A son takes his father's first name and adds -sson, which then becomes his surname. So Johann, the son of Isak, becomes Johann Isaksson.

A daughter also takes her father's first name and adds -sdottir. Thus Stephanie, daughter of Johann, becomes Stephanie Johannsdottir.

People keep these names the rest of their lives, even after marriage. Women do not take their husband's surname.

To use the phonebook in Iceland, you look the person up by the first name and then by the last. If this is not enough, they are listed by occupation.

This tradition makes keeping family histories easier, and helps explain the long genealogy we have for our family.