140+ Popular & Unique Icelandic Surnames

Download Article

Naming expert Natalie Mulholland shares common Icelandic and Norwegian surnames

Co-authored by Natalie Mulholland and Raven Minyard, BA

Last Updated: August 6, 2026 Fact Checked

Download Article

• Common
|
• Unique
|
• Traditional
|
• Occupational & Descriptive
|
• Nature-Inspired
|
• Place-Inspired
|
• Famous
|
• Naming Conventions
|
• More Surnames
|
• Last Name Generator​

|Show more |Show less

Iceland has some pretty unique naming traditions. Most Icelandic surnames are patronymic, meaning they’re based on the father’s name, so surnames can get pretty complicated, even within the same family. Whether you’re creating an Icelandic character or are just curious about naming traditions, you’ve come to the right place. We spoke with a naming expert to compile a list of the most common and unique Icelandic last names, as well as to explain how these names work. Let’s get started!

Popular Icelandic Last Names

Download Image

Download Image

Naming expert Natalie Mulholland says some popular Icelandic or Norwegian surnames are Larson (“son of Lars”), Eriksson (“son of Erik”), and Anderson (“son of Anders”). The suffix “son” is given to men, while the suffix “dottir” is given to women.

Steps

Section 1 of 9:

Common Icelandic Surnames

Download Article

1. 
   A lot of Icelandic surnames have Norwegian origins, and Mulholland says these names are often patronymic, meaning they’re based on the father’s first name. Here are some of the most common Icelandic surnames:

   • Albertsson (“son of Albert”)
   • Anderson (“son of Anders”)
   • Árnadóttir (“daughter of Árna”)
   • Árnason (“son of Árna”)
   • Einarsdottir (“daughter of “Einar”)
   • Einarsson (“son of Einar”)
   • Eiríksdóttir (“daughter of Eirik”)
   • Guðmundsdóttir (“daughter of Guðmundur”)
   • Guðmundsson (“son of Guðmundur”)
   • Hákonarsson (“son of Hákon”)
   • Haraldsdóttir (“daughter of Haraldur”)
   • Jóhannsdóttir (“daughter of Jóhann”)
   • Jóhannsson (“son of Jóhann”)
   • Jónsson (“son of Jón”)
   • Jónsdóttir (“daughter of Jón”)
   • Karlsson (“son of Karl”)
   • Larson (“son of Lars”)
   • Magnússon (“son of Magnús”)
   • Ólafsdóttir (“daughter of Ólafur”)
   • Ólafsson (“son of Ólafur”)
   • Ragnarsdóttir (“daughter of Ragnar”)
   • Sigurðsson (“son of Sigurður”)
   • Sverrisson (“son of Sverrir”)
   • Thordarson (“son of Thordar”)
   • Thorsteinsdottir (“daughter of Thorstein”)
   • Thorsteinsson (“son of Thorstein”)
   • Þjóðarson (“son of Þjóðar”)
   • Þórvaldarson (“son of Þórvaldur”)
   • Sigurdsson (“son of Sigurd”)
   • Snorrason (“son of Snorri”)

   Meet the wikiHow Expert

   Natalie Mulholland is a name consultant who began creating name content in 2023. She shares name origins and meanings with a linguistically-focused approach.
Advertisement

Section 2 of 9:

Unique Icelandic Surnames

Download Article

1. 
   Even though most Icelandic last names end in “-son” or “-dóttir,” some are still more common than others. This is because some first names are more popular than others. Here are some more unique Icelandic surnames you may encounter:

   • Arnaldsson (“son of Arnaldur”)
   • Aronsson (“son of Aron”)
   • Ásgerisdóttir (“daughter of Ásgeir”)
   • Bjarnason (“son of Björn”)
   • Björnsdóttir (“daughter of Björn”)
   • Eldursson (“son of Eldur”)
   • Egillsson (“son of Egill”)
   • Fjallason (“son of Fjall”)
   • Finnsson (“son of Finnur”)
   • Gísladóttir (“daughter of Gísli”)
   • Gíslason (“son of Gísli”)
   • Guðjónsdóttir (“daughter of Guðjóns”)
   • Guðjónsson (“son of Guðjóns”)
   • Gunnarsdóttir (“daughter of Gunnars”)
   • Hafdóttir (“daughter of Haf”)
   • Helgadóttir (“daughter of Helgi”)
   • Karlsdóttir (“daughter of Karl”)
   • Ketilsson (“son of Ketill”)
   • Logason (“son of Logi”)
   • Pétursdóttir (“daughter of Peturs”)
   • Skarphéðinsson (“son of Skarphéðinn”)
   • Svanþórsson (“son of Svanþó”)
   • Þórðarson (“son of Þórður”)
   • Tjörvason (“son of Tjörvi”)
   • Tómasarson (“son of Tómas”)
   • Úlfarsdóttir (“daughter of Úlfar”)
   • Vilhjálmsson (“son of Vilhjálmur”)

