This template is put at the top of a biographical article to explain to readers that Icelanders are referred to by their given name in the English-language Wikipedia and that patronymic is the norm, not a family name.

This template takes one required parameter:

There is an optional parameter to specify the sex of the named parent, and thus say "Matronymic" (female). If the parameter is "surname" then mention of patronym and matronym are suppressed; this is an actual family name, but it is still proper to refer to the person by their given name.

NB. Matronymics almost always end in udóttir or uson (except for Sturluson that is patronymic).

NB2. If the last name doesn't end in son or dóttir it's a family name. Note that some (foreign) wives take their Icelandic last name (ending in son) as a family name.

Examples;


Redundant since July 2, 2013 when default changed to patronymics that is the norm: