Editing Demographics of Iceland (section)

== Patronymy ==
{{See also|Icelandic name|l1=Icelandic naming conventions}}
Most Icelandic names are based on [[patronymic|patronymy]], and consist of the given name(s) followed by the father's first given name (in the [[genitive case]]), followed by "son" or "daughter". For example, Magnús and Anna, children of a man named Pétur Jónsson, would have the full names Magnús Pétursson and Anna Pétursdóttir, respectively. Magnús's daughter Sigríður Ásta would be Sigríður Ásta Magnúsdóttir, and would remain so for the rest of her life regardless of marriage. An Icelandic patronymic is essentially only a designation of fatherhood, and is therefore redundant in Icelandic social life except to differentiate people of the same first name{{snd}} the phone directory, for example, lists people by their given name first, patronymic second. Thus it has little in common with surnames in other countries except for its position after the given name. It is legally possible in Iceland to use a [[matronymic]] instead of a patronymic, using the mother's name instead of the father's. Use of the patronymic system is required by law, except for descendants of those who acquired family names before 1913 (about 10% of the population). One notable Icelander with an inherited family name is [[football (soccer)|football]] star [[Eiður Guðjohnsen|Eiður Smári Guðjohnsen]].