List of Icelanders
Encyclopedia
This is a list of famous people from Iceland
, arranged in categories and ordered alphabetically
by first name, following the usual naming conventions of Iceland
.
Miss World
Iceland
Iceland , described as the Republic of Iceland, is a Nordic and European island country in the North Atlantic Ocean, on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Iceland also refers to the main island of the country, which contains almost all the population and almost all the land area. The country has a population...
, arranged in categories and ordered alphabetically
Icelandic alphabet
The modern Icelandic alphabet consists of the following 32 letters:It is a Latin alphabet with diacritics, in addition it includes the character eth Ðð and the runic letter thorn Þþ...
by first name, following the usual naming conventions of Iceland
Icelandic name
Icelandic names differ from most current Western family name systems by being patronymic in that they reflect the immediate father of the child and not the historic family lineage....
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Business
- Björgólfur Thor BjörgólfssonBjörgólfur Thor BjörgólfssonBjörgólfur Thor Björgólfsson , known internationally as Thor Bjorgolfsson, is an Icelandic businessman and entrepreneur, and former chairman of the financial firm Straumur-Burðarás and chairman of investment firm Novator Partners.He has been declared "Iceland's first billionaire", and was ranked as...
, billionaire entrepreneur - Björgólfur GuðmundssonBjörgólfur GuðmundssonBjörgólfur Guðmundsson was the chairman and former owner of West Ham United FC. Björgólfur was Iceland's second businessman worth more than a billion dollars — his son, Björgólfur Thor Björgólfsson being the first. He was ranked by Forbes magazine in March 2008 as the 1014th-richest person in the...
, former billionaire entrepreneur, father of Thor Björgólfsson (above) - Eggert MagnússonEggert MagnússonEggert Magnússon is an Icelandic businessman and former President of the Football Association of Iceland and ex-chairman of West Ham United...
, businessman and former chairman of the English Premiership footballFootball (soccer)Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
club West Ham UnitedWest Ham United F.C.West Ham United Football Club is an English professional football club based in Upton Park, Newham, East London. They play in The Football League Championship. The club was founded in 1895 as Thames Ironworks FC and reformed in 1900 as West Ham United. In 1904 the club relocated to their current... - Hreiðar Már SigurðssonHreiðar Már SigurðssonHreiðar Már Sigurðsson is an Icelandic business manager working in international finance, and from 2003 to 2008, was the CEO of Kaupthing Bank....
, businessman - Jón Ásgeir Jóhannesson, billionaire and founder of the BónusBónusBónus an Icelandic no-frills supermarket chain owned by Hagar. Bónus operates 24 stores in Iceland and four in the Faroe Islands. It follows the no-frills format of limited hours, simple shelves and having a giant fridge instead of chiller cabinets....
supermarket and the Baugur GroupBaugur GroupBaugur Group was an Icelandic investment company. The group applied for bankruptcy protection in February 2009, after placing its UK arm in administration.- History :... - Magnús ÞorsteinssonMagnús ÞorsteinssonMagnús Þorsteinsson is a businessman and chairman of Avion Group. He was a high profile investor and entrepreneur with interests in aviation and financial services.-Beverage businessman in Saint Petersburg:Magnús began his investments in St...
, businessman - Þorsteinn M. Jónsson, banker
Film, Radio, and TV
- Ágústa Eva ErlendsdóttirÁgústa Eva ErlendsdóttirÁgústa Eva Erlendsdóttir is an Icelandic singer and actress.She was a member of the band Ske and in 2005 began her solo career. She is best known for her portrayal of the controversial character Silvía Night....
, best known as Silvía Nótt (Silvia Night), actress, singer, model, TV personality. - Anita BriemAnita BriemAnita Briem is an Icelandic actress. She is known for her role as Jane Seymour on The Tudors and her role as Hanna in Journey to the Center of the Earth.-Personal life:...
, actress - Baltasar KormákurBaltasar KormákurBaltasar Kormákur is an Icelandic actor, theater and film director, and film producer. He is best known for directing the films 101 Reykjavík, Hafið, A Little Trip to Heaven , and a film based on the book Mýrin by Arnaldur Indriðason...
, film actor and film director - Bjarni GauturBjarni GauturBjarni Gautur, is an Icelandic filmmaker. He wrote, directed and produced a feature length film in 2005 entitled Knight of the Living Dead.Gautur graduated from the Icelandic Film School in 2009 as a Film Director and Producer...
, filmmaker - Friðrik Þór FriðrikssonFriðrik Þór FriðrikssonFriðrik Þór Friðriksson , sometimes credited as Fridrik Thor Fridriksson, is an Icelandic film director....
, film director - Hilmir Snær GuðnasonHilmir Snær GuðnasonHilmir Snær Guðnason is an Icelandic actor. He is famous in his native country and has appeared in both film and on stage. In 2000 he was named as one of European films 'Shooting Stars' by European Film Promotion...
, film actor - Hrafn GunnlaugssonHrafn GunnlaugssonHrafn Gunnlaugsson is an Icelandic moviemaker. He is the brother of the actress Tinna Gunnlaugsdóttir. He is mostly known for his series of Viking movies, sometimes called "Cod Westerns"...
, film director - Karl JúlíussonKarl JúlíussonKarl Júlíusson is an award-winning Icelandic-born film production and costume designer who resides in Norway....
, film production designer/costume designer - Magnús MagnússonMagnus MagnussonMagnus Magnusson KBE was a television presenter, journalist, translator and writer. He was born in Iceland but lived in Scotland for almost all of his life, although he never took British citizenship...
, television presenter, writer - Magnús SchevingMagnús SchevingMagnús Örn Eyjólfsson Scheving was born 10 November 1964 to Þórveig Hjartardóttir and Eyjólfur Magnússon Scheving. He is an Icelandic writer, producer, entrepreneur, and a famous athlete. He is the creator and co-star of the children's television show LazyTown.-Career:In 1992 he became the...
, writer, actor, athlete, creator of LazyTownLazyTownLazyTown is a children's television program that was produced in Iceland with a cast and crew from Iceland, the United Kingdom and the United States. It was created by Magnús Scheving, a gymnastics champion and CEO of LazyTown Entertainment, who also stars in the show... - Margrét VilhjálmsdóttirMargrét VilhjálmsdóttirMargrét Vilhjálmsdóttir is an Icelandic actress from Reykjavík.In 1994, Margrét graduated from Listaháskóli Íslands, the Icelandic Drama Academy, and worked at Reykjavík Theatre Company for several years...
, actress - Marinó Sigurðsson, actor
- Markús Örn AntonssonMarkús Örn AntonssonMarkús Örn Antonsson was the Mayor of Reykjavík from 1991 to 1994.-Education and journalism career:Markús Örn graduated from Reykjavík Junior College in 1965 and was an exchange student in the United States...
, former mayor of ReykjavíkReykjavíkReykjavík is the capital and largest city in Iceland.Its latitude at 64°08' N makes it the world's northernmost capital of a sovereign state. It is located in southwestern Iceland, on the southern shore of Faxaflói Bay...
and director of RÚVRÚVRíkisútvarpið is Iceland's national public-service broadcasting organization.Operating from studios in the country's capital, Reykjavík, as well as regional centres around the country, the service broadcasts a variety of general programming to a wide audience across the whole country via radio... - Ólafur HannessonÓlafur HannessonÓlafur Hannesson is an Icelandic television personality and the host of the TV show Óli á Hrauni. The show has been on the television channel ÍNN since March 2008.- External links :*...
, Icelandic television personality - Ólafur Darri Ólafsson, radio announcer, actor
- Örvar Þóreyjarson SmárasonÖrvar Þóreyjarson SmárasonÖrvar Þóreyjarson Smárason is a founding member of Icelandic experimental band múm and has been a part time member of other Icelandic bands such as Benni Hemm Hemm, Singapore Sling, Slowblow, Skakkamanage, FM Belfast and Represensitive Man. In his native country he is also known as a poet/author...
