Viking people were known for their rich heritage, culture, and strength. But the most important thing that represented them was their naming method. The surnames of the Vikings were part of their identity.
The naming method of the Vikings was that the last name or the surname had a patronymic or matronymic name, which means that the last name consisted of their father or mother’s first name with a suffix “son” for the male and “dottir” for the daughters. If someone has the surname Bjornsson it means “son of Bjorn” and if they have the surname Gudrunsdóttir it means“daughter of Gudrun”.
So with every generation, the surname of the people changed because it was named using the first name of the parents rather than the last name.
In this article, we will tell you about the cool Viking last names that were famous and common. You may also like the article Funny Names Like Ben Dover, Cool Bike Names.
Importance of Viking Naming Convention
The last name of the Vikings was of very much importance to them as it represented their identity and linked them to their parents. The first name was created based on the culture or the religion of the people and the last name having more significance was based on their parent’s first name or the origin of the people.
Most of the Viking Surname was based on the patronymic rather than matronymic which connected them to their father. This concept of using the parent’s first name led the people to have a common surname which intensified the feeling and bonding of the family in Viking society.
The Patronymic Surname
The Patronymic Surname means that the last name of the individual consists of the first name of the father with the suffix “son” or “dottir” which represents the lineage of the child. As mentioned above, patronymic names were used more because of the family ancestry representation and it can help them trace the ancestors of the child. It has more importance especially if the child belonged to a noble or important family like the first king of Norway was known as Harald Harfagre which means the Harald Fairhair.
In some situations, the people also used the name of the famous warrior or any legendary figure to represent their surname as they were so much inspired by them.
But in modern times, this practice is not popularly followed because of the spread of Christianity which created the use of the Last name of the father rather than the first name. But you can still find this practice being implemented in some areas of Iceland.
Badass Viking’s Last Name
- Eriksson-son of Erik
- Olafsdóttirr- daughter of Olaf
- Thorsteinsson-son of Thorstein
- Sigridsdóttir- daughter of Sigrid
- Leifsson- son of Leif
- Helgadóttir- daughter of Helga
- Bjornsson- son of Bjorn
- Astriddóttir- daughter of Astrid
- Gunnarsson- son of Gunnar
- Gudrunsdóttir -daughter of Gudrun
- Johansson son of John
- Larsson- son of Larson
- Nilsson- son of Nilson
- Andersson- Son of Anders
- Svensson- Son of Sven
- Olsen- Son of Ole
- Hansen -Son of Hans
- Peterson- Son of Peter
- Christiansen- Son of Christian
Viking SurName for Females
For the Viking Surname of female, we add the suffix ‘dottir’ which means daughter of.
- Sigurdsdóttir
- Sifsdóttir
- Hlindóttir
- Yngvildóttir
- Hreggdóttir
- Æsirdóttir
- Húndóttir
- Vitrardóttir
- Yngvildóttir
- Hervordóttir
- Hjalmdóttir
- Þorirsdóttir
- Mæringsdóttir
- Svalasdóttir
- Gjaldurdóttir
- Hildisdóttir
- Jofurdóttir
- Skúldóttir
- Snjórdóttir
- Þráinsdóttir
- Bifröstsdóttir
- Hróaldóttir
- Nórdóttir
- Hrímgrimdóttir
- Nornsindóttir
- Jotundóttir
- Eiríksdóttir
- Aegisdóttir
- Mjöllsdóttir
- Dvalindóttir
- Jorddóttir
- Hlínardóttir
- Gerdurdóttir
- Eydóttir
- Hreidrdóttir
- Skadisdóttir
- Naddóttir
- Vérdóttir
