Icelandic Last Name Generator
Patronymics in -son and -dóttir, plus family names
Browse 500 Icelandic last names formed the way Iceland forms them: patronymics such as Jónsson and Guðmundsdóttir, matronymics such as Helgudóttir, and inherited family names such as Blöndal and Thorarensen.
About Icelandic last names
Most Icelanders have no family surname in the Western sense. A last name is a patronymic: the father's given name in the genitive case plus -son for a son or -dóttir for a daughter. Jón's son is Jónsson and his daughter is Jónsdóttir, so a brother and sister carry different last names, and neither hands it on to the next generation. Matronymics are built the same way from the mother's name, as in Helguson or Guðrúnardóttir.
The genitive is what makes these names hard to fake. Most names add -s, so Gunnar gives Gunnarsson. Names ending in -i switch to -a, so Árni gives Árnason and Bjarni gives Bjarnadóttir. An older group takes -ar, often with a vowel shift: Þórður gives Þórðarson, Hjörtur gives Hjartardóttir and Örn gives Arnarson. Sigurður even splits, with Sigurðsson for sons and Sigurðardóttir for daughters. Every patronymic in this list follows those rules and keeps the letters þ, ð, æ and ö.
A minority of Icelanders do carry inherited family names. Some go back to the centuries of Danish rule, such as Thorarensen, Stephensen and Thoroddsen. Others were taken from places before a 1925 law stopped the adoption of new family names, such as Blöndal, Breiðfjörð and Laxdal. They pass down like surnames anywhere else.
How to choose Icelandic last names
- Match the ending to the character: -son for a man, -dóttir for a woman. Siblings share the stem, so a brother and sister might be Einarsson and Einarsdóttir.
- Work backwards for consistency. A character called Stefánsdóttir has a father named Stefán, and her children will be named after her or their father, not after her last name.
- Pick a family name such as Briem, Nordal or Hafstein when a story needs one name for a whole household or for several generations.
- Keep the Icelandic letters. Þ sounds like the th in thing and ð like the th in this, and Þórðarson loses a lot when it is flattened for an English keyboard.
- Icelanders go by first names, even in the phone directory, so in dialogue a character is Guðrún, not Ms. Jónsdóttir.
Frequently asked questions
Do Icelanders have last names?
Most carry a patronymic or a matronymic instead of an inherited surname. It names a parent, so Jónsson is the son of Jón and Guðmundsdóttir is the daughter of Guðmundur, and it changes with every generation. A minority have inherited family names such as Blöndal, Briem or Thorarensen.
How are -son and -dóttir names formed?
Take the parent's given name, put it in the genitive case and add the ending. The double s in Magnússon is the s of the name meeting the s of son, so the daughter's form is Magnúsdóttir with only one. Names that take -a or -ar in the genitive give forms such as Árnason and Hjartardóttir.
What is an Icelandic matronymic?
It is a last name built from the mother's given name instead of the father's, such as Helguson, Önnuson or Kristínardóttir. Matronymics are legal and accepted, though less common than patronymics. Some Icelanders use both, one after the other.
Do these names work for a saga or Viking Age character?
The naming system is the one the sagas use, so Egilsson, Snorrason and Þorfinnsson fit well. Leave out the family names and the patronymics from later borrowed names, such as Alexandersson or Benjamínsdóttir. For bynames and Old Norse spellings, try the Norse and Viking last name generators.
