Trace the most influential and famous Icelandic people in history and the roles they played in shaping the country over centuries. From early settlers and Viking explorers to writers, reformers, and political leaders, this article highlights figures whose legacy remains visible today.
Iceland’s history is shaped by its landscapes and the people who defined life on this remote North Atlantic island. For travelers browsing vacation packages in Iceland, learning about these influential Icelanders adds context to visits from Reykjavik to Thingvellir National Park.
Why You Can Trust Our Content
Guide to Iceland is the most trusted travel platform in Iceland, helping millions of visitors each year. All our content is written and reviewed by local experts who are deeply familiar with Iceland. You can count on us for accurate, up-to-date, and trustworthy travel advice.
Many sites linked to these historical figures remain accessible today, whether on a self-drive route in Iceland or through expert-planned multi-day itineraries. From early settlers and lawmakers to cultural leaders, their stories remain closely tied to the land.
With so many notable figures spanning different eras, narrowing the list can be a challenge. This article highlights 13 of the most famous Icelanders in history, offering insight into the people who helped shape the nation's travelers' experience today.
Key Takeaways
-
Iceland’s history has been shaped by individuals from different periods, including settlers, explorers, writers, reformers, and political leaders.
-
Early figures such as Ingólfur Arnarson and Leifur Eiriksson played central roles in settlement and exploration, helping define Iceland’s place in the Viking world.
-
Historians and writers like Ari Þorgilsson, Snorri Sturluson, and Halldór Laxness preserved Iceland’s stories, beliefs, and identity through written works.
-
Political and social leaders including Jón Sigurðsson, Vigdís Finnbogadóttir, and Jóhanna Sigurðardóttir influenced independence, governance, and equality in Icelandic society.
-
Environmental and social advocates such as Sigríður Tómasdóttir and Bríet Bjarnhéðinsdóttir helped protect natural landmarks and expand civil rights.
-
Many places connected to famous Icelandic people in history can still be visited across Iceland, offering insight into how their legacies continue to shape the country.
Famous Icelandic People Who Shaped Iceland
Photo from Wikimedia, Creative Commons, by Johan Peter Raadsig. No edits made.
Across centuries, these individuals helped shape Iceland’s settlement, culture, and political foundations. Their influence remains visible in the country’s history and identity today.
13. Sveinn Björnsson
Photo from Wikimedia, Creative Commons, by Forseti.is. No edits made.
Sveinn Björnsson served as Iceland’s first president after the country became a republic in 1944. His leadership helped guide Iceland through the transition from Danish rule to full independence during a period of global uncertainty.
As head of state during World War II, Sveinn played an important role in maintaining stability and diplomatic balance. His presidency laid the foundation for Iceland’s modern political system and international presence.
12. Auður the Deep-Minded
Auður the Deep-Minded was a Viking settler known for her independence, leadership, and wealth during Iceland’s settlement period. She arrived in Iceland with her followers and claimed land in the west, becoming one of the most respected women of her time.
She is remembered for her strong character and early Christian beliefs, which were unusual during the Viking Age. Through her legacy, Auður is regarded as one of the most famous Icelandic people in history and offers insight into women’s roles and social structures in early Icelandic society.
11. Hans Jonatan
Photo credit to Helga Tómasdóttir. Lúðvík Lúðvíksson, grandson of Hans Jonatan. No edits made.
Hans Jonatan was born into slavery in the late eighteenth century and later escaped to Iceland, where he lived as a free man. His life is one of the earliest known accounts of a black person settling in Iceland, with the image shown here depicting his grandson, Lúðvík Lúðvíksson.
Hans spent much of his life in Djupivogur in East Iceland, where he worked, married, and raised a family. His story remains an important part of Icelandic social history, highlighting themes of freedom, identity, and inclusion that continue to resonate today.
10. Jóhanna Sigurðardóttir
Photo from Wikimedia, Creative Commons, by Magnus Fröderberg. No edits made.
Jóhanna Sigurðardóttir became Iceland’s prime minister in 2009, shortly after the country’s financial system collapsed. The crisis sparked widespread protests and political change, marking one of the most challenging periods in modern Icelandic history.
Her leadership focused on restoring stability and public trust during economic uncertainty, reflecting broader progress in gender equality in Iceland. She guided a minority government through key reforms and protected democratic institutions, which helped Iceland begin its recovery after the financial collapse.
