Leifsson

Leifsson is an Icelandic patronymic surname meaning "son of Leif." In Iceland, patronymics based on the father’s given name are standard, and fixed family surnames are uncommon. As a result, Leifsson indicates a paternal lineage rather than a longstanding family name.

The given name Leif is of Old Norse origin (Leifr) and is commonly interpreted as meaning "heir" or "descendant." The suffix -sson denotes "son" in Norse-derived naming, producing Leifsson for a son of Leif. This pattern reflects a traditional system in which a person’s last name identifies their father rather than a hereditary family line.

Geographically, Leifsson is most often found in Iceland, where the patronymic system remains in regular use. In diaspora communities and in genealogical records outside Iceland, Leifsson may appear as a surname inherited through naming practices, but it does not automatically imply a fixed ancestral surname in the way that family names do in many other cultures.

In addition to Leifsson, the feminine form Leifsdóttir (“Leif’s daughter”) is used within the same tradition. Across Nordic naming conventions, patronymic forms differ by language and tradition, reflecting local rules for how sons and daughters are named.

Notable individuals with the surname Leifsson have appeared in various fields, including arts and academia; the name is best understood as a patronymic indicator of lineage rather than a single, fixed family-name identity.