Viking Last Names

These viking last names are real Old Norse and Icelandic patronymics and bynames, from Eriksson and Ragnarsdóttir to Forkbeard and Bloodaxe, listed A to Z with the meaning of each name.

275 real surnames with meanings, A to Z.

A

Aðalsteinsdóttir

Daughter of Aðalsteinn

Icelandic
Aðalsteinsson

Son of Aðalsteinn

Icelandic
Ævarsson

Son of Ævar

Icelandic
Ágústsdóttir

Daughter of Ágúst

Icelandic
Ágústsson

Son of Ágúst

Icelandic
Andrason

Son of Andri

Icelandic
Árnadóttir

Daughter of Árni

Icelandic
Arnardóttir

Daughter of Örn, meaning eagle

Icelandic
Arnarsdóttir

Daughter of Arnar

Icelandic
Arnarson

Son of Örn, meaning eagle

Icelandic
Arnarsson

Son of Arnar

Icelandic
Árnason

Son of Árni

Icelandic
Ásgeirsdóttir

Daughter of Ásgeir

Icelandic
Ásgeirsson

Son of Ásgeir

Icelandic
Ástudóttir

Daughter of Ásta, a matronymic

Icelandic
Atladóttir

Daughter of Atli

Icelandic
Atlason

Son of Atli

Icelandic
Axelsson

Son of Axel

Icelandic

B

Baldursdóttir

Daughter of Baldur

Icelandic
Baldursson

Son of Baldur

Icelandic
Benediktsdóttir

Daughter of Benedikt

Icelandic
Benediktsson

Son of Benedikt

Icelandic
Bergþóruson

Son of Bergþóra, a matronymic

Icelandic
Birgisdóttir

Daughter of Birgir

Icelandic
Birgisson

Son of Birgir

Icelandic
Bjarnadóttir

Daughter of Bjarni

Icelandic
Bjarnason

Son of Bjarni

Icelandic
Björnsdóttir

Daughter of Björn, meaning bear

Icelandic
Björnsson

Son of Björn, meaning bear

Icelandic
Bjornsson

Son of Bjorn, bear

Nordic
Blöndal

Family name from Blöndudalur, Blanda river valley

Icelandic
Bloodaxe

Nickname of Erik, king of Norway and York

Nordic
Bødker

Cooper, maker of barrels

Nordic
Bonde

Free farmer or yeoman

Nordic
Bragadóttir

Daughter of Bragi

Icelandic
Bragason

Son of Bragi

Icelandic
Briem

Icelandic family name of uncertain origin

Icelandic
Brynjarsson

Son of Brynjar

Icelandic

D

Daníelsdóttir

Daughter of Daníel

Icelandic
Daníelsson

Son of Daníel

Icelandic
Davíðsdóttir

Daughter of Davíð

Icelandic
Davíðsson

Son of Davíð

Icelandic

E

Eggerz

Family name from Eggert, a given name

Icelandic
Egilsdóttir

Daughter of Egill

Icelandic
Egilsson

Son of Egill

Icelandic
Einarsdóttir

Daughter of Einar

Icelandic
Einarsson

Son of Einar

Icelandic
Eiríksdóttir

Daughter of Eiríkur

Icelandic
Eiríksson

Son of Eiríkur

Icelandic
Eldjárn

Family name meaning fire iron

Icelandic
Elíasdóttir

Daughter of Elías

Icelandic
Elíasson

Son of Elías

Icelandic
Elínardóttir

Daughter of Elín, a matronymic

Icelandic
Ellertsson

Son of Ellert

Icelandic
Emilsson

Son of Emil

Icelandic
Eriksson

Son of Erik, eternal ruler

Nordic
Eyjólfsdóttir

Daughter of Eyjólfur

Icelandic
Eyjólfsson

Son of Eyjólfur

Icelandic

F

Finnsdóttir

Daughter of Finnur

Icelandic
Finnsson

Son of Finnur

Icelandic
Fisker

Fisherman by trade

Nordic
Fjeldsted

Family name, possibly meaning mountain place

Icelandic
Forkbeard

Nickname of Sweyn, king of Denmark and England

Nordic
Friðriksdóttir

Daughter of Friðrik

Icelandic
Friðriksson

Son of Friðrik

Icelandic

G

Garðarsdóttir

Daughter of Garðar

Icelandic
Garðarsson

Son of Garðar

