Mind-Blowing Iceland Facts to Make You Fall in Love with the Country
Defying Last Names
Names play a very important role in Icelandic culture. Unlike many other countries where people use family surnames, Icelanders use patronymic last names, which consist of their father’s first name and a suffix for daughter or son, similar to the Arab naming tradition. Everyone in the country is referred to by their first name, regardless of their profession.
Women keep their original names when they marry and if they change their surnames when they move abroad, they have to revert back when they return to Iceland. The National Registry even allows people to have more than one name if they want to make it longer or unique.
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