Jóhanna also made global history as the world’s first openly gay head of government, becoming one of the most famous Icelandic people of her time. Her tenure shaped wider discussions on leadership, representation, and feminism and gender roles in Iceland.
9. Vigdís Finnbogadóttir
Photo from Wikimedia, Creative Commons, by Rob C. Croes. No edits made.
In 1980, Iceland reached a historic milestone when Vigdís Finnbogadóttir was elected president. Her election followed years of social change and growing public discussion about equality, education, and national identity in Iceland.
She made world history as the first woman elected head of state in a national election and gained international recognition. During her sixteen years in office, Vigdís focused on culture, education, and the Icelandic language as part of Iceland’s national identity.
Her presidency had a lasting effect on public life in Iceland. Today, visitors can follow her legacy through guided walking tours in Reykjavik and culture-focused tours that pass by the two main buildings where Vigdís made history.
8. Halldór Laxness
Photo from Wikimedia, Creative Commons, by Friedrich Magnussen. No edits made.
Halldór Laxness is one of the most famous Icelandic people in history. Born in 1902, he became an internationally known novelist whose work reflects Iceland’s social change and landscapes, and he won the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1955.
One of his best-known novels, Christianity at the Glacier, also called Under the Glacier, is set in the shadow of Snaefellsjokull Glacier. The story introduces readers to the Snaefellsnes Peninsula, its natural surroundings, and the unusual characters who live there.
Visitors traveling toward Thingvellir National Park can visit places linked to Laxness’s life and writing. His books are widely available in Icelandic bookshops, often in English, and remain a popular souvenir in Iceland.
7. Sigríður Tómasdóttir
Gullfoss Waterfall on the Golden Circle route is one of Iceland’s most iconic natural landmarks and is closely linked to Sigríður Tómasdóttir. She grew up near the falls in southwest Iceland, where her father, Tómas, owned the surrounding farmland, shaping her strong connection to the landscape.
In the early twentieth century, plans were made to use Gullfoss for hydroelectric power. Sigríður strongly opposed the project and traveled repeatedly to Reykjavik to protest the development and seek legal protection for the site, raising public awareness of its importance.
Today, Gullfoss is one of Iceland’s most popular tourist destinations and a key stop on Golden Circle tours. Sigríður’s actions secured her place among Iceland’s most influential environmental figures and made it possible for visitors to experience the waterfall free from industrial development.
6. Bríet Bjarnhéðinsdóttir
Photo from Wikimedia, Creative Commons, by Magnús Ólafsson. No edits made.
Bríet Bjarnhéðinsdóttir stands out as one of the most influential figures in Icelandic social history. Active in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, she advocated for women’s rights at a time when legal and political equality did not yet exist.
She played a key role in the women’s suffrage movement and helped organize early efforts to secure voting rights for women in Iceland. Bríet also founded the country’s first women’s rights organization, which continues to influence Icelandic women today.
Through writing, public speeches, and activism, Bríet raised awareness of women’s legal rights and became one of the most famous Icelandic people in history. Icelandic women gained the right to vote in 1915, and her legacy remains central to Iceland’s reputation for equality.
5. Jón Sigurðsson
Photo from Wikimedia, Creative Commons, by Szilas in the National Museum of Iceland. No edits made.
Iceland’s struggle for independence in the nineteenth century is closely tied to the work of Jón Sigurðsson. He became the leading figure in the movement for greater autonomy from Danish rule and played a key role in shaping Iceland’s national identity.
Jón represented Icelanders in Copenhagen, where he argued for self-governance and defended the Icelandic language. He is best remembered for restoring the Althing and promoting peaceful political action grounded in cultural pride.
The influence of Jón Sigurðsson remains strong in Iceland today. June 17, his birthday, is celebrated as Iceland’s National Day, and visitors can learn more about his life at the Jón Sigurðsson Museum in West Iceland.
4. Ari Þorgilsson
Photo from Wikimedia, Creative Commons, by Jón Erlendsson. No edits made.
Ari Þorgilsson is considered the first historian of Iceland and a key figure in preserving the country’s early past. Living in the late eleventh and early twelfth centuries, he recorded events at a time when history was mainly passed down orally.
He is best known for writing Islendingabok (The Book of Icelanders), one of the oldest written sources on Icelandic history. The work records the settlement of Iceland, the founding of the Althing, and the conversion to Christianity.
