Why do so many Icelandic names end in dóttir?
For example, when a couple has a child, the tradition is to add “son” or “daughter” to the end of the Father’s name. If you are the daughter of Magnus, your last name would be Magnussdottir (dottir translates to daughter). The patronymic system means that Icelanders are really a first-name kind of country.
Why does everyone in Iceland have son in their name?
YOU may have noticed that almost all the Iceland players have ‘son’ at the end of their names. This is because their naming system isn’t the same as other Western nations, as Icelanders do not not use family names. Instead of a family name, a person’s second name indicates the first name of their father.
What is the most common last name in Iceland?
Surnames in Iceland: Common options
- Jónsdóttir or Jónsson.
- Kristjánsson or Kristjánsdóttir.
- Guðmundsdóttir or Guðmundsson.
- Einarsson or Einarsdóttir.
- Sigurðardóttir or Sigurðsson.
- Ólafsson or Ólafsdóttir.
- Magnúsdóttir or Magnússon.
- Jóhannsson or Jóhannsdóttir.
Do all Icelandic names end in son or dóttir?
The last name of a male Icelanders therefore usually ends in the suffix -son (“son”) and that of female Icelanders in -dóttir (“daughter”). For example, Iceland’s current president is Ólafur Ragnar Grímsson, his first name is Ólafur Ragnar and his father’s first name was Grímur.
Do Icelandic siblings have different last names?
Because an Icelandic person’s last name is dependent on one of their parent’s first names and their gender, there are mostly no family names. For example, a family of four that has two parents and two kids, one male and the other female, will all have different last names.
What is the last name of a male in Iceland?
The last name of a male Icelanders therefore usually ends in the suffix -son (“son”) and that of female Icelanders in -dóttir (“daughter”). For example, Iceland’s current president is Ólafur Ragnar Grímsson, his first name is Ólafur Ragnar and his father’s first name was Grímur.
Why do so many Iceland football players have ‘son’ in their names?
YOU may have noticed that almost all the Iceland players have ‘son’ at the end of their names. This is because their naming system isn’t the same as other Western nations, as Icelanders do not not use family names. Instead of a family name, a person’s second name indicates the first name of their father.
Why is the Icelandic language so hard to name?
The purpose of this seemingly strict naming policy is to protect Iceland’s cultural heritage. The Icelandic language is strongly affected by the phenomenon of Icelandic language purism. The language is regarded as a basic element of the national identity.
What is the criteria for accepting names in Icelandic?
The criterion for acceptance of names is whether or not they can be incorporated into the Icelandic language. First, they must contain only letters of the Icelandic alphabet, secondly they must be able to be declined in accordance with the Icelandic grammar.