The Haukdælir were one of the family clans who controlled medieval Iceland during the period of the Icelandic Commonwealth

Icelandic Commonwealth

The Icelandic Commonwealth, Icelandic Free State, or Republic of Iceland was the state existing in Iceland between the establishment of the Althing in 930 and the pledge of fealty to the Norwegian king in 1262...

. Their name is derived from Haukadalur

Haukadalur

-Haukadalur, Golden Circle:This valley lies to the north of the Laugarvatn in the south of Iceland at .There are to be seen some of the most famous sights of the island: the geysers and other geothermal features which have developed on Laugarfjall rhyolitic dome. The biggest geysers of Haukadalur...

 (literally, Valley of the Hawks). The Haukdælir traced their lineage to Ketilbjörn Ketilsson, who settled on land in Grímsnes

Grímsnes

Grímsnes is a fissure or crater row volcano located in southwestern Iceland, a relatively small volcanic system located SE of Thingvallavatn lake east of an en echelon group of volcanic fields extending across the Reykjanes Peninsula. The elevation at its apex is 214 meters...

 and received a Goðorð in Árnesþing. Their influence was prominent during the 10th to 13th centuries, first as progressives concerning Christianity

Christianity

Christianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus as presented in canonical gospels and other New Testament writings...

, and later as chieftains and participants in the Sturlungaöld civil war. In the 13th century, Gissur Þorvaldsson

Gissur Þorvaldsson

Gissur Thorvaldsson was a medieval Icelandic chieftain or goði of the Haukdælir family clan, and great-grandson of Jón Loftsson....

, leader of the Haukdælir, was made jarl of Iceland by the King of Norway.