- Thorisdóttir
- Odinsdóttir
- Lokisdóttir
- Baldursdóttir
- Freyjadóttir
- Freyrdóttir
- Tyrisdóttir
- Heimdallsdóttir
- Njordsdóttir
- Bragisdóttir
- Baldrsdóttir
- Friggdóttir
- Hœnirdóttir
- Váldóttir
- Ullrdóttir
- Thrymdóttir
- Gefjundóttir
- Forsetisdóttir
- Vidardóttir
- Hønisdóttir
- Thorsteinsdottir
- Bjarnadottir
- Eiriksdottir
- Haraldsdottir
- Gudrunsdottir
- Hrolfsdottir
- Sigurdsdottir
- Olafsdottir
- Gunnarsdottir
- Freydisdottir
Viking SurName for Males
The Viking Surname for male has the suffix ‘son’ or ‘sen’ which means son of
- Bjornsson
- Eriksson
- Haraldsson
- Gunnarsson
- Olafsson
- Thorsson
- Jansson
- Sigmundsson
- Ragnorsson
- Freysson
- Leifsson
- Ingolfsson
- Hakonsson
- Knutsson
- Ulfsson
- Hrafnsson
- Gudmundsson
- Magnússon
- Asmundsson
- Torvaldsson
- Gislasson
- Helgason
- Gullason
- Solveigson
- Sigunnarson
- Thorgilsson
- Oddnason
- Thrainsson
- Gunnarsson
- Valdison
- Ormsson
Popular Viking Last Names
- Thorsson
- Gunnarsson
- Bjornsdottir
- Freysson
- Valkyriedottir
- Ulfricsson
- Eiriksdottir
- Skjoldrsson
- Astridrsson
- Sigrunnsdottir
- Hrolfsson
- Valthorsson
- Lagerthasdottir
- Haraldsson
- Fjolnirsson
- Ylvasdottir
- Ulfhednarsson
- Ragnarsdottir
- Sigurdsson
- Helgadottir
- Hafthorsson
- Astridsdottir
- Haldorsdottir
- Brynjarsson
- Gudrunnsdottir
- Eirikursson
- Sifsdottir
- Vidarsdottir
- Hvitserkursson
- Eilifsson
- Ingridsdottir
- Skalmoldsson
- Olafsdottir
- Runasdottir
- Jotunsson
- Thoraesdottir
- Hrothgarsson
- Brynhildsdottir
- Magnisson
- Sigynsdottir
- Torunnsson
- Sigrsdottir
- Ormsson
- Lagerthsson
- Elinnsdottir
- Hrafnsson
- Solvadottir
- Hrungnirsson
- Ylvaldsdottir
- Geirsson
- Asdisdottir
- Sigbjornsson
- Hildegarddottir
- Gormsson
- Brynhildsson
- Astridursdottir
- Fafnirsson
- Sigvorrsdottir
- Ivarsdottir
- Skuldsson
Viking Last Names in Different Countries
Viking Last Names in Norway:
There are some popular Norwegian Viking Last names like:
- Arvidsson
- Eriksson
- Leifsson
- Ragnarsson
- Sigurdsson
- Thorsen
- Bjornsen
- Gudmundsen
- Halvorsen
- Iversen
- Jorgensen
- Knutsen
- Larsen
- Njordsson
- Olafsen
- Sigvaldsson
- Torsteinsson
- Ulfsson
- Valdemarsen
- Yngvadottir
Viking last names in England
The Viking last names in England end with “son” and “sen”
- Thorsson
- Eriksson
- Olafssen
- Bjornsson
- Freyrssen
- Haraldsson
- Gunnarsen
- Leifsson
- Sigurdsson
- Svensson
- Ragnarssen
- Knutsson
- Ingridssen
- Hakonsson
- Astridarsen
- Ivarsson
- Gudrunsen
- Njallsson
- Eirikssen
- Ulfsson
- Brynjaarson
- Magnusson
- Thyraarsen
- Hrolfsson
- Solveigssen
- Vidarsson
- Jorunnarsen
- Ormsson
- Sigurdsson
- Gormsson
- Aslaugssen
- Frodisson
- Eddaarsen
- Hrafnsson
- Ylvaarsen
- Arnbjornsson
- Audssen
- Oddsson
- Rannveigssen
- Vagnsson
- Helgassen
- Thorkellsson
- Haldorsson
- Gunhildsen
- Einarsson
- Asdissen
- Ingolfsson
- Signyarsen
- Gunnarsson
- Hildegardsen
- Egilsson
- Rannveigssen
- Asbjornssen
- Fridasen
- Ketilsson
- Ragnhildarson
- Thorvaldsson
- Rannveigsen
- Alariksson
Viking Last Names in Ireland
- Aurthur
- Aspel
- Balfw
- Bambrick
- Beirne
- Burns
- Blacker
- Byrnes
- Bligh
- Coppinger
- Cull
- Cotter
- Crangle
- Crosbie
- Dollard
- Dolphin
- Doyle
- Dromgoole
- Duke
- EWagnerO’Halloran
- Halpenny
- Stritch
- SSugarMc Stravick
- Mc Swiggan
- Tarmey
- Torney
- Toner
- Trant
- Thunder
- Stamp
- Stackpoole
- Maxey
- Merriman
- Mc Manus
- Owley
- Parle
- Rahill
- Rawl
- Sayers
- Kenefick
- Karby
- Calpin
- Harmon
- Fenlon
- Mc Kitterick
- Broe
- Broughall
- Brunnock
- Bowdren
- Calpin
- Kett
- RRockerReynolds
- Norris
- Searsson
- Stakem
- Maxey
- Hetharstan
Viking Last Names in Scotland
Most of Scottish Viking Surnames start with “Mc” or “Mac” like the name Mclvor or Mac Aulay.
