Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts
1. In Iceland, they have a very strange system of surnames. As there are not many surnames in Iceland, people are named after their father's first name, and their gender. Here is an example:
Father's name - Ragnor Heldersson
Mother's name - Illena Gerruinsdottir
Son's name - Markuu Ragnorsson
In this case, what would be the surname of the daughter born to Ragnor and Illena?
2. Icelandic surname tendencies: is this statement true or false? When a woman gets married to a man in Iceland, they do not change their surnames.
3. There are very few set family names (names which do not change when a child is named) in Icelandic culture. One of them, which is quite similar to an English surname and is not commonly used, is mainly given to the name descendants of a famous Icelandic man in history. What is this surname?
4. This Icelandic system of patronymy (the adoption of the father's name) is required by law, with no exceptions?
5. Besides Iceland, which countries also used the system of naming children after their father and their gender up until the second part of the 19th century?
6. Icelandic retains some letters from Ancient Norse. One surname, 'Thorsson', contains a letter that is not used in other languages. This letter resembles a letter 'p', and is pronounced as 'th'. Which of these languages also uses this letter?
7. Because of the patronymic (the adoption of the father's name) system of surnames in Iceland, most people are referred to by their first names only. Which of these people would you refer to as 'Mr.' or 'Mrs.' when in Iceland?
8. There is a lack of set family names in Iceland. What percentage of people in Iceland actually have a set family name, though?
9. The naming system in Iceland is almost exclusively described as 'patronymic', which implies that the child will always take the name of the father. Is it possible for a child to take the mother's name as part of their surname?
10. It is often said (jokingly) that the phone books in Iceland go by first name. Is this true or not?
Source: Author
Flynn_17
This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor
ozzz2002 before going online.
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