of boiling, dangerous power.

104. Ísólfsson / Ísólfsdóttir

• Origin: Icelandic, from Ísólfur
• Meaning: Son or daughter of Ísólfur, meaning ice wolf Ice and wolf combined. One of the most striking compound nature-animal names in the Icelandic tradition.

105. Gunnhildarson / Gunnhildarsdóttir

• Origin: Icelandic, from Gunnhildur
• Meaning: Son or daughter of Gunnhildur, meaning battle warrior woman A female name meaning warrior. One of the most powerful women’s names in Norse tradition.

106. Ástríðarson / Ástríðarsdóttir

• Origin: Icelandic, from Ástríður
• Meaning: Son or daughter of Ástríður, meaning divine beauty Combines the Norse words for god and beauty. A name of sacred loveliness.

107. Þorfinnsson / Þorfinnsdóttir

• Origin: Icelandic, from Þorfinnur
• Meaning: Son or daughter of Þorfinnur, meaning Thor’s Finn Þorfinnur karlsefni was one of the leaders of the Norse attempt to settle North America around 1000 CE.

108. Auðunsson / Auðunsdóttir

• Origin: Icelandic, from Auðun
• Meaning: Son or daughter of Auðun, meaning wealth friend Auðun of the West Fjords was the hero of one of the most beloved short sagas. A man who gave a polar bear to the King of Denmark.

109. Þjóðólfsson / Þjóðólfsdóttir

• Origin: Icelandic, from Þjóðólfur
• Meaning: Son or daughter of Þjóðólfur, meaning people’s wolf The wolf of the people. A name of community and wild strength combined.

110. Þórhallsson / Þórhallsdóttir

• Origin: Icelandic, from Þórhallur
• Meaning: Son or daughter of Þórhallur, meaning Thor’s rock Þórhallur the Hunter was one of the members of the expedition to Vinland in North America.

Modern Icelandic Surnames

Iceland occasionally grants exceptions to the patronymic system allowing families to adopt fixed hereditary surnames. These are some of the most interesting cases of modern Icelandic surnames.

111. Sveinsson / Sveinsdóttir

• Origin: Icelandic, from Sveinn
• Meaning: Son or daughter of Sveinn, meaning boy or servant Sveinn was a common Viking Age name and remains in use in Iceland today.

112. Kristinsson / Kristinsdóttir

• Origin: Icelandic, from Kristinn
• Meaning: Son or daughter of Kristinn, meaning Christian A name reflecting the Christian conversion of Iceland in the year 1000 CE.

113. Jóhannesson / Jóhannessdóttir

• Origin: Icelandic, from Jóhannes
• Meaning: Son or daughter of Jóhannes, the Icelandic form of Johannes or John The longer, more formal Latin form of the John name family.

114. Benediktsson / Benediktsdóttir

• Origin: Icelandic, from Benedikt
• Meaning: Son or daughter of Benedikt, meaning blessed Bjarni Benediktsson is a former Prime Minister of Iceland. A name of blessing and good fortune.

115. Sigurbjörnsson / Sigurbjörnsdóttir

• Origin: Icelandic, from Sigurbjörn
• Meaning: Son or daughter of Sigurbjörn, meaning victory bear Victory and bear combined. A name of triumphant strength.

116. Þorsteinsson / Þorsteinsdóttir

• Origin: Icelandic, from Þorsteinn
• Meaning: Son or daughter of Þorsteinn, meaning Thor’s stone Immovable divine rock. One of the most common Old Norse names in Iceland.

117. Jónassen / Jónasdóttir

• Origin: Icelandic, from Jónas
• Meaning: Son or daughter of Jónas, the Icelandic form of Jonah From the Hebrew meaning dove. The prophet swallowed by a whale gave this name its enduring significance.

118. Sigurjónsson / Sigurjónsdóttir

• Origin: Icelandic, from Sigurjón
• Meaning: Son or daughter of Sigurjón, meaning victory and John Already appeared in the compound surnames section. One of the most common double-name surnames in Iceland.

119. Friðriksson / Friðriksdóttir

• Origin: Icelandic, from Friðrik
• Meaning: Son or daughter of Friðrik, the Icelandic form of Frederick Friðrik combines the Old Norse words for peace and ruler. A name of peaceful authority.

120. Vilhjálmsson / Vilhjálmsdóttir

• Origin: Icelandic, from Vilhjálmur
• Meaning: Son or daughter of Vilhjálmur, the Icelandic form of William The Icelandic version of the Germanic name meaning resolute protector. A name that arrived in Iceland and was immediately made entirely its own.

Wrapping Up

One hundred and twenty surnames from an island of 370,000 people that has preserved one of the oldest naming traditions on earth.

Every last name on this list is a sentence about a family. Who your father was. Who your mother was. Which god they honored. Which landscape they came from. Which saga hero they admired enough to name their child after. Iceland’s naming system is not a relic or a quirk. It is a living, breathing connection to a world that most of the rest of Europe stopped carrying a very long time ago.

Pin this one. It is unlike any other surnames list you will find.