Icelandic
Gísladóttir

Daughter of Gísli

Icelandic
Gíslason

Son of Gísli

Icelandic
Grétarsdóttir

Daughter of Grétar

Icelandic
Grétarsson

Son of Grétar

Icelandic
Gröndal

Family name meaning green valley

Icelandic
Guðjónsdóttir

Daughter of Guðjón

Icelandic
Guðjónsson

Son of Guðjón

Icelandic
Guðmundsdóttir

Daughter of Guðmundur

Icelandic
Guðmundsson

Son of Guðmundur

Icelandic
Guðnadóttir

Daughter of Guðni

Icelandic
Guðnason

Son of Guðni

Icelandic
Guðrúnardóttir

Daughter of Guðrún, a matronymic

Icelandic
Guðrúnarson

Son of Guðrún, a matronymic

Icelandic
Gunnarsdóttir

Daughter of Gunnar

Icelandic
Gunnarsson

Son of Gunnar

Icelandic
Gunnlaugsdóttir

Daughter of Gunnlaugur

Icelandic
Gunnlaugsson

Son of Gunnlaugur

Icelandic
Gústafsson

Son of Gústaf

Icelandic
Gylfadóttir

Daughter of Gylfi

Icelandic
Gylfason

Son of Gylfi

Icelandic

H

Haakonsson

Son of Haakon, high son

Nordic
Hafstein

Family name (from Havsteen); hafsteinn, sea stone

Icelandic
Hafsteinsdóttir

Daughter of Hafsteinn

Icelandic
Hafsteinsson

Son of Hafsteinn

Icelandic
Hákonardóttir

Daughter of Hákon

Icelandic
Hákonarson

Son of Hákon

Icelandic
Halldórsdóttir

Daughter of Halldór

Icelandic
Halldórsson

Son of Halldór

Icelandic
Hallgrímsdóttir

Daughter of Hallgrímur

Icelandic
Hallgrímsson

Son of Hallgrímur

Icelandic
Hannesdóttir

Daughter of Hannes

Icelandic
Hannesson

Son of Hannes

Icelandic
Haraldsdóttir

Daughter of Haraldur

Icelandic
Haraldsson

Son of Haraldur

Icelandic
Harðardóttir

Daughter of Hörður

Icelandic
Harðarson

Son of Hörður

Icelandic
Hardrada

Nickname meaning hard in counsel, stern; borne by Harald III

Nordic
Hauksdóttir

Daughter of Haukur, meaning hawk

Icelandic
Hauksson

Son of Haukur, meaning hawk

Icelandic
Havsteen

Family name meaning sea stone

Icelandic
Heimisson

Son of Heimir

Icelandic
Helgadóttir

Daughter of Helgi

Icelandic
Helgason

Son of Helgi

Icelandic
Helgudóttir

Daughter of Helga, a matronymic

Icelandic
Helguson

Son of Helga, a matronymic

Icelandic
Hermannsdóttir

Daughter of Hermann

Icelandic
Hermannsson

Son of Hermann

Icelandic
Hildardóttir

Daughter of Hildur, a matronymic

Icelandic
Hilmarsdóttir

Daughter of Hilmar

Icelandic
Hilmarsson

Son of Hilmar

Icelandic
Hjálmarsdóttir

Daughter of Hjálmar

Icelandic
Hjálmarsson

Son of Hjálmar

Icelandic
Hjaltalín

Latinized family name from Hjaltadalur valley

Icelandic
Hjaltested

Family name, possibly from Hjaltastaðir farm

Icelandic
Höskuldsson

Son of Höskuldur

Icelandic
Hrafnsson

Son of Hrafn, meaning raven

Icelandic

I

Ingadóttir

Daughter of Ingi

Icelandic
Ingason

Son of Ingi

Icelandic
Ingibjargardóttir

Daughter of Ingibjörg, a matronymic

Icelandic
Ingólfsdóttir

Daughter of Ingólfur

Icelandic
Ingólfsson

Son of Ingólfur

Icelandic
Ironside

Nickname for a hardy warrior, borne by Bjorn Ironside

Nordic
Ivarsson

Son of Ivar, yew warrior

Nordic
Ívarsson

Son of Ívar

Icelandic

J

Jakobsdóttir

Daughter of Jakob

Icelandic
Jakobsson

Son of Jakob

Icelandic
Jensdóttir

Daughter of Jens

Icelandic
Jensson

Son of Jens

Icelandic
Jóhannesdóttir

Daughter of Jóhannes

Icelandic
Jóhannesson