, poet, writer, musician - Ragnar BragasonRagnar BragasonRagnar Bragason is an Icelandic film director, screenwriter and producer.He is best known for his films Börn and Foreldrar and the popular TV series Næturvaktin , Dagvaktin , and Fangavaktin .Ragnar grew up in the village of Súðavik, in a family of...
, director - Tinna GunnlaugsdóttirTinna GunnlaugsdóttirTinna Gunnlaugsdóttir is an Icelandic actress. She has appeared in twelve films since 1981. She starred in As in Heaven, which was screened out of competition at the 1992 Cannes Film Festival. She is the sister of actor Hrafn Gunnlaugsson.-External links:...
, actress and head of Reykjavík City Theater
Authors
- Arnaldur IndriðasonArnaldur IndriðasonArnaldur Indriðason is an Icelandic writer of crime fiction. He has repeatedly proved to be the most popular writer in Iceland in recent years — topping bestseller lists year after year...
, writer - Davíð StefánssonDavíð StefánssonDavíð Stefánsson from Fagriskógur was a famous Icelandic poet and novelist, best known as a poet of humanity....
, poet - Einar KárasonEinar KárasonEinar Kárason is an Icelandic writer. He has been a full-time writer since 1978. He started his career with poetry in literary magazines from 1978 to 1980. In 1981 he published his first novel. He is best known for Devil's Island, which was translated into English...
, writer - Einar Már GuðmundssonEinar Már GuðmundssonEinar Már Guðmundsson is an Icelandic author of novels, short stories, and poetry. His books have been translated into several languages.- Background :...
, writer - Einar BenediktssonEinar BenediktssonEinar Benediktsson was an Icelandic poet and lawyer.Einar Benediktsson's poetry was a significant contribution in the nationlistic revival leading to Iceland's independence. To this end, he was active both in establishing Landvarnarflokkurinn in 1902 and as the editor of Iceland's first daily...
, writer, poet - Einar Hjörleifsson KvaranEinar Hjörleifsson KvaranEinar Hjörleifsson Kvaran was an Icelandic editor, novelist, poet, playwright and prominent spiritualist....
editor, novelist, poet, dramatist - Guðmundur G. HagalínGuðmundur G. HagalínGuðmundur G. Hagalín came from the sea-girt Western Fiords of Iceland, where he was a fisherman before attending secondary school. Later, he lectured on Iceland in Norway for a few years , and became a superintendent of public libraries. His home was fairly near Reykjavík...
, writer, poet - Halldór Kiljan LaxnessHalldór LaxnessHalldór Kiljan Laxness was a twentieth-century Icelandic writer. Throughout his career Laxness wrote poetry, newspaper articles, plays, travelogues, short stories, and novels...
, writer, poet, Nobel PrizeNobel PrizeThe Nobel Prizes are annual international awards bestowed by Scandinavian committees in recognition of cultural and scientific advances. The will of the Swedish chemist Alfred Nobel, the inventor of dynamite, established the prizes in 1895...
winner - Hallgrímur HelgasonHallgrímur HelgasonHallgrímur Helgason is an Icelandic painter, novelist, translator, and columnist.-Biography:Hallgrímur studied at the Art Academy of Iceland, and then the Academy of Fine Arts in Munich....
, writer - Jón Kalman StefánssonJón Kalman StefánssonJón Kalman Stefánsson is an Icelandic author.-Biography:Jón Kalman was born in Reykjavík. He grew up there and in Keflavík. From 1975 to 1982, he lived in western Iceland, where he worked in different jobs after having finished high school.From 1986 to 1991, he studied literature at the...
, writer, poet - Jón ThoroddsenJón ThoroddsenJón Thoroddsen may refer to:*Jón Thoroddsen elder *Jón Thoroddsen junior...
, writer and/or poet - Jónas HallgrímssonJónas HallgrímssonJónas Hallgrímsson was an Icelandic poet, author and naturalist. He was one of the founders of the Icelandic journal Fjölnir, which was first published in Copenhagen in 1835...
, writer, poet - Jóhannes úr KötlumJóhannes úr KötlumJóhannes Jónasson úr Kötlum was an Icelandic author. He used the pseudonym Anonymus when he published poems written in modern style.-Publications:* 1926: Bí bí og blaka, poems* 1932: Jólin koma, poems...
, writer, poet - Kristín Marja BaldursdóttirKristín Marja BaldursdóttirKristín Marja Baldursdóttir is an Icelandic writer born on January 21, 1949 in Hafnarfjörður. She received her degree in 1991 from the University of Iceland in the fields of German and Icelandic. Her first novel Mávahlátur became a play and film...
, writer - Magnús MagnússonMagnus MagnussonMagnus Magnusson KBE was a television presenter, journalist, translator and writer. He was born in Iceland but lived in Scotland for almost all of his life, although he never took British citizenship...
, television presenter, writer - Ólafur Jóhann ÓlafssonÓlafur Jóhann ÓlafssonÓlafur Jóhann Ólafsson was born in Reykjavik, Iceland on September 26, 1962. He studied physics as a Wien Scholar at Brandeis University. He is the author of three previous novels, The Journey Home, Absolution and Walking Into the Night, and a story collection, Valentines. His books have been...
, writer - SjónSjónSigurjón Birgir Sigurðsson , known as Sjón , is an internationally known Icelandic author and poet. His pen name is formed from his given name , and means 'Sight'....
, poet - Snorri HjartarsonSnorri HjartarsonSnorri Hjartarson was an Icelandic poet, and a winner of the Nordic Council's Literature Prize....
, poet - Snorri SturlusonSnorri SturlusonSnorri Sturluson was an Icelandic historian, poet, and politician. He was twice elected lawspeaker at the Icelandic parliament, the Althing...
, historian, poet - Steinunn SigurðardóttirSteinunn SigurðardóttirSteinunn Sigurðardóttir is an Icelandic author.She finished her university studies in 1972 with a BA in psychology and philosophy at University College Dublin. Since then, she has worked as a journalist for radio and television. She has lived in different places in Europe, the United States and...
, writer, poet - Stephan G. StephanssonStephan G. StephanssonStephan G. Stephansson was a Western Icelander, poet, and farmer. His original name was Stefán Guðmundur Guðmundsson....
, Western Icelander, poet - Tómas GuðmundssonTómas GuðmundssonTómas Guðmundsson was an Icelandic author. He was known as Reykjavík's poet ....
, poet - Vigdís GrímsdóttirVigdís GrímsdóttirVigdís Grímsdóttir is an Icelandic writer born on August 15, 1953. She received her B.A. at the University of Iceland. She has written poetry, short stories, plays, and a children's book. One of her novels became the basis for a Swedish film...
, writer - Viktor Arnar IngólfssonViktor Arnar IngólfssonViktor Arnar Ingólfsson is an Icelandic writer of crime fiction. He has a B.Sc. degree in civil engineering and, in addition to having a successful career as a writer, he continues to work full time at the Public Roads Administration in Iceland.Viktor Arnar has twice been the Icelandic nominee for...
, writer - Þórarinn EldjárnÞórarinn EldjárnÞórarinn Eldjárn is an Icelandic writer born on 22 August 1949. He studied at the University of Lund and the University of Iceland. He has written numerous poems, stories, and novels. He has also translated numerous books into Icelandic, including Alice in Wonderland. In addition, he has produced...
, writer, poet - Þórbergur ÞórðarsonÞórbergur ÞórðarsonÞórbergur Þórðarson was an Icelandic socialist author and Esperantist...
, writer, poet
Sculptors
- Ásmundur SveinssonÁsmundur SveinssonÁsmundur Sveinsson was an Icelandic sculptor, was born at Kolsstadir in West Iceland on May 20, 1893 and died in Reykjavík on December 9, 1982.-Early years:...
