Bjornsdottir

Bjornsdottir is an Icelandic patronymic surname used to indicate that the bearer is the daughter of a man named Björn. In Iceland, surnames are not fixed family names; they are formed from the father’s given name plus a standard suffix. For a daughter of Björn, the proper Icelandic form is Björnsdóttir. The root Björn is of Old Norse origin, meaning bear. The corresponding male form is Björnsson, meaning son of Björn. In non-Icelandic contexts, ASCII renderings such as Bjornsdottir and Bjornsson are common.

In practice, Icelanders are typically addressed by their given name, with the patronymic serving as a surname for identification. Because the surname is derived from the parent’s name, siblings may have different patronymics if their parent’s given name differs. The Icelandic system also allows matronymics in some cases, though these are uncommon.

Outside Iceland and among the Icelandic diaspora, Björnsdóttir can appear as a fixed surname in legal documents or everyday usage. In fiction and media, it is used to signal Icelandic heritage. Spelling varies with language and script: diacritics are standard in Icelandic, while ASCII spellings such as Bjornsdottir are used in international contexts.