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*[https://www.nordicnames.de/wiki/Main_Page Nordic Names] A website studying given names in the Nordic countries. | *[https://www.nordicnames.de/wiki/Main_Page Nordic Names] A website studying given names in the Nordic countries. | ||
*Þjóðskrá Íslands (Icelandic National Registry), [https://www.island.is/nafngjof ''Nafngjöf og nafnareglur'' (Naming and name rules)] | *Þjóðskrá Íslands (Icelandic National Registry), [https://www.island.is/nafngjof ''Nafngjöf og nafnareglur'' (Naming and name rules)] | ||
*[https://www.familysearch.org/en/surname | *[https://www.familysearch.org/en/surname Surname experience] at FamilySearch - search by surname to learn its meaning and origin | ||
== Introduction == | == Introduction == | ||
Considerable confusion exists among many people with Icelandic ancestry regarding how names are used in Iceland and how they should be recorded. This article attempts to give background into the historical practices, legislation, and recommended best practices for recording Icelandic personal and place names. | Considerable confusion exists among many people with Icelandic ancestry regarding how names are used in Iceland and how they should be recorded. This article attempts to give background into the historical practices, legislation, and recommended best practices for recording Icelandic personal and place names. | ||
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When farm names are given in a record, they provide residence information and are not part of the person’s surname. As such, they should be added as part of the locality information and not a part of the person's name. An illustration would be a person named Mary Smith. Her name alone is not that unique, but if you were to refer to her as Mary Smith of Battle Lake, Minnesota, she is identified with much higher precision. | When farm names are given in a record, they provide residence information and are not part of the person’s surname. As such, they should be added as part of the locality information and not a part of the person's name. An illustration would be a person named Mary Smith. Her name alone is not that unique, but if you were to refer to her as Mary Smith of Battle Lake, Minnesota, she is identified with much higher precision. | ||
As many of the original settlers of Iceland were from Norway, it is appropriate to look there for additional insight. According to Yngve Nedrebø, Director of the Regional Archive in Bergen, "[farm names do] not necessarily identify a family or a relationship; it signified a place of residence. If farmer Ole Olsen Li moved from Li to another farm, such as Dal, he would then be known as Ole Olsen Dal. A farm laborer could be named in the same way, even though he was not related to the farmer."<ref>Nedrebø, Yngve, ''How to trace your ancestors in Norway''. Oslo, Norway : Royal Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, 1989. FS Library Book | As many of the original settlers of Iceland were from Norway, it is appropriate to look there for additional insight. According to Yngve Nedrebø, Director of the Regional Archive in Bergen, "[farm names do] not necessarily identify a family or a relationship; it signified a place of residence. If farmer Ole Olsen Li moved from Li to another farm, such as Dal, he would then be known as Ole Olsen Dal. A farm laborer could be named in the same way, even though he was not related to the farmer."<ref>Nedrebø, Yngve, ''How to trace your ancestors in Norway''. Oslo, Norway : Royal Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, 1989. FS Library Book {{FSC|504142|item|disp=948.1 D27o 1989}}. Also available online at Digital Archives, [https://www.digitalarkivet.no/en/content/trace-ancestors How to trace your ancestors in Norway].</ref> | ||
Another problem with including farm names as part of someone’s surname is making the decision of which farm name to use. It is not uncommon for a person to live more than one place over the course of their lifetime. Would you use: | Another problem with including farm names as part of someone’s surname is making the decision of which farm name to use. It is not uncommon for a person to live more than one place over the course of their lifetime. Would you use: | ||
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