, sculptor - Bertel ThorvaldsenBertel ThorvaldsenBertel Thorvaldsen was a Danish-Icelandic sculptor of international fame, who spent most of his life in Italy . Thorvaldsen was born in Copenhagen into a Danish/Icelandic family of humble means, and was accepted to the Royal Academy of Arts when he was eleven years old...
, sculptor - Einar JónssonEinar JónssonEinar Jónsson was an Icelandic sculptor, born in Galtafell, a farm in southern Iceland.-Biography:...
, sculptor - Gunnfríður JónsdóttirGunnfríður JónsdóttirGunnfríður Jónsdóttir was an Icelandic sculptor born in the North West of Iceland on December 26, 1889. She died in 1968.-Family:Gunnfríður's grandfather was Einar Andrésson, a rhymester who had been suspected of witchcraft...
, sculptor - Olafur EliassonOlafur EliassonOlafur Eliasson is a Danish-Icelandic artist known for sculptures and large-scale installation art employing elemental materials such as light, water, and air temperature to enhance the viewer’s experience. In 1995 he established Studio Olafur Eliasson in Berlin, a laboratory for spatial research...
, sculptor
Music
- Ágústa Eva ErlendsdóttirÁgústa Eva ErlendsdóttirÁgústa Eva Erlendsdóttir is an Icelandic singer and actress.She was a member of the band Ske and in 2005 began her solo career. She is best known for her portrayal of the controversial character Silvía Night....
, more commonly known as Silvía Nótt, singer, actress, and TV personalty - Anna MjöllAnna MjöllAnna Mjöll is an Icelandic jazz singer and songwriter. She uses Anna Mjöll as her performing name; her full name is Anna Mjöll Ólafsdóttir.-Biography:...
singer and songwriter - Björgvin HalldórssonBjörgvin HalldórssonBjörgvin Helgi Halldórsson is an Icelandic pop singer from Hafnarfjörður...
, singer - Björk GuðmundsdóttirBjörkBjörk Guðmundsdóttir , known as Björk , is an Icelandic singer-songwriter. Her eclectic musical style has achieved popular acknowledgement and popularity within many musical genres, such as rock, jazz, electronic dance music, classical and folk...
, singer and songwriter - Bragi ÓlafssonBragi ÓlafssonBragi Ólafsson is a musician and a writer.Internationally he is best known for his work as a bassist in The Sugarcubes, the avant-garde pop band from Iceland that brought fame to Björk, who went on to solo success with her unique brand of dance-pop.The Sugarcubes, who favored strange, offbeat...
, musician - Diddú (Sigrún Hjálmtýsdóttir), soprano and songwriter
- Eggert PálssonEggert PálssonEggert Pálsson is a percussionist with the Icelandic Symphony Orchestra. Founder of the medieval music group Voces Thules. Well known for his extensive research into Icelandic music of the Middle Ages. Eggert's research on the Office of St. Thorlak from a manuscript around 1400 was recorded by...
, percussionist, founder of the music group Voces ThulesVoces ThulesVoces Thules is an Icelandic music ensemble formed in 1992.The ensemble consists of five male singers who have studied in Reykjavik, London and Vienna, specializing in Icelandic medieval and contemporary music... - Emilíana TorriniEmilíana TorriniEmilíana Torrini Davíðsdóttir is an Icelandic singer, best known for her 2009 single Jungle Drum, 1999 album Love in the Time of Science and for performing "Gollum's Song" for Peter Jackson's film The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers.-Early life:Torrini grew up in Kópavogur, where, at the age of...
, singer and songwriter - Einar Örn BenediktssonEinar Örn BenediktssonEinar Örn Benediktsson is a popular music singer and trumpet player who has worked with Björk and The Sugarcubes. Since the 2010 elections he is a member of the city council of Reykjavík....
, musician - Eiríkur HaukssonEiríkur HaukssonEiríkur Hauksson is an Icelandic heavy metal vocalist who is educated as a teacher.Eiríkur is considered to be a talented vocalist, able to adopt various styles...
, musician - Garðar Thór CortesGarðar Thór CortesGarðar Thór Cortes , is an Icelandic tenor of Icelandic and English parentage. A former child actor, Cortes subsequently trained as a singer in Vienna, Copenhagen and London. He has performed various leading tenor roles in operas, as well as a leading part in The Phantom of the Opera in London's...
, tenor - Hafdís HuldHafdís HuldHafdís Huld Þrastardóttir is an Icelandic singer and actress, formerly of GusGus.-Biography:Hafdís toured the world as a 15-year-old with Icelandic band GusGus. After leaving the band she started writing her own songs, and collaborated with FC Kahuna, co-writing their singles "Hayling" and "Machine...
, singer - Haukur TómassonHaukur TómassonHaukur Tómasson is an Icelandic composer. He has a Masters degree from the University of California, San Diego. He has also attended the Reykjavík College of Music, the Cologne University for Music and the Sweelinck Conservatory of Amsterdam.His works include six orchestral pieces, three concertos...
, composer - Hilmar Örn HilmarssonHilmar Örn HilmarssonHilmar Örn Hilmarsson , also known as HÖH , is a musician, an art director, and allsherjargoði of Ásatrúarfélagið ....
,musician, art director, and chief goði of the Icelandic ÁsatrúÁsatrúis a form of Germanic neopaganism which developed in the United States from the 1970s....
Association. - Jóhann JóhannssonJóhann JóhannssonJóhann Jóhannsson is an Icelandic musician, composer and producer. He is a co-founder of Kitchen Motors in Reykjavík, the art organization/think tank/record label which specializes in initiating collaborations, promoting concerts and exhibitions, performances, chamber operas, producing films,...
, composer, musician, producer - Jón LeifsJón LeifsJón Leifs , was an Icelandic composer.Jón was born in Sólheimar. He left Iceland in 1916 to study in Germany at the Leipzig Conservatory. He graduated in 1921 having studied piano, and then devoted his time to conducting and composing. He became successful as a conductor, and also as a writer.He...
, composer - Jón Þór BirgissonJón Þór BirgissonJón “Jónsi” Þór Birgisson is the guitarist and vocalist for the Icelandic post-rock band Sigur Rós. He is known for his use of a cello bow on guitar and his falsetto voice. He is also blind in his right eye and is openly gay. His boyfriend Alex Somers has done much of the graphic design for...
, singer, guitarist - Jóhanna Guðrún JónsdóttirJóhanna Guðrún JónsdóttirJóhanna Guðrún Jónsdóttir , widely known outside of Iceland as Yohanna, is an Icelandic singer who was chosen to represent her nation at the Eurovision Song Contest 2009 in Moscow, Russia, with the song "Is It True?", earning 2nd place.- Background and career:Jóhanna was raised in Hafnarfjörður,...
, pop singer (Yohanna) - Kjartan ÓlafssonKjartan ÓlafssonKjartan Ólafsson is an Icelandic musicologist, composer and academic notable as creator of the composing software CALMUS, as well as an authority on artificial intelligence in classical music composition....
, composer, professor - MugisonMugisonMugison is an Icelandic musician and singer who originally performed as a one-man band using a guitar and computer, but now often performs with a band. He studied in London to become a record producer....
, composer, musician - Ólafur ArnaldsÓlafur ArnaldsÓlafur Arnalds is a multi-instrumentalist and producer from Mosfellsbær, Iceland. Ólafur Arnalds mixes strings and piano with loops and edgy beats crossing-over from classical to pop....
, composer, musician - Örvar Þóreyjarson SmárasonÖrvar Þóreyjarson SmárasonÖrvar Þóreyjarson Smárason is a founding member of Icelandic experimental band múm and has been a part time member of other Icelandic bands such as Benni Hemm Hemm, Singapore Sling, Slowblow, Skakkamanage, FM Belfast and Represensitive Man. In his native country he is also known as a poet/author...
