In which country there are no surnames?

Correct answer: Iceland

Try the best trivia game

What people think about it: 30 Comments
Hal
Hal
A fascinating fact to learn. Thank you!
BlueEyedAlien
BlueEyedAlien
The question says “no surnames”, and then the explanation elaborates on how Icelandic surnames are constructed. Because of this method, the names in the Reykjavik phone directory are listed by first names, not last names.
Player #120593505
Player #120593505
The question is still wrong!! Icelandics still have surnames- they are simply constructed differently. Even though I learned an interesting fact, the question should either be rewritten or deleted.
Player #120374466
Player #120374466
Would difficult to find someone in the phone directory based on first names if you have 10k "Jons"
Dartaff
Dartaff
BlueEyedAlien, .Welsh , Scottish and Irish names used same method ...Mac ,as Macdonald is son of Donald .O Neill is son of Neill. Welsh was ap but ap rhys became Pryce or Price .ap Owen became Bowen .ap Howell, Powell and ap John, Jones etc etc
Sazzy
Sazzy
Wow this is a first😄 sounds very fascinating
On time
On time
The Indians are also the same…. Son of so and so Daughter of so and so…
Jim
Jim
Even the question uses incorrect grammar.
Katerina Zissman
Katerina Zissman
This is really interesting but I must say that other nations do the same, such as Russians
Player #92723922
Player #92723922
WRONG. "Jonsdottir" - and all the others are surnames. Question should be corrected.
LolliNannaPop
LolliNannaPop
Hal, I learnt this fact many years ago..from watching Magnus Magnusson..who explained why his surname was so similar to his first name!
LillySparrow
LillySparrow
In Mexico, a daughter takes both of her parents' last names, with the father's surname listed first followed by the mother's paternal surname, meaning she essentially takes both her father's and mother's last names; this is a common practice in Spanish speaking cultures.
LillySparrow
LillySparrow
Dartaff, “O” is grandson of and “Mac” is son of
LillySparrow
LillySparrow
Player #120593505, they did say patronymic and matronymic
LillySparrow
LillySparrow
Hal, very cool 👌🏼
kronik
kronik
Bjork is from Iceland.
joey
joey
Player #120593505, Indians do the same thing
Rose
Rose
BlueEyedAlien, the answer makes it clear that the FAMILY lineage is not necessarily the family lineage. Many names indicate the profession of lineages
Anup Toms Alex
Anup Toms Alex
This system is followed by the Arabic naming system as well. If you see bin (or ibn) in a name as in Osama bin Laden ( to take an example of course) it means Osama, the son of Laden. Also they may have unique two-tier names confined to themselves. So names like Anwar Sadath, Dulquer Salman, Tariq Roshan need not mean they denote their dads, but instead are their own special names. 😎
Mrs busybody
Mrs busybody
DRon, that’s a good question
p
p
It is still a surname.
Jo
Jo
Katerina Zissman, exactly, that's why I chose Russia as the answer. Forgot Icelandics do the same thing, but then that just means there are 2 correct answers then doesn't it?
Cat Mom
Cat Mom
Player #120374466, yes, and just as many Jons- son's and daughter's; wouldn't they ALL have the same first & last names?
Cat Mom
Cat Mom
BlueEyedAlien, the question is not written well at all
Bellificent
Bellificent
Player #120374466, oh I can tell you, you are right, I know because of trying to research ancestry!
Jonesy
Jonesy
Player #92723922, it can be reported to the administrator by clicking on the "report" tab. Anyone can do this.
DRon
DRon
So what happens when they get married then?
Player Say what!?
Player Say what!?
Player #120374466, I visited Iceland and Thor is very common. I wish I knew about this when there, it would have been fun to learn about.
Laura
Laura
Katerina Zissman, Yes, Russians do use first name + patronymic, but since the 1930s all Russians have a surname as well.
Elenora
Elenora
Wow 😮 very mesmerizing 🥰