Magnússonar

Magnússonar is the Icelandic plural form of the patronymic Magnússon, meaning “the Magnússons” or “sons of Magnús.” In Icelandic naming practice, Magnússon is not a fixed family surname but a patronymic formed by taking the father's given name (Magnús) and adding -son. As a result, Magnússonar refers to multiple individuals who bear that patronymic at a given time, rather than to a single family lineage.

The given name Magnús is of Old Norse origin and commonly interpreted as meaning “the mighty” or “great.” The patronymic Magnússon indicates paternal descent from someone named Magnús, but it does not establish a long-standing family name across generations. Because Icelandic naming conventions emphasize the immediate parent’s name, Magnússonar can be ephemeral; different generations may have different patronymics even within the same extended family.

In everyday Icelandic usage, people are typically addressed by their given name followed by their patronymic, rather than a fixed surname. Consequently, Magnússonar as a collective term is more common in linguistic or genealogical discussions than in casual speech, and it illustrates the broader pattern where many unrelated individuals can share the same patronymic.

See also: Icelandic naming system, Magnússon (surname).