, poet, writer, musician - Páll Óskar HjálmtýssonPaul OscarPáll Óskar Hjálmtýsson , known internationally as Páll Óskar and Paul Oscar, is an Icelandic pop singer, songwriter and disc jockey. He had a musical childhood, singing at private functions, with choirs and for media advertisements, but was affected by bullying in school and tension between his...
(Paul Oscar), pop singer, songwriter and disc jockey - Ragnheiður GröndalRagnheiður GröndalRagnheiður Gröndal is an Icelandic singer. She was in 2006 described as Iceland's best-selling artist, and was named Icelandic Singer of the Year the same year. She was in 2008 a finalist to represent Iceland at the Eurovision Song Contest...
, musician - Sigurður BragasonSigurður BragasonSigurður Bragason is an Icelandic baritone.He studied in Germany and Italy after graduating from the Conservatory of Music in Reykjavík...
, bariton singer and composer
Musical bands and groups
- AmiinaAmiinaAmiina is an Icelandic band composed of Hildur Ársælsdóttir , Edda Rún Ólafsdóttir , Maria Huld Markan Sigfúsdóttir , and Sólrún Sumarliðadóttir . They frequently perform live and in the studio along with Sigur Rós...
- AmpopAmpopAmpop is an Icelandic melodic-pop/rock band from Reykjavík, Iceland. The name of the band is actually the name of the first song they ever wrote, and is made from the words ambient and pop, which they thought was the definition of the music they were making at that time.The band was originally a...
- Bang GangBang GangBang Gang is a melodic pop band from Iceland founded by songwriter/producer Bardi Johannsson . The band was formed in 1996, in Johannsson’s hometown of Reykjavik...
- ChangerChangerChanger is an Icelandic death metal / metalcore band, formed in 1999. The band has released three albums and two EPs.-History:Changer was founded in October 1999 in Akureyri, Iceland, by drummer Kristján B. Heiðarsson, as a one-man project. Kristján wrote and recorded the band's first album,...
- Cynic GuruCynic GuruCynic Guru is a progressive rock band fronted by classically trained violinist Roland Hartwell.-Band history:Cynic Guru has had quite a history. Over the years there have been many incarnations of the band.Early Years: 1991-1996----...
- DiktaDiktaDikta is an indie rock band from Iceland. They have released four albums thus far.-Biography:In its present incarnation, the group began in 1999. They played in the Icelandic band competition Músíktilraunir in 2000 and were finalists. Dikta's four members have been friends since they were children...
- FM BelfastFM BelfastFM Belfast is an electro/electronica band from Reykjavík, Iceland.Its members include Lóa Hlín Hjálmtýsdóttir, Árni Rúnar Hlöðversson, Árni Vilhjálmsson and Örvar Þóreyjarson Smárason....
- GusGusGusGusGusGus are a band from Reykjavík, Iceland. They were founded in 1995. Their discography consists of eight studio albums and one live record.- History :...
- HAMHAM (band)HAM is an Icelandic rock band which was active in the years 1988 to 1994. They are often listed as a heavy metal band but have never categorized themselves as such. They did not attain significant popularity while active, but have gradually come to be acknowledged as an important part of...
- MezzoforteMezzoforte (band)Mezzoforte is an instrumental jazz-funk fusion band from Iceland. Their biggest hit single was "Garden Party" . It peaked at #17 in the UK Singles Chart...
- MínusMínusMínus is an Icelandic alternative rock/hardcore band from Reykjavík. They are signed to the record label Smekkleysa. Mínus have shared the stage with, among others, Metallica, Foo Fighters, and Queens of the Stone Age...
- MugisonMugisonMugison is an Icelandic musician and singer who originally performed as a one-man band using a guitar and computer, but now often performs with a band. He studied in London to become a record producer....
- múmMúmmúm are an experimental Icelandic musical group whose music is characterized by soft vocals, electronic glitch beats and effects, and a variety of traditional and unconventional instruments.- History :...
- NylonNylon (band)Nylon is an Icelandic girl group composed of members Alma Guðmundsdóttir , Steinunn Þóra Camilla Sigurðardóttir and Klara Ósk Elíasdóttir...
- Ólafur ArnaldsÓlafur ArnaldsÓlafur Arnalds is a multi-instrumentalist and producer from Mosfellsbær, Iceland. Ólafur Arnalds mixes strings and piano with loops and edgy beats crossing-over from classical to pop....
- QuarashiQuarashiQuarashi was a rap and hip-hop group from Reykjavík, Iceland. It was composed of Hössi Ólafsson , who was the lead vocalist and frontman of the group, Ómar Swarez , rapper and hype man, and Steini a.k.a. Stoney , also rapper and hype man...
- SeabearSeabearSeabear is a Icelandic seven piece indie-folk band from Reykjavik, Iceland. Although hailing from Iceland, they sing primarily in English. They are signed to the Morr Music record label....
- Sigur RósSigur RósSigur Rós is an Icelandic post-rock band with classicaland minimalist elements. The band is known for its ethereal sound, and frontman Jónsi Birgisson's falsetto vocals and use of bowed guitar. In January 2010, the band announced that they will be on hiatus. Since then, it has since been announced...
- Singapore SlingSingapore Sling (band)Singapore Sling is an indie band from Reykjavík, Iceland.As of 2011 they have released five albums and a best of compilation. Singapore Sling have supported The Brian Jonestown Massacre on their North American tours and covered Dirty Water a 1966 garage rock hit by The Standells in their debut album...
- SkeSkeSke is an Icelandic band whose origins can be traced back to 1992, when a band called Skárren ekkert was founded by Eiríkur Þorleifsson, Frank Hall and Guðmundur Steingrímsson, and joined by Hrannar Ingimarsson in 1998....
- SólstafirSólstafirSólstafir is an Icelandic metal band, formed in 1995. The band's name is the Icelandic word for crepuscular rays.-History:The band was formed by 3 friends, Aðalbjörn Tryggvason, Halldór Einarsson and Guðmundur Óli Pálmason in January 1995...
- The SugarcubesThe SugarcubesThe Sugarcubes were an Icelandic alternative rock band formed in 1986 and disbanded in 1992. They received critical and popular acclaim internationally.-History:...
- TrúbrotTrúbrotTrúbrot were an Icelandic psychedelic/progressive rock band active in the late 1960s and early 1970s.-History:The band was formed in 1969 as an Icelandic supergroup composed of members of the bands Hljómar and Flowers...
- Voces ThulesVoces ThulesVoces Thules is an Icelandic music ensemble formed in 1992.The ensemble consists of five male singers who have studied in Reykjavik, London and Vienna, specializing in Icelandic medieval and contemporary music...
Miss WorldMiss WorldThe Miss World pageant is the oldest surviving major international beauty pageant. It was created in the United Kingdom by Eric Morley in 1951...
- Hofi Karlsdottir, (Hólmfríður Karlsdóttir), Miss World 1985
- Linda PétursdóttirLinda PétursdóttirLinda Pétursdóttir is a former Miss World from Vopnafjörður, Iceland. She is now a business woman running Baðhúsið, The Bath House, a ladies-only health spa. After a period in Vancouver, Canada, she has returned to her native Iceland and given birth to a daughter Isabella Cohen.-External links:*...
, Miss World 1988 - Unnur Birna VilhjálmsdóttirUnnur Birna VilhjálmsdóttirUnnur Birna Vilhjálmsdóttir is a former winner of the Miss Iceland pageant. She was crowned Miss World 2005 on December 10, 2005, in the Beauty Crown Theatre located in the Chinese beach city of Sanya, by the reigning beauty queen, 2004's Miss Peru Maju Mantilla.Mexico and Puerto Rico were the...
, Miss World 2005
Historical figures of Iceland
- Ari ÞorgilssonAri ÞorgilssonAri Þorgilsson was Iceland's most prominent medieval chronicler. He is the author of Íslendingabók, which details the histories of the various families who settled Iceland...