Section 3 of 9:

Traditional Icelandic Surnames

Download Article

1. 
   As we’ve already mentioned, most popular and traditional Icelandic surnames are patronymic. Many of these traditional last names are also associated with strength or power. Here are some examples:

   • Agnarsson (“son of Agnar”)
   • Ásgeirsson (“son of Ásgeir; spear of the gods”)
   • Bergmann (“mountain man”)
   • Bjornsson (“son of the bear”)
   • Einarsson (“one warrior’s son”)
   • Eliasson (“son of Elias”)
   • Eriksson (“son of Erik”)
   • Gunnarsson (“warrior’s son”)
   • Hákonsson (“son of Hákon”)
   • Helgason (“son of the holy one”)
   • Ingvarsson (“son of Ingvar; protected by Ing”)
   • Ívarsson (“bow warrior’s son”)
   • Jónsson (“son of Jón”)
   • Kristjánsdóttir (“daughter of Kristján”)
   • Kristjánsson (“son of Kristján”)
   • Lárusson (“son of Lárus”)
   • Magnúsdóttir (“daughter of Magnus”)
   • Magnússon (“son of Magnus”)
   • Níelsson (“champion’s son”)
   • Pétursson (“son of Pétur; rock or stone”)
   • Ragnarsson (“son of Ragnar; warrior of the gods”)
   • Sigurðsson (“son of Sigurð; victory guardian”)
   • Steinsson (“son of stone”)
   • Þórsson (“son of Thor”)
   • Úlfsson (“son of the wolf”)
Advertisement

Section 4 of 9:

Descriptive Icelandic Surnames

Download Article

1. 
   While most Icelandic surnames are patronymic, Mulholland notes that some names of Norwegian origin are also occupational. Occupational names are based on what a person or family does for a living, while descriptive names may describe their appearance, personality, or spirituality. Here are some examples:

   • Arnórsson (“son of the eagle warrior”)
   • Bjarki (“little bear”)
   • Blöndal (“fair-haired, blond”)
   • Brieum (a pseudo-foreign name meant to resemble German or Danish surnames)
   • Bui (“farmer, dweller”)
   • Dagur (“day”)
   • Elvar (“elf warrior”)
   • Guðmundur (“God’s protection”)
   • Hákon (“high son, chosen”)
   • Hall (“boulder, slope”)
   • Íris (“rainbow”)
   • Jökull (“glacier”)
   • Kolbeinn (“coal-bone, dark leg”)
   • Loftur (“air or sky”)
   • Már (“son of Naddodd, seagull, the sea”)
   • Möller (“miller”)
   • Njörður (“strong, vigorous”)
   • Orri (“black grouse”)
   • Ragnar (“warrior of the gods”)
   • Sveinn (“boy, young man”)
   • Tryggvi (“the trustworthy one”)
   • Unnur (“wave, to love”)
   • Vilhjálmur (“will helmet”)
   • Waage (“one who lives near a bay or inlet”)

Section 5 of 9:

Nature-Inspired Icelandic Surnames

Download Article

1. 
   While not as common as patronymic names, there are also several Icelandic surnames that are inspired by nature. These are mostly associated with the natural landscape of Iceland or the Nordic countries, though some may also be inspired by animals. Here are some examples:

   • Álftanes (“swan peninsula”)
   • Almr (“elm tree”)
   • Beck (“brook, stream”)
   • Blómaas (“flower ridge”)
   • Dalvík (“valley bay”)
   • Fannar (“snowdrift, snowflake”)
   • Fjallkona (“mountain woman”)
   • Grettir (“pebbly place”)
   • Hafstein (“ocean stone”)
   • Ísberg (“ice mountain”)
   • Laxness (“salmon cape”)
   • Moss (“mossy fields”)
   • Norðfjörður (“north fjord”)
   • Rafnsson (“son of the raven”)
   • Snæland (“snow land”)
   • Strom (“stream, current”)
   • Torfason (“son of turf”)
   • Úlfarsson (“son of the wolf”)
   • Þingvellir (“assembly plains”)
Advertisement

Section 6 of 9:

Place-Inspired Icelandic Surnames

Download Article

1. 
   Some surnames are also based on geographical locations, notes Mulholland. These surnames typically reflect the place in which a person or family lives. Here are some examples:

