Fact 2: Icelandic Names Often Follow Parents, Not Family Lines
Visitors are often surprised that Icelandic names don't work the way many expect. In many countries, surnames are fixed family names passed down through generations. In Iceland, many people use patronymics or matronymics instead. That means the last name is often derived from a parent's first name rather than a shared family name. A son of Jón might have a name ending in -son, while a daughter's might end in -dóttir. Registers Iceland also notes that matronymics are used, and in some cases, a child may receive a matronymic by default if paternity isn't formally declared. So instead of a name being just a family label, it often directly reveals parentage.