Tracing Icelandic Roots
Conducting family history research in Iceland offers unique opportunities thanks to the country’s exceptional recordkeeping and strong cultural emphasis on lineage. Iceland boasts some of the world’s most complete genealogical records, often reaching back to the medieval period. This article offers a step-by-step guide to tracing Icelandic ancestry using available resources and record types, with practical examples to assist beginner and advanced genealogists alike.
History of Iceland
Iceland’s history is rooted in Norse exploration and settlement, beginning in the late 9th century when Norwegian chieftains and their followers, fleeing political turmoil, colonized the previously uninhabited island. The settlers established a unique society centered on independent farmsteads and a communal legal assembly called the Alþingi, founded in 930 CE and considered the world’s oldest surviving parliament. Iceland remained independent until 1262, when it entered a union with Norway, later becoming part of the Danish crown. Despite centuries of isolation, harsh climate, and occasional volcanic disasters, Icelanders preserved a rich literary and cultural heritage, including the famed medieval sagas. The nation gradually gained autonomy in the 19th and early 20th centuries, achieving full independence as a republic in 1944. Iceland’s genealogical continuity is remarkably intact due to its small population, strong oral traditions, and early, meticulous recordkeeping.
Prior to the 20th century, there was hardly any emigration at all. Most of the people are descended from the same group of original settlers, which means that Icelanders are descended from the same people the farther back you go. According to Fridrik, the most common ancestor of all Icelanders is a Catholic bishop. He was eventually beheaded, but not before leaving behind a posterity.
Understand Icelandic Naming Traditions
Before diving into records, it’s essential to grasp the Icelandic patronymic naming system. Unlike most Western countries, Icelandic surnames are not hereditary. A person’s last name typically reflects their father’s (or sometimes mother’s) first name, with the suffix -son for males and –dóttir for females (e.g., Jón Einarsson’s daughter would be Anna Jónsdóttir). Modern databases often require careful filtering to avoid misidentifying individuals due to repeated given names.
Language Considerations and Translation Tools
Records are primarily in Icelandic, and older ones may use Gothic script. Familiarity with key terms like “fæddur” (born), “dó” (died), and “giftur” (married) is helpful. Online tools such as the Icelandic Genealogy Word List (available through FamilySearch) and handwriting guides can assist. Using Google Translate on digitized records from Arkivalier.is or consulting Icelandic-speaking genealogy forums can also be highly effective.
Start with Íslendingabók: The Book of Icelanders
One of Iceland’s most remarkable genealogical resources is Íslendingabók, a public online database that traces the ancestry of most Icelanders living today, based on church records and historical genealogies. Íslendingabók contains over one million individuals, stretching back to the time of settlement (9th – 11th centuries). And since the recording of the 1703 census, about 95% of all Icelanders can be found in the Icelandic Book of the Family. Access is restricted to Icelandic citizens and legal residents with a kennitala (national ID number). Once accessed, you can look at yourself, your ancestors, and your close relatives (you must share at least one great grandparent), and anybody born after 1700. Before that, only those who were rich and famous or notorious/criminals are likely to be in the records. Before 1650, there are only records of about 10% of the population.
Íslendingabók is a collaboration project between deCODE genetics, a research company in the field of medical genetics, and Friðrik Skúlason, an anti-virus software entrepreneur. “Most of the genealogical information comes from sources such as church records, national censuses, inhabitants’ registers and other public documents, but in addition to these sources there are chronicles, books of convictions, various publications on genealogy, books about individuals within specific occupations, lists of descendants and ancestral records as well as memorial articles to name but a few.” The work is still in progress. While access is restricted to individuals with an Icelandic national ID, family members outside of Iceland can sometimes access it through relatives. You can also contact the Iceland Emigration Center for help.
Privacy rules are different in Iceland than other countries. In the United States, some people are uncomfortable with personal information being published without their knowledge, but this is considered public information in Iceland. This is why a database like Íslendingabók can exist. They are only publishing what is considered public information, even though it’s not considered public in other countries.
If you need access to Íslendingabók but do not have a national ID number, there are a few options: (1) ask an Icelandic relative for help – they can log in and search on your behalf; (2) hire a genealogist through Price genealogy; (3) search Icelandic emigrant collections; and (4) use public records and published genealogist, like these discussed below.
Parish Registers (Prestþjónustubækur)
The backbone of Icelandic genealogical research is the parish register system. Each county of Iceland is divided into parishes. The Lutheran Church became the state church in 1550, and beginning in 1685, clergy were required to keep records of baptisms, confirmations, marriages, and burials. In practice, however, systematic record keeping began later from the early to mid-1700s. They are housed in the National Archives of Iceland (Þjóðskjalasafn Íslands) and have been digitized and made freely accessible through the Handrit.is and Arkivalier.is portals. Additionally, you can access them at your local FamilySearch Center. If you know the name of the parish where you ancestor lived, you can use this clickable parish list on FamilySearch to find helpful links for that parish.
