Björnsson

Björnsson is an Icelandic surname of patronymic origin. It literally means “son of Björn” and is formed from the given name Björn, derived from Old Norse Bjǫrn meaning “bear,” plus the suffix -sson. In Icelandic naming practice, patronymics indicate lineage rather than a fixed family name, so a person’s surname typically changes with each generation and depends on the parent’s first name. The corresponding female form is Björnsdóttir. Outside Iceland, Björnsson can be used as a hereditary surname in families of Icelandic descent or in countries where independent family surnames are common.

Notable people with the surname include Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson (born 1988), an Icelandic professional strongman and actor who gained international recognition as The Mountain in the television series Game of Thrones and who won the World's Strongest Man competition in 2011. The surname’s usage reflects Iceland’s broader convention of patronymics, though in diaspora communities it may function as a fixed family name.