   • Akureyri (“meadow spit”)
   • Bolungarvík (“boulder bay”)
   • Dalvík (“valley bay”)
   • Egilsstaðir (“Egil’s place”)
   • Fáskrúðsfjörður (“driftwood fjord”)
   • Garðabær (“garden town”)
   • Gröndahl (“green valley, green dale”)
   • Hafnarfjörður (“harbor fjord”)
   • Ísafjörður (“ice fjord”)
   • Keflavík (“driftwood bay”)
   • Kirkjubær (“church farm”)
   • Schram (“one who lives near a rock, crevice”)
   • Selfoss (“seal waterfall, where seals gather”)
   • Vestmann (“west man”)

Section 7 of 9:

Famous Icelandic Surnames

Download Article

1. 
   If you’re familiar with the Thor movies or comics, you’re already familiar with some Icelandic surnames, even if you didn’t realize it! Here are some Icelandic last names inspired by famous characters, authors, politicians, and more:

   • Indriðason (“son of Indriði”; after the Icelandic author Arnaldur Indriðason)
   • Laufeyson (“son of Laufey”; Loki’s last name in the Marvel Universe)
   • Óðinsson (“son of Odin”; Thor’s last name in the Marvel Universe)
   • Stefánsson (“son of Stefán”; after author Halldór Laxness Stefánsson)
   • Sveinsson (“son of Sveinn”; after the fictional detective Erlendur Sveinsson)
   • Þórðarson (“son of Þórður”; after politician Þórðar Þórðarson)
   • Vilhjálmsson (“son of Vilhjálmur”; inspired by Arctic explorer Vilhjálmur Stefánsson)
Advertisement

Section 8 of 9:

Icelandic Naming Conventions

Download Article

1. 
   Icelandic surnames are typically patronymic. This means that a person’s surname is based on their father’s first name. Sometimes, names can be matronymic, meaning they’re based on the mother’s name, but this isn’t as common. Because men are given the suffix “-son” and women are given the suffix “-dóttir,” siblings and other family members can have different last names.

   • Because names are based on a father’s first name, this also means that family members’ names change every generation.
   • Typically, Icelanders do not change their surname when they get married.
   • All names must be approved by the Icelandic Naming Committee.
   • In directories, Icelanders are listed alphabetically by their first name.
   • Fun fact: Iceland is the only Nordic country that still follows the patronymic system.

Section 9 of 9:

More Surnames

Download Article

1. Curious about other Nordic surnames? We’ve got you covered! Check out these other wikiHow articles to learn more about surnames from countries like Denmark, Norway, and more:

   • 120+ Common & Unique Danish Surnames (With Meanings)
   • 50+ Popular Norwegian Surnames and What They Mean
   • 220+ Strong Viking Last Names (Plus Their Origins & Meanings)
   • 240 Common Swedish Last Names Inspired by Vikings & Nature
   • 130 Common & Rare Finnish Surnames
Advertisement

Last Name Generator​

1. From classic to quirky and fantastical, find the perfect surname in seconds

   Stuck on coming up with a last name? From fantasy to realistic, our last name generator gives you endless options for characters, stories, or new identities. Perfect for writers, gamers, and roleplayers alike.

   • Continue with your date?

     Start Over

     Continue

     Continue Chat Start Over

     All fields are optional.

     Starting Letter Any (default) A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

     Origin Any (default) African American Arabic Aramaic Armenian Australian Babylonian Basque Brazilian British Bulgarian Cambodian Celtic Chinese Czech Danish Dutch Egyptian English Filipino Finnish French Gaelic German Ghanaian Greek Haitian Hawaiian Hebrew Hungarian Icelandic Indian Irish Italian Jamaican Japanese Korean Latin Mexican Native American Nigerian Norse Norwegian Pacific Islander Persian Polish Portuguese Romanian Russian Sanskrit Scandinavian Scottish Slavic Spanish Swahili Swedish Swiss Thai Turkish Ukrainian Uncertain Vietnamese Welsh Yiddish Other (write your own)

     Name Length Any (default) Long Medium Short

     See ad to

     Generate Names

     Response failed. Please try again.

     Retry

     Try the full generator here.

×

Hear Me Out…

Use This Prompt

View Next ➔

×

Sign Up to Save Progress

Create a free wikiHow account to save your progress. Come back any time to continue your date or go on more dates. Live out your own love story!

Clicking Sign Up will leave this page. If you want to claim a spot on the leaderboard, do that before you sign up.

Sign Up

Back

×

Start Over

Starting over will delete and overwrite your saved progress. Are you sure you would like to restart?

Back

Confirm Restart

Expert Q&A

Search

Add New Question

Ask a Question

200 characters left

Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.

Submit

Advertisement

Tips

Submit a Tip

All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published

Name

Please provide your name and last initial

Submit

Thanks for submitting a tip for review!