breetheflea
Drama Llama
Posts: 7,317 
Location: PNW
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Post by breetheflea on Feb 17, 2022 18:41:25 GMT
Yesterday at my library I was looking for a book by Ragnar Jonasson in the J section. It was nowhere to be found and I double checked the catalog that the book was available at this particular branch. It turns out it's filed under R... Is it a thing in Iceland to put last name first, is my library just weird, or is there some other reason for this? It reminds me of when I couldn't ever find Alexander McCall Smith books on the shelves because I was looking in the 'S' section... Inquiring minds would like to know  |
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Tearisci
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,966
Member is Online
Nov 6, 2018 16:34:30 GMT
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Post by Tearisci on Feb 17, 2022 18:58:37 GMT
Yes this is definitely a thing which I learned while in Iceland a few years ago. The last name either has a suffix of son or daughter (spelled Icelandic way) and is named for the parents so the phone book etc, is organized by the first name.
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breetheflea
Drama Llama
Posts: 7,317
Location: PNW
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Post by breetheflea on Feb 17, 2022 19:47:45 GMT
Yes this is definitely a thing which I learned while in Iceland a few years ago. The last name either has a suffix of son or daughter (spelled Icelandic way) and is named for the parents so the phone book etc, is organized by the first name. That is really interesting... but confusing at the same time. Thanks for answering my question |
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Post by gar on Feb 17, 2022 19:58:15 GMT
You learn something every day  Thanks Tearisci |
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Post by Alexxussss on Feb 17, 2022 23:28:19 GMT
Traditionally you add your father’s first name with the suffix “sson ” for boys and “sdottir” for girls. So my father’s name is Frank so I’d be Alexis Franksdottir, or Frank’s daughter. My brother would be Patrick Franksson or Frank’s son. I believe in modern times it’s sson regardless of gender.
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milocat
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,900
Location: 55 degrees north in Alberta, Canada
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Post by milocat on Feb 17, 2022 23:55:49 GMT
Interesting. As gar said learn something new every day. |
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muggins
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 2,861
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Post by muggins on Feb 18, 2022 1:28:04 GMT
Traditionally you add your father’s first name with the suffix “sson ” for boys and “sdottir” for girls. So my father’s name is Frank so I’d be Alexis Franksdottir, or Frank’s daughter. My brother would be Patrick Franksson or Frank’s son. I believe in modern times it’s sson regardless of gender. Thanks for explaining! My neighbours are Icelandic (husband) and Japanese (wife) and I always wondered why Icelandic names ended with son or sdottir!! |
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tanya2
Pearl Clutcher
Refupea #1604
Posts: 4,486
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Post by tanya2 on Feb 18, 2022 4:00:51 GMT
wow that's interesting! I had no idea
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camcas
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,414
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Post by camcas on Feb 18, 2022 6:55:27 GMT
Love me some Icelandic Noir fiction.
And….my favourite authors are Ragnar Jonasson and Yrsa Sigurdasdottir
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sueg
Prolific Pea
Posts: 9,140
Location: Munich
Apr 12, 2016 12:51:01 GMT
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Post by sueg on Feb 18, 2022 8:12:14 GMT
Traditionally you add your father’s first name with the suffix “sson ” for boys and “sdottir” for girls. So my father’s name is Frank so I’d be Alexis Franksdottir, or Frank’s daughter. My brother would be Patrick Franksson or Frank’s son. I believe in modern times it’s sson regardless of gender. The 'dottir' suffix is still in use. The football team I support has a couple of Icelandic players in their women's squad and their names end in 'dottir' - these are women in their early 20s. |
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Thanks 
