Decode a name
How patronymics work
Iceland uses a patronymic (and occasionally matronymic) system, not hereditary surnames. If your father is Jón, you're Jónsson (m) or Jónsdóttir (f). Your siblings share the surname; your cousins don't. Many people also have a middle name from another family member.
Most names you'll encounter in Iceland use these endings: -sson (son), -dóttir (daughter). Place-based surnames (-fjörð, -berg, -ey) exist but are rare in modern Iceland. Foreign-style surnames are usually the result of adoption or marriage.
FAQ
How do I address someone?
First names are universal — Icelanders use first names at work, in shops, and in professional contexts. There's no equivalent of "Mr./Ms.". Use the first name directly; titles feel stiff.
What about famous Icelanders?
Björk Guðmundsdóttir (BYURK GUH-doh-MUNTS-doh-tir). Halldór Laxness (HAL-dohr LAHK-sness). The football player Gylfi Sigurðsson (GIL-fee SIG-ur-th-son).
Are women expected to change surnames?
No — patronymics update only with parent change. Marriage doesn't change either partner's surname. The system treats gender, but not through marriage.