staðir

Staðir is an Icelandic noun meaning "place" or "stead" and is a common element in Icelandic place names. The singular form is staður, and staðir is its plural. In toponymy, the suffix -staðir is productive for forming farm and settlement names, often indicating the site or homestead associated with the place.

Etymology and cognates: The word derives from Old Norse staðr, related to other Germanic terms for "place." This root appears in various historical and linguistic contexts across Nordic languages, shaping many modern toponyms in Iceland and beyond.

Usage in toponymy: In Iceland, many farm and locality names are compounds built with -staðir, frequently combining a descriptive element with stadir to designate a specific site. The form serves as a geographic identifier, helping to distinguish among nearby farms or settlements with similar core names. Staðir can occur as part of longer place names or, less commonly, as standalone localities in administrative contexts.

Geographical and historical context: Staðir appears across Icelandic regions and is encountered in both contemporary and historical texts. It reflects a broader Nordic naming practice in which a place is identified by its location or by the characteristics of the site. The term remains a standard reference in discussions of Icelandic toponymy and historical geography.

See also: Icelandic toponymy, Old Norse.