150+ Icelandic Last Names 2026
Icelandic last names’ system differs from most Western traditions. In this country, children inherit a name based on their father’s first name, which is usually patronymic but can also be matronymic.
As such, brothers and sisters will have different last names, and these may change from generation to generation.
This article delves into the intriguing history of Icelandic naming customs, how these operate in the day-to-day experience, and why Iceland has, for the most part, resisted the shift to permanent family surnames like the rest of the world.
Icelandic Last Names
Jónsson – Son of Jón
Jónsdóttir – Daughter of Jón
Guðmundsson – Son of Guðmundur
Guðmundsdóttir – Daughter of Guðmundur
Sigurðsson – Son of Sigurður
Sigurðardóttir – Daughter of Sigurður
Ólafsson – Son of Ólafur
Ólafsdóttir – Daughter of Ólafur
Magnússon – Son of Magnús
Magnúsdóttir – Daughter of Magnús
Björnsson – Son of Björn
Björnsdóttir – Daughter of Björn
Einarsson – Son of Einar
Einarsdóttir – Daughter of Einar
Kristjánsson – Son of Kristján
Kristjánsdóttir – Daughter of Kristján
Helgason – Son of Helgi
Helgadóttir – Daughter of Helgi
Arnarson – Son of Örn (meaning “eagle”)
Arnardóttir – Daughter of Örn
Þórarinsson – Son of Þórarinn
Þórarinsdóttir – Daughter of Þórarinn
Gunnarsson – Son of Gunnar
Gunnarsdóttir – Daughter of Gunnar
Pálsson – Son of Páll
Pálsdóttir – Daughter of Páll
Stefánsson – Son of Stefán
Stefánsdóttir – Daughter of Stefán
Ragnarsson – Son of Ragnar
Ragnarsdóttir – Daughter of Ragnar
Benediktsson – Son of Benedikt
Benediktsdóttir – Daughter of Benedikt
Halldórsson – Son of Halldór
Halldórsdóttir – Daughter of Halldór
Friðriksson – Son of Friðrik
Friðriksdóttir – Daughter of Friðrik
Emilsson – Son of Emil
Emilsdóttir – Daughter of Emil
Hákonarson – Son of Hákon
Hákonardóttir – Daughter of Hákon
Valdimarsson – Son of Valdimar
Valdimarsdóttir – Daughter of Valdimar
Tryggvason – Son of Tryggvi
Tryggvadóttir – Daughter of Tryggvi
Snorrason – Son of Snorri
Snorradóttir – Daughter of Snorri
Þorsteinsson – Son of Þorsteinn
Þorsteinsdóttir – Daughter of Þorsteinn
Árnason – Son of Árni
Árnadóttir – Daughter of Árni
Karlsson – Son of Karl
Karlsdóttir – Daughter of Karl
Elíasson – Son of Elías
Elíasdóttir – Daughter of Elías
Heiðarsson – Son of Heiðar
Heiðardóttir – Daughter of Heiðar
Kristinsson – Son of Kristinn
Kristinsdóttir – Daughter of Kristinn
Ásgeirsson – Son of Ásgeir
Ásgeirsdóttir – Daughter of Ásgeir
Tómasson – Son of Tómas
Tómasdóttir – Daughter of Tómas
Vilhjálmsson – Son of Vilhjálmur
Vilhjálmsdóttir – Daughter of Vilhjálmur
Jóhannsson – Son of Jóhann
Jóhannsdóttir – Daughter of Jóhann
Baldursson – Son of Baldur
Baldursdóttir – Daughter of Baldur
Geirsson – Son of Geir
Geirsdóttir – Daughter of Geir
Hermannsson – Son of Hermann
Hermannsdóttir – Daughter of Hermann
Sigbjörnsson – Son of Sigbjörn
Sigbjörnsdóttir – Daughter of Sigbjörn
Óskarsson – Son of Óskar
Óskarsdóttir – Daughter of Óskar
Marteinsson – Son of Marteinn
Marteinsdóttir – Daughter of Marteinn
Erlendsson – Son of Erlendur
Erlendsdóttir – Daughter of Erlendur
Unnarsson – Son of Unnar
Unnarsdóttir – Daughter of Unnar
Þórhallsson – Son of Þórhallur
Þórhallsdóttir – Daughter of Þórhallur
Steinarsson – Son of Steinar
Steinarsdóttir – Daughter of Steinar
Ketilsson – Son of Ketill
Ketilsdóttir – Daughter of Ketill
Leifsson – Son of Leifur
Leifsdóttir – Daughter of Leifur
Daníelsson – Son of Daníel
Daníelsdóttir – Daughter of Daníel
Runólfsson – Son of Runólfur
Runólfsdóttir – Daughter of Runólfur
Bjartsson – Son of Bjartur
Bjartsdóttir – Daughter of Bjartur
Egilsson – Son of Egill
Egilsdóttir – Daughter of Egill
Hjálmarsson – Son of Hjálmar
Hjálmarsdóttir – Daughter of Hjálmar
Einarsson – “son of Einar; lone warrior.”
