Icelandic Last Names

These Icelandic last names are mostly patronymics like Jónsson and Guðmundsdóttir, listed A to Z with meanings, so you can see which given names sit behind them and what those old Norse and biblical names mean.

253 real surnames with meanings, A to Z.

A

Aðalsteinsdóttir

Daughter of Aðalsteinn
Aðalsteinsson

Son of Aðalsteinn
Ævarsson

Son of Ævar
Ágústsdóttir

Daughter of Ágúst
Ágústsson

Son of Ágúst
Andrason

Son of Andri
Árnadóttir

Daughter of Árni
Arnardóttir

Daughter of Örn, meaning eagle
Arnarsdóttir

Daughter of Arnar
Arnarson

Son of Örn, meaning eagle
Arnarsson

Son of Arnar
Árnason

Son of Árni
Ásgeirsdóttir

Daughter of Ásgeir
Ásgeirsson

Son of Ásgeir
Ástudóttir

Daughter of Ásta, a matronymic
Atladóttir

Daughter of Atli
Atlason

Son of Atli
Axelsson

Son of Axel

B

Baldursdóttir

Daughter of Baldur
Baldursson

Son of Baldur
Benediktsdóttir

Daughter of Benedikt
Benediktsson

Son of Benedikt
Bergþóruson

Son of Bergþóra, a matronymic
Birgisdóttir

Daughter of Birgir
Birgisson

Son of Birgir
Bjarnadóttir

Daughter of Bjarni
Bjarnason

Son of Bjarni
Björnsdóttir

Daughter of Björn, meaning bear
Björnsson

Son of Björn, meaning bear
Blöndal

Family name from Blöndudalur, Blanda river valley
Bragadóttir

Daughter of Bragi
Bragason

Son of Bragi
Briem

Icelandic family name of uncertain origin
Brynjarsson

Son of Brynjar

D

Daníelsdóttir

Daughter of Daníel
Daníelsson

Son of Daníel
Davíðsdóttir

Daughter of Davíð
Davíðsson

Son of Davíð

E

Eggerz

Family name from Eggert, a given name
Egilsdóttir

Daughter of Egill
Egilsson

Son of Egill
Einarsdóttir

Daughter of Einar
Einarsson

Son of Einar
Eiríksdóttir

Daughter of Eiríkur
Eiríksson

Son of Eiríkur
Eldjárn

Family name meaning fire iron
Elíasdóttir

Daughter of Elías
Elíasson

Son of Elías
Elínardóttir

Daughter of Elín, a matronymic
Ellertsson

Son of Ellert
Emilsson

Son of Emil
Eyjólfsdóttir

Daughter of Eyjólfur
Eyjólfsson

Son of Eyjólfur

F

Finnsdóttir

Daughter of Finnur
Finnsson

Son of Finnur
Fjeldsted

Family name, possibly meaning mountain place
Friðriksdóttir

Daughter of Friðrik
Friðriksson

Son of Friðrik

G

Garðarsdóttir

Daughter of Garðar
Garðarsson

Son of Garðar
Gísladóttir

Daughter of Gísli
Gíslason

Son of Gísli
Grétarsdóttir

Daughter of Grétar
Grétarsson

Son of Grétar
Gröndal

Family name meaning green valley
Guðjónsdóttir

Daughter of Guðjón
Guðjónsson

Son of Guðjón
Guðmundsdóttir

Daughter of Guðmundur
Guðmundsson

Son of Guðmundur
Guðnadóttir

Daughter of Guðni
Guðnason

Son of Guðni
Guðrúnardóttir

Daughter of Guðrún, a matronymic
Guðrúnarson