Civil Census Records (Manntal)
Iceland conducted censuses regularly beginning in 1703, with complete returns preserved from various years such as 1801, 1835, 1845, 1860, 1870, 1880, 1890, 1901, and 1910. The 1703 census, the first full-population census in the world, lists every Icelander by name, age, and residence. The censuses are digitized and searchable via the Icelandic National Archives website, Digitalarkivet.is, and FamilySearch.org. It is a very valuable tool for placing families in specific farms and municipalities. This image is an example from the 1835 census of Snæfellsnessýsla, Vesturland, Ísland.
Church Census Records (Náttúrur or Communicant Lists)
Church censuses were maintained by the Lutheran clergy and listed individuals who received Holy Communion in a given year or season. Taking communion was a serious duty in Icelandic Lutheran society, and non-compliance could lead to community scrutiny. They were maintained annually, or semiannually, by in each parish. They list only adults and include name, residence, age or birth year, and notes on attendance or religious behavior. They can be found within the ministerial books (prestþjónustubækur) and might look something like this:
Pétur Einarsson, 28 ára, á bænum Stóru-Hlíð, kom til altaris í páskum.
(Translation: Pétur Einarsson, age 28, from the farm Stóra-Hlíð, received communion at Easter.)
Farm Names and Locations
Unlike urban areas, most Icelanders lived on isolated farms for centuries. Each farm has a unique name, which becomes crucial for identifying individuals in census and church records. The book Íslenskir bændur (Icelandic Farmers), along with gazetteers and maps like the Jarðabók (land register), can help identify and locate these farms. For example, tracing a family listed as living at “Kross” in the 1870 census requires confirming which of several farms named Kross in Iceland is correct.
Emigration Records
Between 1870 and 1914, over 15,000 Icelanders emigrated, mostly to Canada and the United States (particularly Manitoba and North Dakota) where they could get land. A significant wave of emigration occurred around 1874, driven by two major factors: first, a devasting volcanic eruption in northeastern Iceland that severely impacted farming communities; and second, improved healthcare. In 1850, concerned about high infant mortality, the Danish king mandated that each parish have a trained midwife. This led to a dramatic increase in population over the next few decades. However, Iceland’s economy remained largely agrarian, with about 5,000 farms that could each support roughly 10 people—placing a natural population limit of around 50,000. By the 1870s, many young adults reached marrying age without land to inherit or partners to wed. Urban centers offered little relief; the largest town had only a few hundred residents. Emigration became a practical and appealing solution to both economic and social pressures.
Emigration registers are kept in the National Archives, and many are indexed at Ancestry.com and FamilySearch.org. A useful collection is “Icelanders in North America: The First Settlers” by Nelson Gerrard, which documents emigrant families with photos, letters, and ship records. Another important collection is Vesturfaraskrá (The Emigration Register) which is a name-indexed emigration database compiled from official departure records maintained by local authorities and ecclesiastical sources.
Icelandic-American and Icelandic-Canadian Sources
Once Icelandic emigrants arrived in North America, they often settled in tightly knit communities like Gimli, Manitoba, or Mountain, North Dakota. Newspapers such as Lögberg-Heimskringla and local histories, many available through provincial archives or university libraries, are goldmines of biographical sketches, obituaries, and community records. For example, Gimli’s community histories contain detailed accounts of families from Vatnsnes who emigrated en masse in the 1880s.
DNA and Genetic Resources
Due to Iceland’s genetic homogeneity and comprehensive genealogies, Iceland is a prime location for genetic genealogy. Although direct access to deCODE Genetics is not available to the public, services like MyHeritage, 23andMe, and FamilyTreeDNA can still provide matches and ethnicity estimates, especially when combined with known paper genealogies. DNA matches to modern Icelanders often correlate closely with locations and family lines documented in Íslendingabók.
Final Thoughts and Research Strategy
Successful Icelandic genealogy depends on using a layered approach: combining church records, censuses, emigration databases, and modern resources like DNA and Íslendingabók. Begin with what you know—names, locations, and dates—and follow the paper trail back through parishes and farms. Always be cautious with assumptions in patronymic naming and consider variations in spelling and recordkeeping. With patience and the wealth of digitized sources, Icelandic ancestry research can be a remarkably rewarding journey.
If you need help exploring your Icelandic ancestry, Lineages can help!
Emily
Photos:
Iceland photos taken by the author.
Parish registers taken by the author.
Sources:
National Archives of Iceland. Prestþjónustubækur og Manntöl. https://skjalasafn.is
Íslendingabók. https://www.islendingabok.is
FamilySearch Wiki. “Iceland Genealogy.” https://www.familysearch.org/en/wiki/Iceland_Genealogy
Check out Icelandic Roots: www.facebook.com/IcelandicRoots