, priest and author of ÍslendingabókÍslendingabókÍslendingabók, Libellus Islandorum or The Book of Icelanders is an historical work dealing with early Icelandic history. The author was an Icelandic priest, Ari Þorgilsson, working in the early 12th century. The work originally existed in two different versions but only the younger one has come...
, a historical work - Egill SkallagrímssonEgill SkallagrímssonEgill Skallagrímsson was a Viking Age warrior and skald. Egill is one of the great anti-heroes of the Icelandic sagas.-Life:...
, Viking skald - Eirík the RedErik the RedErik Thorvaldsson , known as Erik the Red , is remembered in medieval and Icelandic saga sources as having founded the first Nordic settlement in Greenland. The Icelandic tradition indicates that he was born in the Jæren district of Rogaland, Norway, as the son of Thorvald Asvaldsson, he therefore...
, (Eiríkr rauði) Named Greenland - Freydís EiríksdóttirFreydís EiríksdóttirFreydís Eiríksdóttir was a daughter of Erik the Red who was associated with the Norse exploration of North America. The only medieval sources which mention Freydís are the two Vinland sagas, believed to be composed in the 13th century but purporting to describe events around 1000...
- Guðmundur ArasonGuðmundur ArasonGuðmundur Arason was an influential 12th and 13th century Icelandic saintly bishop who took part in increasing the powers of the Catholic Church in medieval Iceland. His story is recorded in several manuscripts, most notably Prestssaga Guðmundar góða...
- Guðríðr ÞorbjarnardóttirGuðríður ÞorbjarnardóttirGuðríður Þorbjarnardóttir was a discoverer born loosely around the year 980 in Laugarbrekka, Iceland. She lived in various places in the Norse known world, and pushed its boundaries on her journeys.Her unusual voyages began when her father refused permission for her to marry a slave's son...
, explorer - Ingólfur ArnarsonIngólfur ArnarsonIngólfr Arnarson is recognized as the first permanent Nordic settler of Iceland. According to Landnáma he built his homestead in Reykjavík in 874...
- Ísleifur GissurarsonÍsleifur GissurarsonÍsleifur Gissurarson , an Icelandic clergyman, became the first bishop of Iceland, following the adoption of Christianity in 1000 AD.His parents were Gissur Teitsson and Þórdís Þóroddsdóttir...
- Kolbeinn TumasonKolbeinn TumasonKolbeinn Tumason was a member of the Ásbirningar family clan, and was one of the most powerful chieftains in Iceland around the turn of the 12th century. His power was probably at its height around 1200 AD. Kolbeinn used his influence to ensure that men in his favour received positions of power...
- Leifr EiríkssonLeif EricsonLeif Ericson was a Norse explorer who is regarded as the first European to land in North America , nearly 500 years before Christopher Columbus...
(Leifur Eiríksson), discovered AmericaNorth AmericaNorth America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
in the year 1000 and named it Vínland (Land of Wine) - Loftur SæmundssonLoftur SæmundssonLoftur Sæmundsson was the son of Sæmundur fróði. Loftur was the father of Jón Loftsson who adopted Snorri Sturluson. Loftur was a priest and a chieftain at Oddi in the county of Rangá in the south part of Iceland. He was married to Þóra Magnúsdóttir, daughter of Magnus III of Norway....
, priest and chieftain at OddiOddiOddi at Rangárvellir was a center of learning in South Iceland during the Middle Ages.For centuries it was the central home of the powerful family, Oddaverjar. The two best known leaders in Oddi were Sæmundur Sigfússon the Learned and his grandson Jón Loftsson . The famous historian Snorri... - Snorri SturlusonSnorri SturlusonSnorri Sturluson was an Icelandic historian, poet, and politician. He was twice elected lawspeaker at the Icelandic parliament, the Althing...
- Þorfinnr KarlsefniThorfinn KarlsefniThorfinn Karlsefni was an Icelandic explorer who circa 1010 AD led an attempt to settle Vínland with three ships and 160 settlers. Among the settlers was Freydís Eiríksdóttir, according to Grœnlendinga saga and Eiríks saga rauða, sister or half-sister of Leif Eriksson...
- Þorvaldr EríkssonThorvald ErikssonThorvald Eiriksson was the son of Erik the Red and brother of Leif Erikson. According to the sagas, he was part of an expedition for the exploration of Vinland....
- Vilhjalmur StefanssonVilhjalmur StefanssonVilhjalmur Stefansson was a Canadian Arctic explorer and ethnologist.-Early life:Stefansson, born William Stephenson, was born at Gimli, Manitoba, Canada, in 1879. His parents had emigrated from Iceland to Manitoba two years earlier...
, Western Icelander, Arctic explorer - Þóra MagnúsdóttirÞóra MagnúsdóttirÞóra Magnúsdóttir was a daughter of Magnus III of Norway a direct descendant of Harald Fairhair the first Norwegian King. The Fairhair dynasty is traditionally regarded as the first royal dynasty of the united Norway, a branch of the Ynglings.Þóra Magnusdóttir married an Icelander and moved to...
, born 1100 in Norway, daughter of Magnus III of NorwayMagnus III of NorwayMagnus Barefoot or Magnus III Olafsson was King of Norway from 1093 until 1103 and King of Mann and the Isles from 1099 until 1103.-Background:...
, a direct descendant of Harald Fairhair the first Norwegian King. Þora Magnusdottir married an Icelander and moved to Iceland.
Politics
- See also: List of Presidents of Iceland, List of Prime Ministers of Iceland and List of Icelandic rulers
- Albert GuðmundssonAlbert GuðmundssonAlbert Sigurður Guðmundsson was the first Icelandic professional football player and played for, amongst others, Rangers, Arsenal, FC Nancy and AC Milan. After retiring from his sporting career he became a politician and was a member of Alþingi for 15 years, serving as Minister of Finance and...
, former minister - Árni SigfússonÁrni SigfússonÁrni Sigfússon is the former mayor of Reykjavík, Iceland's capital and has been the mayor of the town of Reykjanesbær, Iceland since 2002....
, politician - Ásgeir ÁsgeirssonÁsgeir ÁsgeirssonÁsgeir Ásgeirsson was the second President of Iceland, from 1952 to 1968.Educated as a theologian, Ásgeir graduated with honours from the University of Iceland in Reykjavík in 1915, but was considered too young to be ordained as a minister. He married Dóra Þórhallsdóttir in 1917. Dóra was the...
, former president - Birgitta JónsdóttirBirgitta JónsdóttirBirgitta Jónsdóttir is a member of parliament of Althing, the Icelandic parliament, formerly representing the Citizens' Movement, but now representing The Movement. Her district is the Reykjavík South Constituency. She was elected to the Icelandic parliament in April 2009 on behalf of a movement...
, minister - Björn BjarnasonBjörn BjarnasonBjörn Bjarnason is an Icelandic politician. His father was Bjarni Benediktsson, Prime Minister of Iceland, Minister of Justice and Ecclesiastical Affairs and Mayor of Reykjavík....
, minister of justice and ecclesiastical affairs - Davíð OddssonDavíð OddssonDavíð Oddsson is an Icelandic politician and the longest-serving Prime Minister of Iceland, holding office from 1991 to 2004. He also served as Foreign Minister from 2004 to 2005. Previously, he was Mayor of Reykjavík from 1982 to 1991, and he chaired the board of governors of the Central Bank of...
, former prime minister and former mayor of ReykjavíkReykjavíkReykjavík is the capital and largest city in Iceland.Its latitude at 64°08' N makes it the world's northernmost capital of a sovereign state. It is located in southwestern Iceland, on the southern shore of Faxaflói Bay... - Geir H. Haarde, former prime minister, former foreign minister
- Halldór ÁsgrímssonHalldór ÁsgrímssonHalldór Ásgrímsson is an Icelandic politician, formerly Prime Minister of Iceland from 2004 to 2006 and leader of the Progressive Party from 1994 to 2006.-Education and early life:...
