Birgisson

Birgisson is an Icelandic patronymic surname meaning "son of Birgir." In Iceland, many last names function as patronymics rather than hereditary family names, indicating the given name of the father at the time of a person’s birth. As a result, Birgisson identifies a paternal connection to someone named Birgir, while the corresponding feminine form is Birgisdóttir, meaning "daughter of Birgir." The form Birgisson is used by individuals whose father was named Birgir and does not imply a fixed lineage in the way typical surnames do in many other cultures.

Birgir is a traditional masculine given name of Norse origin. Birgisson is formed by adding the suffix -sson to Birgir, a common pattern in Icelandic patronymics. Because Icelandic naming conventions emphasize the immediate parent’s name rather than a family surname, Birgisson can appear across unrelated families in different generations. People bearing the surname today may reside in Iceland or among Icelandic communities abroad, and in non-Icelandic contexts the name may be treated as a fixed family surname by authorities or individuals unfamiliar with Icelandic naming practices.

In usage, Birgisson functions primarily as a surname within Icelandic demographics, but its interpretation can vary outside Iceland depending on local naming conventions. The name reflects a broader linguistic tradition in which many Icelandic last names are derived from a person’s father or mother, rather than representing a fixed lineage carried through generations.