Son of Guðrún, a matronymic
Gunnarsdóttir

Daughter of Gunnar
Gunnarsson

Son of Gunnar
Gunnlaugsdóttir

Daughter of Gunnlaugur
Gunnlaugsson

Son of Gunnlaugur
Gústafsson

Son of Gústaf
Gylfadóttir

Daughter of Gylfi
Gylfason

Son of Gylfi

H

Hafstein

Family name (from Havsteen); hafsteinn, sea stone
Hafsteinsdóttir

Daughter of Hafsteinn
Hafsteinsson

Son of Hafsteinn
Hákonardóttir

Daughter of Hákon
Hákonarson

Son of Hákon
Halldórsdóttir

Daughter of Halldór
Halldórsson

Son of Halldór
Hallgrímsdóttir

Daughter of Hallgrímur
Hallgrímsson

Son of Hallgrímur
Hannesdóttir

Daughter of Hannes
Hannesson

Son of Hannes
Haraldsdóttir

Daughter of Haraldur
Haraldsson

Son of Haraldur
Harðardóttir

Daughter of Hörður
Harðarson

Son of Hörður
Hauksdóttir

Daughter of Haukur, meaning hawk
Hauksson

Son of Haukur, meaning hawk
Havsteen

Family name meaning sea stone
Heimisson

Son of Heimir
Helgadóttir

Daughter of Helgi
Helgason

Son of Helgi
Helgudóttir

Daughter of Helga, a matronymic
Helguson

Son of Helga, a matronymic
Hermannsdóttir

Daughter of Hermann
Hermannsson

Son of Hermann
Hildardóttir

Daughter of Hildur, a matronymic
Hilmarsdóttir

Daughter of Hilmar
Hilmarsson

Son of Hilmar
Hjálmarsdóttir

Daughter of Hjálmar
Hjálmarsson

Son of Hjálmar
Hjaltalín

Latinized family name from Hjaltadalur valley
Hjaltested

Family name, possibly from Hjaltastaðir farm
Höskuldsson

Son of Höskuldur
Hrafnsson

Son of Hrafn, meaning raven

I

Ingadóttir

Daughter of Ingi
Ingason

Son of Ingi
Ingibjargardóttir

Daughter of Ingibjörg, a matronymic
Ingólfsdóttir

Daughter of Ingólfur
Ingólfsson

Son of Ingólfur
Ívarsson

Son of Ívar

J

Jakobsdóttir

Daughter of Jakob
Jakobsson

Son of Jakob
Jensdóttir

Daughter of Jens
Jensson

Son of Jens
Jóhannesdóttir

Daughter of Jóhannes
Jóhannesson

Son of Jóhannes
Jóhannsdóttir

Daughter of Jóhann
Jóhannsson

Son of Jóhann
Jónasdóttir

Daughter of Jónas
Jónasson

Son of Jónas
Jónsdóttir

Daughter of Jón
Jónsson

Son of Jón

K

Kamban

Adopted family name of uncertain origin
Káradóttir

Daughter of Kári
Kárason

Son of Kári
Karlsdóttir

Daughter of Karl
Karlsson

Son of Karl
Katrínardóttir

Daughter of Katrín, a matronymic
Kjartansdóttir

Daughter of Kjartan
Kjartansson

Son of Kjartan
Kristínardóttir

Daughter of Kristín, a matronymic
Kristínarson

Son of Kristín, a matronymic
Kristinsdóttir

Daughter of Kristinn
Kristinsson

Son of Kristinn
Kristjánsdóttir

Daughter of Kristján
Kristjánsson

Son of Kristján
Kristófersson

Son of Kristófer
Kvaran

Adopted family name from the byname of Olaf Kvaran, Norse king of Dublin; possibly Irish cuarán, sandal

