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Quiz about Icelandic Surnames
Quiz about Icelandic Surnames

Icelandic Surnames Trivia Quiz


The Icelanders are famous for having a different surname system to everyone else. This quiz outlines some of the tendencies of Icelandic families and their surnames.

A multiple-choice quiz by Flynn_17. Estimated time: 4 mins.
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Author
Flynn_17
Time
4 mins
Type
Multiple Choice
Quiz #
200,033
Updated
Feb 04 23
# Qns
10
Difficulty
Average
Avg Score
6 / 10
Plays
674
- -
Question 1 of 10
1. In Iceland, they have a very strange system of surnames. As there are not many surnames in Iceland, people are named after their father's first name, and their gender. Here is an example:

Father's name - Ragnor Heldersson
Mother's name - Illena Gerruinsdottir
Son's name - Markuu Ragnorsson

In this case, what would be the surname of the daughter born to Ragnor and Illena?
Hint


Question 2 of 10
2. Icelandic surname tendencies: is this statement true or false? When a woman gets married to a man in Iceland, they do not change their surnames.


Question 3 of 10
3. There are very few set family names (names which do not change when a child is named) in Icelandic culture. One of them, which is quite similar to an English surname and is not commonly used, is mainly given to the name descendants of a famous Icelandic man in history. What is this surname? Hint


Question 4 of 10
4. This Icelandic system of patronymy (the adoption of the father's name) is required by law, with no exceptions?


Question 5 of 10
5. Besides Iceland, which countries also used the system of naming children after their father and their gender up until the second part of the 19th century? Hint


Question 6 of 10
6. Icelandic retains some letters from Ancient Norse. One surname, 'Thorsson', contains a letter that is not used in other languages. This letter resembles a letter 'p', and is pronounced as 'th'. Which of these languages also uses this letter? Hint


Question 7 of 10
7. Because of the patronymic (the adoption of the father's name) system of surnames in Iceland, most people are referred to by their first names only. Which of these people would you refer to as 'Mr.' or 'Mrs.' when in Iceland? Hint


Question 8 of 10
8. There is a lack of set family names in Iceland. What percentage of people in Iceland actually have a set family name, though? Hint


Question 9 of 10
9. The naming system in Iceland is almost exclusively described as 'patronymic', which implies that the child will always take the name of the father. Is it possible for a child to take the mother's name as part of their surname?


Question 10 of 10
10. It is often said (jokingly) that the phone books in Iceland go by first name. Is this true or not?



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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts
1. In Iceland, they have a very strange system of surnames. As there are not many surnames in Iceland, people are named after their father's first name, and their gender. Here is an example: Father's name - Ragnor Heldersson Mother's name - Illena Gerruinsdottir Son's name - Markuu Ragnorsson In this case, what would be the surname of the daughter born to Ragnor and Illena?

Answer: Ragnorsdottir

The surname changes every generation. A famous example of this naming system is Bjork, whose surname is Gudmundsdottir, or 'daughter of Gudmund'.
2. Icelandic surname tendencies: is this statement true or false? When a woman gets married to a man in Iceland, they do not change their surnames.

Answer: True

As the surname changes every generation, this would just confuse matters! If an Icelandic person marries a foreigner, the foreigner can either use their spouse's surname, or adopt their own patronymic surname (their father's name, plus their gender). If an Icelander married abroad and adopted their spouse's name, and then moved back to Iceland, they would be obligated to discontinue the use of the adopted name.
3. There are very few set family names (names which do not change when a child is named) in Icelandic culture. One of them, which is quite similar to an English surname and is not commonly used, is mainly given to the name descendants of a famous Icelandic man in history. What is this surname?

Answer: Stephensen

From Olafur Stefansson, this name was changed to Stephensen, and is now used by male descendants of this man. When given to the female descendants before 1991, this family name was not carried on to the next generation, but since the Names Act in 1991, family names can be passed on to the descendants equally through the male and the female line.
4. This Icelandic system of patronymy (the adoption of the father's name) is required by law, with no exceptions?

Answer: False

Although it is required by law for most families, families who had adopted a set family name before 1913 are allowed to keep that name if they wish. Since 1925, it has been illegal to adopt a new family name.
5. Besides Iceland, which countries also used the system of naming children after their father and their gender up until the second part of the 19th century?

Answer: Norway and Sweden

In western Sweden, this tradition continued even longer, which is why surnames such as Magnusson and Jonsson are so common in Sweden and Norway today.
6. Icelandic retains some letters from Ancient Norse. One surname, 'Thorsson', contains a letter that is not used in other languages. This letter resembles a letter 'p', and is pronounced as 'th'. Which of these languages also uses this letter?

Answer: None of them

The letter that represents the 'th' sound is not used in any other language. In languages such as Norwegian and Swedish, this letter has been replaced by a 't' or a 'd' in words. Finnish is not related to Norwegian or Swedish. It is similar to Estonian.
7. Because of the patronymic (the adoption of the father's name) system of surnames in Iceland, most people are referred to by their first names only. Which of these people would you refer to as 'Mr.' or 'Mrs.' when in Iceland?

Answer: None of these people

No one is ever referred to as 'Mr.' or 'Mrs.' in Iceland, not even the president. Surnames are also never used on their own. If someone is ever referred to by their surname, it is always with their first name too. An example of this is Bjork Gudmundsdottir. Incidentally, the current president would be referred to as Olafur Ragnar Grimsson," but never "President Grimsson".
8. There is a lack of set family names in Iceland. What percentage of people in Iceland actually have a set family name, though?

Answer: 10%

Therefore, 90% of Icelandic people have a patronymic surname. Using this system, of course, children will have a different surname to their parents.
9. The naming system in Iceland is almost exclusively described as 'patronymic', which implies that the child will always take the name of the father. Is it possible for a child to take the mother's name as part of their surname?

Answer: Yes

It is possible, but does not happen as often. It is also possible for children to have two surnames, one from their mother and one from their father. So Kristian, whose parents are called Ragnor and Illena, could be Kristian Ragnorsson Illenasson. Traditional rules prefer Icelanders to bear one surname, though, and that is the surname from the father.
10. It is often said (jokingly) that the phone books in Iceland go by first name. Is this true or not?

Answer: True

So does the National Registry!
Source: Author Flynn_17

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor ozzz2002 before going online.
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