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All 500 Icelandic last names
A: 33 names
- Adamsson
- Adolfsdóttir
- Agnarsson
- Ágústsson
- Alexandersson
- Andrason
- Aradóttir
- Arason
- Árdal
- Arinbjarnardóttir
- Arinbjarnarson
- Ármannsson
- Árnadóttir
- Arnalds
- Arnardóttir
- Arnarson
- Arnarsson
- Árnason
- Arngrímsson
- Arnljótsdóttir
- Aronsdóttir
- Ásbjarnarson
- Ásgeirsdóttir
- Ásgeirsson
- Ásgrímsdóttir
- Áskelsson
- Ásmundsdóttir
- Ástuson
- Atladóttir
- Atlason
- Auðardóttir
- Austmann
- Axelsson
B: 53 names
- Bachmann
- Baldursdóttir
- Baldursson
- Bárðardóttir
- Bárðarson
- Bárðdal
- Barkardóttir
- Barkarson
- Beck
- Benediktsdóttir
- Benediktsson
- Benjamínsdóttir
- Bergmann
- Bergsdóttir
- Bergsteinsdóttir
- Bergsveinsson
- Bergþórsson
- Bergþóruson
- Berndsen
- Bernharðsson
- Bernhöft
- Bessadóttir
- Birgisdóttir
- Birgisson
- Bjarkadóttir
- Bjarkan
- Bjarkardóttir
- Bjarklind
- Bjarnadóttir
- Bjarnason
- Bjartmarsson
- Björgólfsdóttir
- Björgvinsdóttir
- Björnsdóttir
- Björnsson
- Blandon
- Blöndal
- Böðvarsdóttir
- Bogadóttir
- Bogason
- Bollason
- Borgfjörð
- Bragadóttir
- Bragason
- Brandsdóttir
- Breiðfjörð
- Brekkan
- Briem
- Broddason
- Bryndísardóttir
- Brynjarsdóttir
- Brynjólfsson
- Búadóttir
C: 2 names
- Claessen
- Clausen
D: 9 names
- Daðason
- Dagbjartsson
- Dagfinnsdóttir
- Daníelsdóttir
- Daníelsson
- Davíðsdóttir
- Davíðsson
- Diðriksdóttir
- Dungal
E: 32 names
- Eddudóttir
- Eðvaldsdóttir
- Eðvarðsson
- Eggertsson
- Eggerz
- Egilsdóttir
- Egilson
- Egilsson
- Eiðsson
- Einarsdóttir
- Einarsson
- Eiríksdóttir
- Eiríksson
- Eldjárn
- Elínarson
- Elísson
- Emilsdóttir
- Engilberts
- Engilbertsdóttir
- Erlendsson
- Erlingsdóttir
- Erluson
- Espólín
- Evuson
- Eydal
- Eyfells
- Eyfjörð
- Eyjólfsdóttir
- Eyjólfsson
- Eymundsson
- Eysteinsdóttir
- Eyþórsdóttir
F: 14 names
- Fenger
- Ferdinandsson
- Filippusdóttir
- Finnbogadóttir
- Finnbogason
- Finnsson
- Finsen
- Fjeldsted
- Flosadóttir
- Flygenring
- Friðfinnsdóttir
- Friðriksdóttir
- Friðriksson
- Friðþjófsson
G: 32 names
- Gabríelsson
- Garðarsson
- Geirsson
- Gestsdóttir
- Gísladóttir
- Gíslason
- Gissurardóttir
- Gissurarson
- Gottskálksdóttir
- Grétarsdóttir
- Grettisdóttir
- Grímsdóttir
- Grímsson
- Gröndal
- Guðbrandsson
- Guðjohnsen
- Guðjónsdóttir
- Guðjónsson
- Guðlaugsson
- Guðmundsdóttir
- Guðmundsson
- Guðnadóttir
- Guðnason
- Guðnýjardóttir
- Guðrúnardóttir
- Guðrúnarson
- Gunnarsdóttir
- Gunnarsson
- Gunnlaugsdóttir
- Gústafsdóttir
- Guttormsson
- Gylfason
H: 61 names
- Haarde
- Hafliðason
- Hafstað
- Hafstein
- Hafsteinsson
- Hafþórsdóttir
- Hagalín
- Hákonardóttir
- Hákonarson
- Hálfdanarson
- Halldórsdóttir
- Halldórsson
- Hallgrímsson
- Hallsson
- Hallvarðsdóttir
- Hannesson
- Hannibalsson
- Hansdóttir
- Hansen
- Haraldsdóttir
- Haraldsson
- Haralz
- Harðardóttir
- Harðarson
- Hauksdóttir
- Hauksson
- Heiðarsdóttir
- Heiðdal
- Heimisdóttir
- Helgadóttir
H, continued
- Helgason
- Helgudóttir
- Helguson
- Hermannsdóttir
- Hermannsson
- Hildardóttir
- Hilmarsdóttir
- Hilmarsson
- Hinriksdóttir
- Hjálmarsson
- Hjálmtýsdóttir
- Hjaltadóttir
- Hjaltalín
- Hjaltason
- Hjaltested
- Hjartardóttir
- Hjartarson
- Hjörvar
- Hlíðberg
- Hlynsdóttir
- Högnadóttir
- Hólm
- Höskuldsson
- Hrafnkelsson
- Hrafnsson
- Hreggviðsdóttir
- Hreiðarsdóttir
- Hreinsson
- Hrólfsson
- Hulduson
- Hvanndal
I: 16 names
- Illugadóttir
- Illugason
- Indriðason
- Ingadóttir