L

Lárusdóttir

Daughter of Lárus
Lárusson

Son of Lárus
Laxness

From Laxnes farm, salmon headland
Leifsdóttir

Daughter of Leifur
Leifsson

Son of Leifur
Logason

Son of Logi

M

Magnúsdóttir

Daughter of Magnús
Magnússon

Son of Magnús
Margrétardóttir

Daughter of Margrét, a matronymic
Maríudóttir

Daughter of María, a matronymic
Marteinsson

Son of Marteinn
Másdóttir

Daughter of Már
Másson

Son of Már
Melsteð

Family name, possibly from Melar farm

N

Njálsson

Son of Njáll
Nordal

Family name meaning north valley

O

Oddsdóttir

Daughter of Oddur
Oddsson

Son of Oddur
Ólafsdóttir

Daughter of Ólafur
Ólafsson

Son of Ólafur
Ólason

Son of Óli
Önnudóttir

Daughter of Anna, a matronymic
Önnuson

Son of Anna, a matronymic
Óskarsdóttir

Daughter of Óskar
Óskarsson

Son of Óskar
Ottósson

Son of Ottó

P

Pálsdóttir

Daughter of Páll
Pálsson

Son of Páll
Pétursdóttir

Daughter of Pétur
Pétursson

Son of Pétur
Proppé

Family name of uncertain, non-Icelandic origin

R

Ragnarsdóttir

Daughter of Ragnar
Ragnarsson

Son of Ragnar
Ragnheiðardóttir

Daughter of Ragnheiður, a matronymic
Reynisdóttir

Daughter of Reynir
Reynisson

Son of Reynir
Ríkharðsson

Son of Ríkharður
Róbertsson

Son of Róbert
Rúnarsdóttir

Daughter of Rúnar
Rúnarsson

Son of Rúnar

S

Sæmundsdóttir

Daughter of Sæmundur
Sæmundsson

Son of Sæmundur
Scheving

Family name, possibly of Danish origin
Schram

Family name of Danish-German origin
Sigfúsdóttir

Daughter of Sigfús
Sigfússon

Son of Sigfús
Sigmundsdóttir

Daughter of Sigmundur
Sigmundsson

Son of Sigmundur
Sigríðardóttir

Daughter of Sigríður, a matronymic
Sigríðarson

Son of Sigríður, a matronymic
Sigurbjörnsson

Son of Sigurbjörn
Sigurðardóttir

Daughter of Sigurður
Sigurðsson

Son of Sigurður
Sigurjónsdóttir

Daughter of Sigurjón
Sigurjónsson

Son of Sigurjón
Símonarson

Son of Símon
Skúladóttir

Daughter of Skúli
Skúlason

Son of Skúli
Snæbjörnsson

Son of Snæbjörn
Snorradóttir

Daughter of Snorri
Snorrason

Son of Snorri
Sölvason

Son of Sölvi
Stefánsdóttir

Daughter of Stefán
Stefánsson

Son of Stefán
Steinþórsson

Son of Steinþór
Stephensen

Danish-style family name, son of Stefán
Svavarsdóttir

Daughter of Svavar
Svavarsson

Son of Svavar
Sveinsdóttir

Daughter of Sveinn
Sveinsson

Son of Sveinn
Sverrisdóttir

Daughter of Sverrir
Sverrisson

Son of Sverrir

T

Thorarensen

Danish-style family name, son of Þórarinn
Þórarinsdóttir

Daughter of Þórarinn
Þórarinsson

Son of Þórarinn
Þorbjörnsson

Son of Þorbjörn
Þórðardóttir

Daughter of Þórður
Þórðarson

Son of Þórður
Þorgeirsson

Son of Þorgeir
Þorkelsson

Son of Þorkell
Thorlacius

Latinized family name from Þorlákur
Thoroddsen

Danish-style family name, son of Þóroddur
Thors

Family name from the given name Thor
Þórsdóttir

Daughter of Þór
Þórsson

Son of Þór
Þorsteinsdóttir

Daughter of Þorsteinn
Þorsteinsson

Son of Þorsteinn
Þórudóttir

Daughter of Þóra, a matronymic
Þorvaldsdóttir

Daughter of Þorvaldur
Þorvaldsson

Son of Þorvaldur
Tómasdóttir

Daughter of Tómas
Tómasson

Son of Tómas
Traustason

Son of Trausti

U

Úlfarsson

Son of Úlfar

V

Valdimarsdóttir

Daughter of Valdimar
Valdimarsson

Son of Valdimar
Valsson

Son of Valur, meaning falcon
Vídalín

Latinized family name from Víðidalur valley
Viðarsdóttir

Daughter of Viðar
Viðarsson

Son of Viðar
Vignisson

Son of Vignir
Vilhjálmsdóttir

Daughter of Vilhjálmur
Vilhjálmsson

Son of Vilhjálmur

W

Waage

Family name, possibly of Norwegian origin

Z

Zoëga

Family name of Danish-Italian origin

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Results (6)