Son of Jóhannes

Icelandic
Jóhannsdóttir

Daughter of Jóhann

Icelandic
Jóhannsson

Son of Jóhann

Icelandic
Jónasdóttir

Daughter of Jónas

Icelandic
Jónasson

Son of Jónas

Icelandic
Jónsdóttir

Daughter of Jón

Icelandic
Jónsson

Son of Jón

Icelandic

K

Kamban

Adopted family name of uncertain origin

Icelandic
Káradóttir

Daughter of Kári

Icelandic
Kárason

Son of Kári

Icelandic
Karlsdóttir

Daughter of Karl

Icelandic
Karlsson

Son of Karl

Icelandic
Katrínardóttir

Daughter of Katrín, a matronymic

Icelandic
Kjartansdóttir

Daughter of Kjartan

Icelandic
Kjartansson

Son of Kjartan

Icelandic
Knutsson

Son of Knut, knot

Nordic
Kristínardóttir

Daughter of Kristín, a matronymic

Icelandic
Kristínarson

Son of Kristín, a matronymic

Icelandic
Kristinsdóttir

Daughter of Kristinn

Icelandic
Kristinsson

Son of Kristinn

Icelandic
Kristjánsdóttir

Daughter of Kristján

Icelandic
Kristjánsson

Son of Kristján

Icelandic
Kristófersson

Son of Kristófer

Icelandic
Kvaran

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

Icelandic

L

Lárusdóttir

Daughter of Lárus

Icelandic
Lárusson

Son of Lárus

Icelandic
Laxness

From Laxnes farm, salmon headland

Icelandic
Leifsdóttir

Daughter of Leifur

Icelandic
Leifsson

Son of Leifur

Icelandic
Lodbrok

Nickname meaning hairy breeches, borne by Ragnar

Nordic
Logason

Son of Logi

Icelandic

M

Magnúsdóttir

Daughter of Magnús

Icelandic
Magnússon

Son of Magnús

Icelandic
Margrétardóttir

Daughter of Margrét, a matronymic

Icelandic
Maríudóttir

Daughter of María, a matronymic

Icelandic
Marteinsson

Son of Marteinn

Icelandic
Másdóttir

Daughter of Már

Icelandic
Másson

Son of Már

Icelandic
Melsteð

Family name, possibly from Melar farm

Icelandic
Møller

Miller at a grain mill

Nordic

N

Njálsson

Son of Njáll

Icelandic
Nordal

Family name meaning north valley

Icelandic

O

Oddsdóttir

Daughter of Oddur

Icelandic
Oddsson

Son of Oddur

Icelandic
Ólafsdóttir

Daughter of Ólafur

Icelandic
Ólafsson

Son of Ólafur

Icelandic
Olafsson

Son of Olaf, ancestor's heir

Nordic
Ólason

Son of Óli

Icelandic
Önnudóttir

Daughter of Anna, a matronymic

Icelandic
Önnuson

Son of Anna, a matronymic

Icelandic
Óskarsdóttir

Daughter of Óskar

Icelandic
Óskarsson

Son of Óskar

Icelandic
Ottósson

Son of Ottó

Icelandic

P

Pálsdóttir

Daughter of Páll

Icelandic
Pálsson

Son of Páll

Icelandic
Pétursdóttir

Daughter of Pétur

Icelandic
Pétursson

Son of Pétur

Icelandic
Proppé

Family name of uncertain, non-Icelandic origin

Icelandic

R

Ragnarsdóttir

Daughter of Ragnar

Icelandic
Ragnarsson

Son of Ragnar

Icelandic
Ragnheiðardóttir

Daughter of Ragnheiður, a matronymic

Icelandic
Reynisdóttir

Daughter of Reynir

Icelandic
Reynisson

Son of Reynir

Icelandic
Ríkharðsson

Son of Ríkharður

Icelandic
Róbertsson

Son of Róbert

Icelandic
Rúnarsdóttir

Daughter of Rúnar

Icelandic
Rúnarsson

Son of Rúnar

Icelandic

S

Sæmundsdóttir

Daughter of Sæmundur

Icelandic
Sæmundsson

Son of Sæmundur

Icelandic
Scheving

Family name, possibly of Danish origin

Icelandic
Schram

Family name of Danish-German origin

Icelandic
Sigfúsdóttir

Daughter of Sigfús