, former prime minister - Halldór BlöndalHalldór BlöndalHalldór Blöndal is a politician of the Independence Party . He is the son of Kristjana Benediktsdóttir, Bjarni Benediktsson's sister. He worked as a teacher and a journalist from 1959 until 1980. Form 1971 to 1979 he frequently sat on Althingi as a substitute member...
, former minister - Hannes Hafstein, first prime minister
- Hannibal ValdimarssonHannibal ValdimarssonHannibal Valdimarsson was a politician from Iceland. He was a member of Parliament from 1946–1959 for the Social Democratic Party and People's Alliance and then from 1963–1974 for the People's Alliance, as an independent and also the Union of Liberals and Leftists...
, chairman of two parties and one electoral alliance, - Jóhanna SigurðardóttirJóhanna SigurðardóttirJóhanna Sigurðardóttir , , is the Prime Minister of Iceland. Many years a politician, she was previously Iceland's Minister of Social Affairs and Social Security from 1987–1994 and 2007–2009. She has been a member of the Althing for Reykjavík constituencies since 1978, winning re-election on eight...
, current prime minister, also the world's first openly gay head of government - Jón Baldvin HannibalssonJón Baldvin HannibalssonJón Baldvin Hannibalsson is an Icelandic politician.-Education:The son of Hannibal Valdimarsson, Jón Baldvin Hannibalsson earned an MA in Economics from University of Edinburgh in 1963. He studied at Stockholm University from 1963–1964, and studied teacher education at the University of Iceland in...
, former foreign minister, ambassador - Jón LoftssonJón LoftssonJón Loftsson was chieftain at Oddi in the county of Rangá in the south part of Iceland, and of the Oddaverjar family clan. He was one of the most popular chieftains and politician of his age in the country. He participated in the so-called Staðarmál, in 1179, against the Roman-Catholic Church and...
, chieftain and politician - Jón SigurðssonJón SigurðssonJón Sigurðsson was the leader of the 19th century Icelandic independence movement.Born at Hrafnseyri, near Arnarfjörður in the Westfjords area of Iceland, he was the son of a pastor, Sigurður Jónsson. He moved to Copenhagen, Denmark, in 1833 to study grammar and history at the university there...
, independence leader - Kristján EldjárnKristján EldjárnDr. Kristján Eldjárn was the third President of Iceland, from 1968 to 1980.His parents were Þórarinn Kr. Eldjárn, a teacher in Tjörn, and Sigrún Sigurhjartardóttir. He graduated in archaeology from the University of Copenhagen and taught at the University of Iceland...
, former president - Markús Örn AntonssonMarkús Örn AntonssonMarkús Örn Antonsson was the Mayor of Reykjavík from 1991 to 1994.-Education and journalism career:Markús Örn graduated from Reykjavík Junior College in 1965 and was an exchange student in the United States...
, former mayor of ReykjavíkReykjavíkReykjavík is the capital and largest city in Iceland.Its latitude at 64°08' N makes it the world's northernmost capital of a sovereign state. It is located in southwestern Iceland, on the southern shore of Faxaflói Bay...
and director of RÚVRÚVRíkisútvarpið is Iceland's national public-service broadcasting organization.Operating from studios in the country's capital, Reykjavík, as well as regional centres around the country, the service broadcasts a variety of general programming to a wide audience across the whole country via radio... - Ólafur Ragnar GrímssonÓlafur Ragnar GrímssonÓlafur Ragnar Grímsson is the fifth and current President of Iceland. He has served as President since 1996; he was unopposed in 2000, re-elected for a third term in 2004, and re-elected unopposed for a fourth term in 2008. He is the longest-serving left-wing president in the history of...
, current president - Steingrímur HermannssonSteingrímur HermannssonSteingrímur Hermannsson was Prime Minister of Iceland.-Early childhood:Steingrímur's father was Hermann Jónasson, another former Prime Minister. Being the son a prominent official, Steingrímur enjoyed a relatively care-free upbringing in a country stricken by the Great Depression...
, former prime minister - Sveinn BjörnssonSveinn BjörnssonSveinn Björnsson , son of Björn Jónsson and Elísabet Sveinsdóttir, was the first President of the Republic of Iceland.He became a member of Reykjavík town council in 1912 and was its president during 1918–1920....
, first president - Vigdís FinnbogadóttirVigdís FinnbogadóttirVigdís Finnbogadóttir is an Icelandic politician who served as the fourth President of Iceland from 1980 to 1996. In addition to being both Iceland's and Europe's first female president, she was the world's first democratically elected female head of state...
, former president, first elected female head of state - Þorsteinn PálssonÞorsteinn PálssonÞorsteinn Pálsson or Thorsteinn Pálsson is a former Prime Minister of Iceland for the Independence Party. He served from 8 July 1987 to 28 September 1988...
, former prime minister
Scholarship and academia
- Agnar HelgasonAgnar HelgasonAgnar Helgason is an Icelandic scientist working with genetic anthropology. PhD in Biological Anthropology, University of Oxford, 2001. He is best known for his research on the origin of Icelandic population. He is a brother of Ásgeir Helgason, the son of Helgi Valdimarsson and a brother-in-law of...
, PhD, anthropologist - Ari ÞorgilssonAri ÞorgilssonAri Þorgilsson was Iceland's most prominent medieval chronicler. He is the author of Íslendingabók, which details the histories of the various families who settled Iceland...
, documentarian, chronicler - Árni MagnússonÁrni MagnússonÁrni Magnússon was an Icelandic scholar and collector of manuscripts. He assembled the Arnamagnæan Manuscript Collection.-Life:...
, documentarian - Ásgeir HelgasonAsgeir HelgasonÁsgeir R. Helgason is an Icelandic scientist working at Karolinska Institutet in Sweden. From 2002 an associate professor in psychology at the Departments of Oncology-Pathology and Public Health at the Karolinska Institutet and Reykjavik University, Iceland.He is best known for his population...
, PhD, psychologist, public health scientist - Eiríkr MagnússonEiríkr MagnússonEiríkr or Eiríkur Magnússon was an Icelandic scholar who was Librarian at the University of Cambridge, taught Old Norse to William Morris, translated numerous Icelandic sagas into English in collaboration with him, and played an important role in the movement to study the history and literature of...
, librarian and lecturer at Cambridge University, co-translator with William MorrisWilliam MorrisWilliam Morris 24 March 18343 October 1896 was an English textile designer, artist, writer, and socialist associated with the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood and the English Arts and Crafts Movement... - Gisli GudjonssonGisli GudjonssonGísli Hannes Guðjónsson, CBE is a Professor of Forensic Psychology at the Institute of Psychiatry of King's College London. He is an internationally renowned authority on suggestibility and false confessions whose expert testimony was the basis for the convictions of the Birmingham Six and...
, Professor of Forensic Psychology - Gísli PálssonGísli PálssonGísli Pálsson is a professor of anthropology at the University of Iceland. He is the author, editor, or co-editor of several books, including Writing on Ice: The Ethnographic Notebooks of V. Stefansson , The Textual Life of Savants: Ethnography, Iceland, and the Linguistic Turn , and Nature and...
, PhD, anthropologist - Guðbrandur VigfússonGuðbrandur VigfússonGuðbrandur Vigfússon, known in English as Gudbrand Vigfusson, was one of the foremost Scandinavian scholars of the 19th century.-Life:He was born of an Icelandic family in Breiðafjörður...
, lexicographer, editor, and lecturer at Oxford University - Hannes Hólmsteinn GissurarsonHannes Hólmsteinn GissurarsonHannes Hólmsteinn Gissurarson is a professor of political science at the University of Iceland and a frequent commentator on current affairs in the Icelandic media...
, PhD, political scientist - Helgi ValdimarssonHelgi ValdimarssonHelgi Valdimarsson MD. , Professor of Immunology at the University of Iceland from 1981. Established the first Immunology laboratory of Iceland in 1983. Senior Lecturer at St Mary's Hospital Medical school, London, England 1975-1981 and visiting Professor at St. Mary’s 1981-1990. Former editor of...
