Patronymics

Vikings did not have surnames as we know them today. They used the patronymic system or more rarely, a metronymic (a name derived from the name of a mother or female ancestor.)was used. Snorri Sturluson means Snorri, son of Sturla, for example. Patronymics, son of or daughter (dottar) of (father’s name), were far more common than a matronymic, which would be son of or daughter of (mother’s name).