Vilhjálmsson

Vilhjálmsson is a common Icelandic patronymic surname, meaning "son of Vilhjálmur". Vilhjálmur itself is the Icelandic form of the given name William. As with most Icelandic surnames, Vilhjálmsson is not inherited in the same way as in many other cultures. Instead, it indicates the father's given name. For example, if a man named Jón has a son named Vilhjálmur, that son's patronymic surname would be Vilhjálmsson. If Vilhjálmur then has a daughter, her surname would be Vilhjálmsdóttir (daughter of Vilhjálmur). This system is known as a patronymic naming convention.

Individuals with the surname Vilhjálmsson can be found in Iceland and in communities with Icelandic heritage around the world. Due to its patronymic nature, the surname is not indicative of a single ancestral family line in the way some hereditary surnames are. Instead, it connects individuals to their father's given name, Vilhjálmur, which has been a popular name in Iceland for centuries. This practice ensures a direct link to the paternal line within each generation.