- Ingason
- Ingibjargardóttir
- Ingimarsdóttir
- Ingimundarson
- Ingólfsdóttir
- Ingólfsson
- Ingvarsson
- Ísaksson
- Ísberg
- Ísfeld
- Ísleifsdóttir
- Ívarsdóttir
J: 23 names
- Jakobsdóttir
- Jakobsson
- Jensen
- Jensson
- Jóakimsdóttir
- Jóelsson
- Jóhannesdóttir
- Jóhannesson
- Jóhannsdóttir
- Jóhannsson
- Johnsen
- Jóhönnuson
- Jökulsdóttir
- Jónasdóttir
- Jónassen
- Jónasson
- Jónatansdóttir
- Jónsdóttir
- Jónsson
- Jörgensson
- Jósefsson
- Jósepsdóttir
- Júlíusson
K: 29 names
- Kaaber
- Kamban
- Káradóttir
- Kárason
- Karlsdóttir
- Karlsson
- Katrínardóttir
- Ketilsdóttir
- Kjaran
- Kjærnested
- Kjartansdóttir
- Kjartansson
- Kjarval
- Kjerúlf
- Klemensdóttir
- Knudsen
- Knútsdóttir
- Kolbeinsson
- Kolka
- Konráðsdóttir
- Kormáksdóttir
- Kristínardóttir
- Kristinsdóttir
- Kristinsson
- Kristjánsdóttir
- Kristjánsson
- Kröyer
- Kúld
- Kvaran
L: 14 names
- Lárusson
- Laxdal
- Laxness
- Leifsdóttir
- Liljudóttir
- Líndal
- Linnet
- Loftsson
- Logadóttir
- Löve
- Lúðvíksdóttir
- Lúthersson
- Lýðsson
- Lyngdal
M: 18 names
- Maack
- Magnadóttir
- Magnúsdóttir
- Magnússon
- Malmquist
- Marðarson
- Margrétardóttir
- Marinósdóttir
- Maríudóttir
- Marteinsson
- Matthíasdóttir
- Melax
- Melsteð
- Michelsen
- Mikaelsson
- Mogensen
- Möller
- Mýrdal
N: 9 names
- Nielsen
- Níelsson
- Nikulásdóttir
- Njálsson
- Njarðardóttir
- Nordal
- Norðdahl
- Norðfjörð
- Norland
O: 17 names
- Oddsdóttir
- Óðinsson
- Ófeigsson
- Óladóttir
- Ólafsdóttir
- Ólafsson
- Ólason
- Ómarsdóttir
- Önnuson
- Önundarson
- Örlygsdóttir
- Örnólfsdóttir
- Orrason
- Óskarsdóttir
- Óskarsson
- Össurarson
- Ottesen
P: 8 names
- Pálmadóttir
- Pálmason
- Pálsdóttir
- Pálsson
- Petersen
- Pétursdóttir
- Pétursson
- Proppé
R: 15 names
- Rafnar
- Rafnsdóttir
- Ragnars
- Ragnarsdóttir
- Ragnarsson
- Ragnheiðardóttir
- Reykdal
- Reynisson
- Richter
- Róbertsson
- Rögnuson
- Rögnvaldsdóttir
- Rósinkranz
- Rúnarsdóttir
- Rúnarsson
S: 59 names
- Sæberg
- Sandholt
- Sævarsdóttir
- Scheving
- Schiöth
- Schram
- Sigfússon
- Sighvatsdóttir
- Sigmarsdóttir
- Sigmundsson
- Sigríðarson
- Sigrúnarson
- Sigtryggsdóttir
- Sigurbjörnsson
- Sigurðardóttir
- Sigurðsson
- Sigurgeirsdóttir
- Sigurjónsdóttir
- Sigurjónsson
- Sigvaldadóttir
- Símonardóttir
- Símonarson
- Sindrason
- Sívertsen
- Skagfjörð
- Skarphéðinsson
- Skeggjadóttir
- Skeggjason
- Skúladóttir
- Skúlason
- Smáradóttir
- Snæbjörnsdóttir
- Snædal
- Snæland
- Snævarr
- Snorradóttir
- Snorrason
- Sölvason
- Sólveigarson
- Sörensen
- Stefánsdóttir
- Stefánsson
- Steffensen
- Steinarsson
- Steindórsdóttir
- Steingrímsson
- Steinsson
- Steinþórsdóttir
- Steinunnarson
- Stephensen
- Sturludóttir
- Sturluson
- Styrmisson
- Sveinbjarnarson
- Sveinbjörnsdóttir
- Sveinsdóttir
- Sveinsson
- Sverrisdóttir
- Sverrisson
T: 31 names
- Teitsdóttir
- Thomsen
- Thorarensen
- Thorberg
- Thorgrimsen
- Thorlacius
- Thoroddsen
- Thors
- Thorsteinsson
- Tjörvadóttir
- Tómasdóttir
- Tómasson
- Þórarinsson
- Þórðardóttir
- Þórðarson
- Torfason
- Þorfinnsson
- Þorgilsdóttir
- Þormóðsson
- Þorrason
- Þorsteinsdóttir
- Þorsteinsson
- Þóruson
- Þorvarðarson
- Þrastardóttir
- Þrastarson
- Traustadóttir
- Tryggvadóttir
- Tryggvason
- Tulinius
- Tyrfingsson
V: 18 names
- Valdimarsdóttir
- Valdimarsson
- Valfells
- Valgarðsdóttir
- Valtýsson
- Vernharðsdóttir
- Vestdal
- Vésteinsson
- Vídalín
- Viðar
- Vigdísardóttir
- Víglundsdóttir
- Víkingsson
- Vilhjálmsdóttir
- Vilhjálmsson
- Vilmundardóttir
- Völundarson
- Vopnfjörð
W: 4 names
- Waage
- Waagfjörð
- Wathne
- Wium
Y: 1 name
- Yngvadóttir