Þorkelsson

Þorkelsson is a common Icelandic patronymic surname. In Iceland, surnames are traditionally patronymic, meaning they are derived from the father's given name. Therefore, Þorkelsson literally translates to "son of Þorkell." Þorkell itself is an Old Norse given name, a compound of the elements "Þorkill" meaning "Thor's helmet." This naming convention means that the surname Þorkelsson would be held by individuals whose father's name was Þorkell. It is important to note that Icelandic patronymic surnames are not inherited in the same way as hereditary surnames in many other cultures. A person's surname changes with each generation to reflect their father's name. For example, if a Þorkelsson has a son named Jón, that son would be named Jónsson. Conversely, a daughter of Þorkelsson would have the matronymic surname Þorkelsdóttir. This practice is deeply ingrained in Icelandic culture and has been maintained for centuries, although some Icelandic families have adopted hereditary surnames in recent times. The prevalence of Þorkelsson as a surname indicates that Þorkell has been a popular given name in Iceland.