- Andersen
- Berg
- Dahl
- Eriksen
- Freysson
- Gundersen
- Hansen
- Ivarsson
- Jansen
- Knudsen
- Larsen
- Magnusson
- Dreyer
- Einarsson
- Fransson
- Gustafsson
- Holm
- Ibsen
- Jorgensen
- Kjeldsen
- Lund
- Mikkelsen
- Nilsen
- Olesen
- Petersen
- Quist
- Rønning
- Svensson
- Torstensen
- Ulfsson
- Väinönen
- Wiberg
- Xander
- Ylvisaker
- Zetterlund
- Åkesson
- Borgen
- Davidsen
- Ekström
- Foss
- Gudmundsson
- Haugen
- Ingvarsson
- Jansson
Popular Norse Surname
Norse surnames are famously used in Norway and usually, the surname of the individual has the patronym’s first name that is their father. The most amazing thing is that this is still a very popular practice in Norway.
- Westergaard – Means “western farm”
- Ovesen – Norwegian name meaning “son of Ove”
- Heddle – Given to a person who lived near a stream or a lake
- Asulf – Scandinavian name meaning “warrior”
- Flett – Referred to a person from the parish of Delting, Shetland
- Hagen – Old Norse meaning “enclosure” or “pasture”
- Oliversen – Norwegian name meaning “son of Oliver”
- Dalgaard – Derived from the Old Norse words for “valley” and “farmstead”
- Årud – “Å” is a Norweigian reference to “river or stream” and “rud” means clearing
- Haraldsen – Norweigian name meaning “son of Harald”
- Daman
- Dolph
- Eikeland
- Ødegård
- Ormsby
- Matsen
- Fredrikson
- Ingebrigtsen
- Helgason
- Nygaard
- Nygard
- Larsen
- Rønningen
- Bengtsson
- Groby
- Sande
- Battersby
- Haugrud
- Kristiansen
- Pedersen
- Heskin
- Burby
- Ohlson
- Hornsby
- Aaberg
- Ring
- Gulbrandson
- Vagle
- Mathison
- Haaland
- Halvorsen
- Ludvigsen
- Lund
- Ness
- Hartvigsen
- Aase
- Borgerson
- Bakken
- Pearson
- Fitton
- Nybo
- Askwith
- Antrobus
- Jansen
- Asby
- Manby
- Calthorpe
- Røed
- Pettersen
- Karlsen
- Eide
- Bielke
- Axtell
- Holderness
- Lind
- Lund
- Hohlt
- Løkken
- Knudsen
- Leif
- Lewthwaite
- Eriksen
- Lingwood
- Stene
- Torp
- Evensen
- Knutsen
- Kaase
- Birkeland
- Rolleston
- Aglionby
- Eilertsen
- Outhwaite
- Nygaard
- Kristensen
- Viken
- Jørgensen
- Johnsen
- Gundersen
- Kelham
- Gill
- Sæther
- Breivik
- Petersen
- Thomason
- Nylund
- Yngling
- Haugan
Viking’s Last Name Based on Profession
The Vikings also used their profession as their surname.
| Surname | Meaning |
| Bakari | Baker |
| Fisker | Fisherman |
| Shomaker | Shoe Maker |
| Tonnemaker | Barrel Maker |
Viking Last Names With Description
Sometimes the Viking surname was such that it also had a few words that would describe the features and looks of the person. But the descriptive name is not only used based on the looks, sometimes it is also a representation of the personality of the person.
| Surname | Meaning |
| Calpin the Red | Calpin is the name of the person and the red refers to his red hair. |
| Nybo Bluetooth | The person is named after the dead tooth that appears blue. |
| Jason Freysson | This name indicated that Jason was the son of Frey |
| Owley the Black | Owley is the name of the person and Black refers to his black hair. |
| Byrnes The Wise | Byrnes is the person and Wise refers to him being wise and this person must have wisdom. |
Viking Surname based on their geographical location
Viking surname is also used to represent the place from where the person belongs.
| Surname | Meaning | Region |
| Nordstrom | North Stream | Sweden |
| Fjellberg | Mountain Hill | Norway |
| Skoglund | Forest Groove | Sweden |
Viking Last Names in the Modern Times
The use of the Viking surname has reduced significantly in some countries but it still holds sentimental feelings for them because it shows their heritage and gives them a sense of belonging. It is a source of information for the people because it gives them knowledge of their history and legacy.
In modern times, people in Ireland and Norway still use their Viking Surname proudly because it represents power. Norse culture and these individuals who are still using their Viking Surname are the reason that the Viking surname continues.
Conclusion
All these common Viking Surnames are a reflection of the heritage of the Vikings and how they used to live with their customs and culture. The surname is not limited to the patronymic but also can be used based on the geographical location, profession, and personality of the person having that name.
This custom of Viking Surname is very admirable and we also get to know about how they got their name and the reason for having such a Surname creates a feeling of respect for them especially in modern times where the people belonging to Vikings are still using their Viking Surname.