Jónsdóttir – “daughter of Jón; God is gracious.”
Sigurðsson – “son of Sigurður; victory guardian.”
Magnúsdóttir – “daughter of Magnús; great one.”
Ólafsson – “son of Ólafur; ancestor’s relic.”
Kristjánsdóttir – “daughter of Kristján; follower of Christ.”
Guðmundsson – “son of Guðmundur; protected by God.”
Björnsdóttir – “daughter of Björn; bear.”
Arnarson – “son of Arnar; eagle.”
Sigríðurdóttir – “daughter of Sigríður; victory and beauty.”
Halldórsson – “son of Halldór; Thor’s rock.”
Ragnarsdóttir – “daughter of Ragnar; warrior judgment.”
Stefánsson – “son of Stefán; crown.”
Helgadóttir – “daughter of Helga; holy.”
Þórsson – “son of Þór; thunder god.”
Guðrúnardóttir – “daughter of Guðrún; God’s secret.”
Snorrason – “son of Snorri; attack or rush.”
Ásdísardóttir – “daughter of Ásdís; goddess.”
Kjartansson – “son of Kjartan; warrior.”
Brynjarsdóttir – “daughter of Brynjar; armor warrior.”
Hákonarson – “son of Hákon; high son.”
Elínardóttir – “daughter of Elín; shining light.”
Gunnlaugsson – “son of Gunnlaugur; war oath.”
Vigdísardóttir – “daughter of Vigdís; battle goddess.”
Þorsteinsson – “son of Þorsteinn; Thor’s stone.”
Ingibjörnsdóttir – “daughter of Ingibjörn; Ing’s bear.”
Erlendsson – “son of Erlendur; foreigner.”
Kolbrúnardóttir – “daughter of Kolbrún; dark brow.”
Sveinsson – “son of Sveinn; young warrior.”
Sólveigardóttir – “daughter of Sólveig; sun strength.”
Dagsson – “son of Dagur; day.”
Hrafnsdóttir – “daughter of Hrafn; raven.”
Gíslarson – “son of Gísli; hostage or pledge.”
Þórdísardóttir – “daughter of Þórdís; Thor’s goddess.”
Leifsson – “son of Leifur; descendant.”
Róbertsdóttir – “daughter of Róbert; bright fame.”
Pétursson – “son of Pétur; rock.”
Ástríðardóttir – “daughter of Ástríður; divine strength.”
Valdimarsson – “son of Valdimar; famous ruler.”
Guðnýardóttir – “daughter of Guðný; God’s new gift.”
Tryggvason – “son of Tryggvi; trustworthy.”
Hildardóttir – “daughter of Hildur; battle.”
Finnsson – “son of Finnur; wanderer.”
Rakelardóttir – “daughter of Rakel; ewe.”
Baldursson – “son of Baldur; brave or bold.”
Liljudóttir – “daughter of Lilja; lily flower.”
Óskarsson – “son of Óskar; deer friend.”
Þuríðardóttir – “daughter of Þuríður; Thor’s beauty.”
Haraldsson – “son of Haraldur; army ruler.”
Guðlaugardóttir – “daughter of Guðlaug; God’s promise.”