Icelandic
Sigfússon

Son of Sigfús

Icelandic
Sigmundsdóttir

Daughter of Sigmundur

Icelandic
Sigmundsson

Son of Sigmundur

Icelandic
Sigríðardóttir

Daughter of Sigríður, a matronymic

Icelandic
Sigríðarson

Son of Sigríður, a matronymic

Icelandic
Sigurbjörnsson

Son of Sigurbjörn

Icelandic
Sigurðardóttir

Daughter of Sigurður

Icelandic
Sigurðsson

Son of Sigurður

Icelandic
Sigurdsson

Son of Sigurd, victory guardian

Nordic
Sigurjónsdóttir

Daughter of Sigurjón

Icelandic
Sigurjónsson

Son of Sigurjón

Icelandic
Símonarson

Son of Símon

Icelandic
Skjoldung

Legendary Danish royal line, descendants of Skjold

Nordic
Skúladóttir

Daughter of Skúli

Icelandic
Skúlason

Son of Skúli

Icelandic
Skytte

Archer or marksman

Nordic
Smed

Smith, worker in metal

Nordic
Snæbjörnsson

Son of Snæbjörn

Icelandic
Snorradóttir

Daughter of Snorri

Icelandic
Snorrason

Son of Snorri

Icelandic
Sölvason

Son of Sölvi

Icelandic
Stefánsdóttir

Daughter of Stefán

Icelandic
Stefánsson

Son of Stefán

Icelandic
Steinþórsson

Son of Steinþór

Icelandic
Stephensen

Danish-style family name, son of Stefán

Icelandic
Sturluson

Son of Sturla; patronymic of the saga writer Snorri

Nordic
Svavarsdóttir

Daughter of Svavar

Icelandic
Svavarsson

Son of Svavar

Icelandic
Sveinsdóttir

Daughter of Sveinn

Icelandic
Sveinsson

Son of Sveinn

Icelandic
Sverrisdóttir

Daughter of Sverrir

Icelandic
Sverrisson

Son of Sverrir

Icelandic

T

Thorarensen

Danish-style family name, son of Þórarinn

Icelandic
Þórarinsdóttir

Daughter of Þórarinn

Icelandic
Þórarinsson

Son of Þórarinn

Icelandic
Þorbjörnsson

Son of Þorbjörn

Icelandic
Þórðardóttir

Daughter of Þórður

Icelandic
Þórðarson

Son of Þórður

Icelandic
Þorgeirsson

Son of Þorgeir

Icelandic
Þorkelsson

Son of Þorkell

Icelandic
Thorlacius

Latinized family name from Þorlákur

Icelandic
Thoroddsen

Danish-style family name, son of Þóroddur

Icelandic
Thors

Family name from the given name Thor

Icelandic
Þórsdóttir

Daughter of Þór

Icelandic
Þórsson

Son of Þór

Icelandic
Þorsteinsdóttir

Daughter of Þorsteinn

Icelandic
Þorsteinsson

Son of Þorsteinn

Icelandic
Þórudóttir

Daughter of Þóra, a matronymic

Icelandic
Þorvaldsdóttir

Daughter of Þorvaldur

Icelandic
Þorvaldsson

Son of Þorvaldur

Icelandic
Thorvaldsson

Son of Thorvald, Thor's ruler

Nordic
Tómasdóttir

Daughter of Tómas

Icelandic
Tómasson

Son of Tómas

Icelandic
Traustason

Son of Trausti

Icelandic

U

Úlfarsson

Son of Úlfar

Icelandic
Ulfsson

Son of Ulf, meaning wolf

Nordic

V

Valdimarsdóttir

Daughter of Valdimar

Icelandic
Valdimarsson

Son of Valdimar

Icelandic
Valsson

Son of Valur, meaning falcon

Icelandic
Vídalín

Latinized family name from Víðidalur valley

Icelandic
Viðarsdóttir

Daughter of Viðar

Icelandic
Viðarsson

Son of Viðar

Icelandic
Vignisson

Son of Vignir

Icelandic
Vilhjálmsdóttir

Daughter of Vilhjálmur

Icelandic
Vilhjálmsson

Son of Vilhjálmur

Icelandic

W

Waage

Family name, possibly of Norwegian origin

Icelandic

Z

Zoëga

Family name of Danish-Italian origin

Icelandic

Generate random viking surnames

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Results (6)