, MD, immunologist - Hjörtur ÞórðarsonChester ThordarsonChester Hjortur Thordarson — born Hjörtur Þórðarson — was an Icelandic-American inventor who eventually held nearly a hundred patents. He was instrumental in the development of the modern energy transmission grid with his work in transformers. He achieved his first distinction at the 1904 World's...
, inventor - Kári StefánssonKári StefánssonDr. Kári Stefánsson, is an Icelandic neurologist, who is currently the President, Chairman, CEO and co-founder of deCODE Genetics.He was born in 1949 in Iceland-Education and early career:...
, MD, founder of deCODE geneticsDecode GeneticsdeCODE genetics, Inc. is a biopharmaceutical company based in Reykjavík, Iceland. The company was founded in 1996 to identify human genes associated with common diseases using population studies, and apply the knowledge gained to guide the development of candidate drugs... - Magnús EiríkssonMagnús EiríkssonMagnús Eiríksson was an Icelandic theologian and a contemporary critic of Søren Aabye Kierkegaard and Hans Lassen Martensen in Copenhagen....
, theologian - Margrét Hermanns AuðardóttirMargrét Hermanns AuðardóttirMargrét Hermanns Auðardóttir PhD, is an Icelandic archaeologist best known for her PhD thesis presenting the provocative theory that Iceland may have been settled by Scandinavians long before the official date of 874...
, PhD, archaeologist - Niels Finsen, physician, Nobel PrizeNobel PrizeThe Nobel Prizes are annual international awards bestowed by Scandinavian committees in recognition of cultural and scientific advances. The will of the Swedish chemist Alfred Nobel, the inventor of dynamite, established the prizes in 1895...
winner (Icelandic parents) - Páll SkúlasonPáll SkúlasonPáll Skúlason was born 4 June 1945 in Akureyri, Iceland. He is a professor of philosophy and former Rector of the University of Iceland.-Books:...
, PhD, philosopher, former Rector of the University of IcelandUniversity of IcelandThe University of Iceland is a public research university in Reykjavík, Iceland, and the country's oldest and largest institution of higher education. Founded in 1911, it has grown steadily from a small civil servants' school to a modern comprehensive university, providing instruction for about... - Reynir BödvarssonReynir BödvarssonReynir Bödvarsson is an Icelandic seismologist working at Uppsala University in Sweden. Bödvarsson is responsible for the Swedish National Seismology Network.- External :**...
, PhD, seismologist - Sigurdur HelgasonSigurdur Helgason (mathematician)Sigurdur Helgason is an Icelandic-American mathematician specializing in integral geometry and its generalizations to symmetric spaces. He was born in Akureyri, Iceland. Since 1965, he has been a professor of mathematics at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He was winner of the 1988...
, mathematician - Sigurður NordalSigurður NordalSigurður Nordal was an Icelandic scholar, writer and ambassador. He was influential in forming the theory of the Icelandic sagas as works of literature composed by individual authors....
, PhD, philosopher - Sigurður ÞórarinssonSigurður ÞórarinssonSigurður Þórarinsson was an Icelandic geologist, volcanologist, glaciologist, professor and lyricist. He is considered a pioneer in the field of tephrochronology, and he made significant contributions in many areas of geology, especially volcanology and glaciology, both in Iceland and...
, PhD, geologist, volcanologist, professor - Snorri SturlusonSnorri SturlusonSnorri Sturluson was an Icelandic historian, poet, and politician. He was twice elected lawspeaker at the Icelandic parliament, the Althing...
, documentarian, writer - Vilhjálmur ÁrnasonVilhjálmur ÁrnasonVilhjálmur Árnason is professor of philosophy at the University of Iceland. Internationally he is best known for his research on ethical aspects of controversial genetic research in Iceland by deCODE Genetics.-Books:...
, PhD, philosopher - Þór WhiteheadÞór WhiteheadÞór Whitehead is an Icelandic historian. He is currently a professor at the University of Iceland.Whitehead has written extensively on the history of Iceland during World War II and the Cold War. His best known work is the multi-volume series "Ísland í síðari heimsstyrjöld"...
, historian - Þorsteinn GylfasonÞorsteinn GylfasonÞorsteinn Gylfason was an Icelandic philosopher, translator, musician, poet, art enthusiast and intellectual. Þorsteinn was born and raised in Reykjavík, the capital of Iceland. His parents were Guðrún Vilmundardóttir and Gylfi Þ. Gíslason, a university professor and government minister...
, philosopher
Football (Soccer) Players
- Albert GuðmundssonAlbert GuðmundssonAlbert Sigurður Guðmundsson was the first Icelandic professional football player and played for, amongst others, Rangers, Arsenal, FC Nancy and AC Milan. After retiring from his sporting career he became a politician and was a member of Alþingi for 15 years, serving as Minister of Finance and...
, first Icelandic professional footballer, played for ValurValurKnattspyrnufélagið Valur is an Icelandic athletic club based in Reykjavík, Iceland. One of Iceland's most prolific clubs it celebrates its 100th birthday in 2011. The club is situated close to the city centre, in the traditional east side of town, at the old farmgrounds of Hlíðarendi...
, RangersRangers F.C.Rangers Football Club are an association football club based in Glasgow, Scotland, who play in the Scottish Premier League. The club are nicknamed the Gers, Teddy Bears and the Light Blues, and the fans are known to each other as bluenoses...
, AC Milan, ArsenalArsenal F.C.Arsenal Football Club is a professional English Premier League football club based in North London. One of the most successful clubs in English football, it has won 13 First Division and Premier League titles and 10 FA Cups...
and FC NancyFC NancyFootball club de Nancy was a French association football team playing in the city of Nancy, Meurthe-et-Moselle.The team was founded in 1901 and disappeared in 1965, due to financial problems.Two years after the demise of this team, Nancy's current top team, AS Nancy were founded.-Honours:* Coupe de...
. - Arnór GuðjohnsenArnór GuðjohnsenArnór Guðjohnsen is a former Icelandic footballer who played as a striker. He is most famous for his seven-year stint with Belgian club Anderlecht and was the club's top scorer in the 1986–87 season. He is the father of striker Eiður Guðjohnsen.-Club career:Guðjohnsen played for the following...
, former professional footballer - Aron GunnarssonAron GunnarssonAron Einar Gunnarsson is an Icelandic international footballer who plays professionally for Cardiff City in Wales. Gunnarsson can play either at right back or in central midfield.-Club career:...
, professional footballer, currently at Coventry City FC - Ásgeir SigurvinssonÁsgeir SigurvinssonÁsgeir "Sigi" Sigurvinsson is an Icelandic football coach and a former player.The attacking midfielder was one of the first, and certainly one of the most celebrated, Icelandic professional football players...
, former professional footballer - Eiður Smári GuðjohnsenEiður GuðjohnsenEiður Smári Guðjohnsen is an Icelandic footballer who currently plays for AEK Athens F.C. in the Superleague Greece. He has previously played for Premier League club Chelsea and FC Barcelona of Spain, having made his name with Bolton Wanderers. He was the captain of the Iceland national team until...
, professional footballer, currently at Fulham F.C.Fulham F.C.Fulham Football Club is a professional English Premier League club based in southwest London Fulham, in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham. Founded in 1879, they play in the Premier League, their 11th current season...
on loan from Stoke City F.C.Stoke City F.C.Stoke City Football Club is an English professional football club based in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire that plays in the Premier League. Founded in 1863, it is the oldest club in the Premier League, and considered to be the second oldest professional football club in the world, after Notts... - Guðni BergssonGuðni BergssonGuðni Bergsson , is a former Icelandic football player who is best known for his time spent with Bolton Wanderers.-Club career:...