Bjarnadóttir

Daughter of Bjarni
Gunnlaugsdóttir

Daughter of Gunnlaugur
Jónasson

Son of Jónas
Guðnason

Son of Guðni
Daníelsdóttir

Daughter of Daníel
Róbertsson

Son of Róbert

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The given names behind Icelandic last names

Since almost every Icelandic last name is built from a parent's first name, the list is really a map of popular Icelandic given names. Jónsson and Jónsdóttir lead because Jón, the Icelandic form of John, has been a favourite for centuries. Sigurðsson comes from Sigurður, meaning victory guardian, Guðmundsson from Guðmundur, god's protection, Gunnarsson from Gunnar, battle warrior, and Ólafsson from Ólafur, often explained as heir of the ancestors.

Biblical and Christian names are just as visible. Kristjánsson and Kristinsson come from forms of Christian, Pétursson from Pétur (Peter), Jóhannsson from Jóhann and Magnússon from Magnús, a Latin word for great that entered the north through the name of Charlemagne, Carolus Magnus. Older Norse names give Björnsson (bear), Einarsson (lone warrior), Helgason (holy) and Arnarson (eagle). Seeing them side by side shows how Iceland mixed its pagan and Christian naming stock.

Recurring name parts and matronymic forms

Many names in the list are compounds of a few Old Norse building blocks. Þór- refers to the god Thor, as in Þórðarson and Þorsteinsson, which also contains steinn, stone. Sig- means victory, Guð- god, Arn- eagle, Hall- rock or slope and Ing- the old god Ing. Once you know these parts, a long name like Þorvaldsson becomes easier to read: the son of Þorvaldur, a name that combines Thor with a word for rule.

The list also includes matronymics, names built on the mother's first name, such as Helguson, Guðrúnardóttir, Sigríðarson and Kristínardóttir. They have long been legal in Iceland and have grown more common in recent decades, often chosen by single mothers or by parents who want to honour the mother's line. Since 2019 the law also allows the ending -bur, meaning child of, for people registered with neutral gender.

Spelling and searching tips for Icelandic names

Icelandic uses the letters ð (eth) and þ (thorn), and outside Iceland they are usually replaced: ð becomes d and þ becomes th. So Guðmundsson often appears abroad as Gudmundsson and Þórðarson as Thordarson. Accents are also dropped, turning Ólafsson into Olafsson. Some Icelanders living abroad adopt these forms permanently, so a family history search should try both the Icelandic and the simplified spelling before assuming a record is missing.

On this page, the search ignores accents, but some letters such as ð are not converted, so the most reliable approach is to type a part of the name without them. Typing mundsson finds Guðmundsson, and typing arson finds Þórðarson and Arnarson. The meanings are searchable too, so words like eagle, bear or victory gather the names built on them. Remember that the list pairs most -son forms with their -dóttir forms.

Frequently asked questions

Why are Jónsson and Jónsdóttir so frequent?

Jón has been one of the most popular boys' names in Iceland for centuries, and every Jón passes it to his children as Jónsson or Jónsdóttir. The same logic explains Sigurðsson and Guðmundsson: whichever given names are popular in one generation fill the last-name rankings in the next.

How are Icelandic last names listed in the phone book?

By first name. Because last names change with every generation and are shared by so many unrelated people, Icelanders sort directories and address one another by first name, even formally. A president or a teacher is addressed by first name too, with the last name used mainly to tell people apart.

What does -dóttir mean?

It means daughter, so Jónsdóttir is daughter of Jón. The ending is joined to the genitive form of the parent's name, which is why you see Sigurðardóttir, with -ar-, rather than Sigurðdóttir. A woman usually keeps her -dóttir name for life, including after marriage.

How should I write Icelandic names in English?

Keep the original letters when you can, since Icelanders value them. When a system cannot handle them, replace ð with d, þ with th, æ with ae and ö with o or oe, and drop the accents. Guðmundsdóttir then becomes Gudmundsdottir, the form often seen on foreign documents.