Oddsson

Son of Oddur

Icelandic
Þorgeirsson

Son of Þorgeir

Icelandic
Ottósson

Son of Ottó

Icelandic
Arnarsson

Son of Arnar

Icelandic
Hildardóttir

Daughter of Hildur, a matronymic

Icelandic
Lárusdóttir

Daughter of Lárus

Icelandic

Saved names

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Vikings did not have fixed family names

Norse naming was patronymic. A man was the son of his father and a woman the daughter of hers, so Leif Eriksson was Leif, son of Erik, and his own son would be called Leifsson. The name changed with every generation, which means that a brother and sister had different second names, Ragnarsson and Ragnarsdóttir, even though they shared both parents. Iceland still names people this way today, which is why most of the list uses modern Icelandic spelling.

Alongside patronymics, famous Norsemen collected bynames, and these are some of the most striking entries here. Sweyn Forkbeard was named for his split beard, Erik Bloodaxe for his violent reputation, and Harald Hardrada for his hard rule. Ironside and Lodbrok, meaning hairy breeches, are also included. A smaller group of later Scandinavian trade names, such as Smed for smith and Bonde for free farmer, appear too, though they belong to the centuries after the viking age.

Reading the letters Þ, ð and ó

Icelandic keeps two old letters that English lost. Þ, called thorn, sounds like the th in thin, and ð, called eth, sounds like the th in this. So Þorsteinsson is simply Thorsteinsson, and Sigurðsson is close to Sigurdsson. Accents over vowels lengthen or change the sound: ó is roughly the o in bone, and á is like ow in cow. Many books anglicise these names, so the list shows the Icelandic spelling and the meaning, and you can decide how to write them.

The meaning of a patronymic comes from the father's first name, and many of those names are vivid. Ulf and Björn mean wolf and bear, Arnar comes from Örn, an eagle, and Ivar is often explained as yew warrior. Sigurd joins victory and guardian, and Thorvald means Thor's ruler. When you build a name for a character, choosing the father first gives you the surname and a scrap of family history at the same time.

Choosing viking last names for characters

For a character set in the viking age, build the name the way the Norse did: first name, then the father's name with son or dóttir added. Remember to use the possessive form, so Ragnar becomes Ragnarsson and Sigurður becomes Sigurðardóttir. Never give a daughter a name ending in son. If the character is famous, add a byname describing a feature or a deed, and let other characters use it more often than the patronymic.

For a modern character with Scandinavian roots, the rules are different. Sweden, Norway and Denmark turned patronymics into fixed family names during the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, so names like Eriksson, Olafsson and Haraldsson became ordinary surnames that pass unchanged from parent to child. Iceland is the exception. The viking generator linked on this page gives random picks from the same list if you need several names at once.

Frequently asked questions

What are some well known viking last names?

Patronymics like Eriksson, Olafsson, Haraldsson and Ragnarsson are the classic choice, with dóttir forms for women. Famous bynames such as Forkbeard, Bloodaxe, Hardrada and Ironside are also popular with writers, though in the viking age they were nicknames rather than inherited names.

Did vikings have surnames?

Not in the modern sense. They used patronymics, which named the father and changed every generation, and sometimes a byname describing a trait or deed. Fixed family names came much later in Scandinavia, and Iceland still uses the patronymic system today.

What does dóttir mean in a name?

Dóttir means daughter. Ragnarsdóttir is the daughter of Ragnar, and Jónsdóttir is the daughter of Jón. In Iceland women keep this name for life, including after marriage, because it describes their father rather than their husband.

Can I use these names for a tabletop or video game character?

Yes. They are real historical and modern names, so no one owns them. Build the patronymic from a father's name that suits your character, add a byname if they have earned one, and check the meaning column so the name says what you want.