, former professional footballer, played for teams like Tottenham Hotspur FC and Bolton Wanderers - Teitur Thordarson, former professional footballer, currently head coach at Vancouver Whitecaps FC
- Heiðar HelgusonHeiðar HelgusonHeiðar Helguson is an Icelandic footballer who plays as a striker for Queens Park Rangers....
, professional footballer, currently at Q.P.R. - Hermann HreiðarssonHermann HreiðarssonHermann Hreiðarsson is an Icelandic football player who plays for Football League Championship club Portsmouth as a left back...
, professional footballer, currently at PortsmouthPortsmouth F.C.Portsmouth Football Club is an English football club based in the city of Portsmouth. The club is nicknamed Pompey. Portsmouth's home matches have been played at Fratton Park since the club's formation in 1898. The team currently play in the Football League Championship after being relegated from... - Ívar IngimarssonÍvar IngimarssonÍvar Ingimarsson , is an Icelandic professional footballer currently playing for Ipswich Town.-Early years:...
, professional footballer, currently at ReadingReading F.C.Reading Football Club is an English association football club based in the town of Reading, Berkshire who currently play in the Championship... - Jóhannes Karl GuðjónssonJóhannes Karl GuðjónssonJóhannes "Joey" Karl Guðjónsson commonly known as Joey Guðjónsson is an Icelandic professional footballer who currently plays for Huddersfield Town as a midfielder, and has 34 caps for the Iceland national team....
, Professional footballer, currently at Burnley FC
Chess Champions
- Bobby FischerBobby FischerRobert James "Bobby" Fischer was an American chess Grandmaster and the 11th World Chess Champion. He is widely considered one of the greatest chess players of all time. Fischer was also a best-selling chess author...
, former world chess champion, granted Icelandic citizenship on 21 March 2005 - Friðrik ÓlafssonFriðrik ÓlafssonFriðrik Ólafsson is an Icelandic chess Grandmaster and former president of FIDE.Friðrik was born in Reykjavík, Iceland. A first-time winner of the Icelandic Championship in 1952 and of the Scandinavian Championship a year later, he rapidly became recognised as the strongest Icelandic player of his...
, chess Grandmaster
Handball
- Arnór AtlasonArnór AtlasonArnór Atlason is an Icelandic handball player, currently playing for Danish Handball League side FCK Håndbold. He also plays for the Icelandic national handball team.- Hobbys :...
, handball player who playes for FCK Håndbold in Denmark. - Guðjón Valur SigurðssonGuðjón Valur SigurðssonGuðjón Valur Sigurðsson is an Icelandic handball player who plays for AG København in the Danish Handball League.-Biography:...
, handball player who plays for Rhein-Neckar LöwenRhein-Neckar LöwenRhein-Neckar Löwen is a handball club from Mannheim, Germany. The club was founded in 2002 as a merger of TSG Kronau and TSG Baden Östringen, competing initially under the name SG Kronau/Östringen...
in Germany. - Ólafur StefánssonÓlafur StefánssonÓlafur Indriði Stefánsson is an Icelandic handball player who currently plays for AG_København in Denmark. He is the current captain for the Iceland national handball team. His demarcation is right back...
, handball player, Rhein-Neckar LöwenRhein-Neckar LöwenRhein-Neckar Löwen is a handball club from Mannheim, Germany. The club was founded in 2002 as a merger of TSG Kronau and TSG Baden Östringen, competing initially under the name SG Kronau/Östringen...
. Formerly of WuppertalWuppertalWuppertal is a city in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. It is located in and around the Wupper river valley, and is situated east of the city of Düsseldorf and south of the Ruhr area. With a population of approximately 350,000, it is the largest city in the Bergisches Land...
, MagdeburgMagdeburgMagdeburg , is the largest city and the capital city of the Bundesland of Saxony-Anhalt, Germany. Magdeburg is situated on the Elbe River and was one of the most important medieval cities of Europe....
and Ciudad RealCiudad RealCiudad Real is a city in Castile-La Mancha, Spain, with a population of c. 74,000. It is the capital of the province of Ciudad Real. It has a stop on the AVE high-speed rail line and has begun to grow as a long-distance commuter suburb of Madrid, located 115 miles to the north. A high capacity...
. - Snorri Steinn Guðjónsson, handball player who plays for Rhein-Neckar LöwenRhein-Neckar LöwenRhein-Neckar Löwen is a handball club from Mannheim, Germany. The club was founded in 2002 as a merger of TSG Kronau and TSG Baden Östringen, competing initially under the name SG Kronau/Östringen...
in Germany.
Strongmen
- Benedikt MagnússonBenedikt MagnússonBenedikt Magnússon , known by his nickname "Benni", is a strongman and powerlifter from Iceland.-Strongman and powerlifting:...
, current deadlift world record holder - Hafþór Júlíus BjörnssonHafþór Júlíus BjörnssonHafþór Júlíus Björnsson is an Icelandic strongman competitor.-Career:Hafþór began competing in strongman after a severe knee injury ended his basketball career. He met Icelandic strongman Magnus Ver Magnusson at his gym "Jakabol" in 2008, and Magnus stated that Hafþór seemed like a good prospect...
- Jón Páll SigmarssonJón Páll SigmarssonJón Páll Sigmarsson was a strongman, a powerlifter , and a bodybuilder from Iceland who won the World's Strongest Man Competition four times . In 1984 Jón won the Icelandic bodybuilding title in the +90 kg. class...
, four-time winner of World's Strongest ManWorld's Strongest ManThe World's Strongest Man is a well recognised event in strength athletics and has been described by a number of highly respected authorities in the sport as the premier event in strongman. Organized by TWI, an IMG Media company, it is broadcast around the end of December each year... - Magnús Magnússon
- Magnús Ver MagnússonMagnús Ver MagnússonMagnús Ver Magnússon is a former powerlifter and strongman competitor from Egilsstaðir, Iceland. Magnus won the title of World's Strongest Man four times ....
, four-time winner of World's Strongest ManWorld's Strongest ManThe World's Strongest Man is a well recognised event in strength athletics and has been described by a number of highly respected authorities in the sport as the premier event in strongman. Organized by TWI, an IMG Media company, it is broadcast around the end of December each year... - Stefán Sölvi PéturssonStefán Sölvi PéturssonStefán Sölvi Pétursson is a leading strongman competitor and entrant to the World's Strongest Man competition.-Career:...
Others
- Kristján Einar KristjánssonKristján EinarKristján Einar Kristjánsson is a racing driver.Kristján started kart racing at 14, the age when Icelandic law allows young drivers to start racing and training in karts....
, racing driver, currently racing in British formula 3British Formula Three ChampionshipThe British Formula Three Championship is an international motor racing series that takes place primarily in the United Kingdom with a small number of events in mainland Europe. It is a junior-level feeder formula that uses small single seater Formula Three chassis. Its current official title is... - Halldór HelgasonHalldór HelgasonHalldór Helgason is an Icelandic snowboarder.Halldór was born in Akureyri, Iceland. He is the younger brother of Eiki Helgason...
, Snowboarder - Magnús SchevingMagnús SchevingMagnús Örn Eyjólfsson Scheving was born 10 November 1964 to Þórveig Hjartardóttir and Eyjólfur Magnússon Scheving. He is an Icelandic writer, producer, entrepreneur, and a famous athlete. He is the creator and co-star of the children's television show LazyTown.-Career:In 1992 he became the...
, writer, actor, athlete, creator of LazyTownLazyTownLazyTown is a children's television program that was produced in Iceland with a cast and crew from Iceland, the United Kingdom and the United States. It was created by Magnús Scheving, a gymnastics champion and CEO of LazyTown Entertainment, who also stars in the show... - Vala FlosadóttirVala FlosadóttirVala Flosadóttir is an Icelandic athlete competing in the pole vault.She saw her heyday in the late nineties, when she set five world junior records and two world indoor records...
, pole vaulter