Why are there no last names in Iceland?
Since 1925, one cannot adopt a family name unless one explicitly has a legal right to do so through inheritance. First names not previously used in Iceland must be approved by the Icelandic Naming Committee before being used.
Why did Iceland name end in Dottir?
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 is Harriet banned in Iceland?
The committee refused to accept the names of Duncan and Harriet Cardew—Icelandic-born children of a British father and an Icelandic mother—because their names did not meet the criteria for being added to the registry of approved names.
How do Surnames work in Iceland?
Icelanders do not have surnames but instead they have patronymic names. Icelanders derive their surname from their father or mother’s first name. An Icelander’s last name consists of their father or mother’s followed by the suffix -son (in case of a boy) or -dóttir (in case of a girl).
What do Iceland call themselves?
Islandia—directly from Icelandic language “Ísland” Snelandia—a Latinization of the more poetic name Snæland.
What are girls last names 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.
Why do Icelanders have no last names?
As there are no last names, Icelanders often go by first names with a middle name for clarification. While this may seem strict to outsiders, it is for good reason, and that is to protect Iceland’s cultural heritage, they say, which is a huge part of the Icelandic language and identity.
What does it mean to be named after your mother in Iceland?
What that means is that one’s name is taken from the immediate mother or father instead of referring to a family lineage as it is done in most Western countries. While Iceland is considered a Scandinavian country along with Norway, Sweden and Denmark, only in Iceland do they continue with this form of naming.
Can you adopt a family name in Iceland?
There are also some family names that Icelanders use that have been adopted from parents who were immigrants – the actress, Anita Briem, and the former prime minister, Geir Haarde, for example. Since 1925, the law only allows one to adopt a new family name if one has a legal right to do so through inheritance.
Is Iceland a Scandinavian country?
While Iceland is considered a Scandinavian country along with Norway, Sweden and Denmark, only in Iceland do they continue with this form of naming. It works like this: men are named after their father’s first name with the suffix son attached, and women are named after their father’s first name with the suffix dottir attached.