Ari Þorgilsson’s accurate writing preserved Iceland’s early past. He remains one of the famous Icelandic people in history whose work is essential to understanding the country’s origins and laws.
3. Snorri Sturluson
Painting by Christian Krohg, 1852 - 1925. No edits made.
Much of what is known today about Norse mythology and early Scandinavian history comes from the writings of Snorri Sturluson. Active in the late twelfth and early thirteenth centuries, he played a key role in preserving stories that might otherwise have been lost.
He is best known for the Prose Edda and Heimskringla, which record myths about the Norse gods and Nordic kings. Manuscripts of his work can be seen at the National Museum of Iceland, and he lived much of his life at Reykholt in West Iceland.
Through his work, Snorri Sturluson preserved Norse myths and early Icelandic history in written form, shaping how these stories are understood today. His legacy remains closely tied to Reykholt, an important site for exploring Iceland’s medieval past.
2. Leifur “the Lucky” Eiriksson
Photo from Wikimedia, Creative Commons, by Thomas Quine. No edits made.
Leifur “the Lucky” Eiriksson was a key explorer of the Viking Age who expanded Norse exploration beyond Iceland and Greenland around the year 1000. He is best known for leading a voyage to North America centuries before Christopher Columbus.
According to the Icelandic sagas, Leifur reached Vinland, often linked to L’Anse aux Meadows in Newfoundland, Canada. Raised in Greenland by Erik the Red, his voyages reflect early Norse seafaring and secured his place among the most famous Icelandic people in history.
Today, Leifur’s legacy can be seen across Iceland. A statue of the explorer stands outside Hallgrimskirkja Church in Reykjavik and is one of the country’s most famous landmarks, while the Viking World Museum in Njardvik near Keflavik displays a replica of his ship.
1. Ingólfur Arnarson
Photo by MoreToTheShell. No edits made.
Iceland’s history as a settled nation begins with Ingólfur Arnarson. Arriving from Norway in the late ninth century, he is recognized as the first permanent settler of Iceland. Early sources say he chose his home by following Norse tradition along the southwest coast.
He established Iceland’s first permanent settlement at Reykjavik. Today, a statue of Ingólfur Arnarson stands on Arnarholl overlooking the city, marking the site linked to his arrival and securing his place among the most famous Icelandic people in history.
Visitors can learn more about him at the Saga Museum in Reykjavik. The Settlement Centre Museum in Borgarnes also offers deeper insight into the settlement era as a whole.
Modern Famous Icelandic People in History
While this article focuses on earlier figures, a few famous Icelandic people in history have also emerged in modern times through music and culture and are noted here for context.
-
Björk Guðmundsdóttir – Iceland’s most internationally recognized artist, known for reshaping global perceptions of Icelandic music, art, and individuality through her work in music, film, and visual art.
-
Laufey Lín Jónsdóttir – A contemporary Icelandic musician reaching global audiences with a blend of jazz, classical, and pop, representing a new generation of Icelandic artists.
-
Ólafur Arnalds – A composer and producer known for blending classical, ambient, and electronic music, with international collaborations across film, television, and contemporary music.
-
Hildur Guðnadóttir – An award-winning composer whose work in film and television has brought Icelandic composition to global audiences, including major international productions.
-
Magnús Scheving – Creator of LazyTown, which became a globally recognized children’s television series and introduced Icelandic creativity to international audiences.
The Legacy of Famous Icelandic People in History
Photo by Wikimedia, Creative Commons, by Olaus Magnus. No edits made.
The people highlighted in this article show how Iceland’s history was shaped by some of the most famous Icelandic people in history. From early settlers and Viking explorers to writers, reformers, and political leaders, their actions influenced how Iceland developed as a nation and culture.
Many of their legacies remain visible across Iceland, from historic sites to landscapes tied to settlement and culture. Reaching these places often involves travel beyond Reykjavik, where car rentals in Iceland and well-located accommodations help make visits easier.
Together, these figures reflect the resilience, creativity, and independence that define Icelandic identity. Their stories form a shared foundation connecting Iceland’s early beginnings with its modern values and global presence.
We hope this guide helps you explore Iceland’s history and the people who shaped it. Feel free to share your favorite historical site or any lesser-known places you discover while traveling around the country.
