The First Settlers of Iceland
Who Claimed the Land — and Where
Iceland was not discovered.
It was claimed.
Not by armies.
Not by kings.
But by individuals who chose a fjord, a valley, a stretch of coast — and stayed.
Most of what we know comes from Landnámabók (“The Book of Settlements”), written centuries later but based on older oral tradition.
Below are some of the most significant early settlers and where they established themselves.
Ingólfur Arnarson — Reykjavík (c. 874)
Region: Southwest Iceland
Source: Landnámabók
Often considered the first permanent settler of Iceland.
Ingólfur arrived from Norway and is said to have thrown his high-seat pillars into the sea, vowing to settle wherever they washed ashore.
They landed in what is now Reykjavík.
This was not a dramatic conquest.
It was a symbolic act of choosing location carefully.
Reykjavík begins not as a capital — but as a farm.
Hallveig Fróðadóttir — Reykjavík
Often overshadowed in summaries, Hallveig was Ingólfur’s wife.
Archaeological evidence suggests she may have outlived him and managed the estate.
The early settlement story is not exclusively male.
The farm economy required shared authority.
Hjörleifur Hróðmarsson — South Coast (Hjörleifshöfði)
Region: Near present-day Vík
Companion of Ingólfur.
Killed by his own Irish thralls after mistreatment.
Ingólfur later avenged him.
This story reflects a recurring theme:
Early Iceland was socially complex, not ethnically simple.
Ketill Flatnose — Breiðafjörður (West Iceland)
Region: Western fjords and Breiðafjörður area
A powerful Norse figure with connections to the Hebrides.
His family settled widely in West Iceland.
West Iceland became one of the most politically influential early regions.
Skallagrímur Kveldúlfsson — Borgarfjörður
Region: West Iceland
Father of Egill Skallagrímsson (from Egils saga).
Settled at Borg.
Borgarfjörður became one of the intellectual and saga-rich regions of Iceland.
Settlement here was strategic — fertile land, river access, and protection.
Auðr the Deep-Minded (Auður djúpúðga) — West Iceland
Region: Dalir (West Iceland)
One of the most significant female settlers.
Widowed, wealthy, and independent.
She traveled with followers from the British Isles and claimed large areas of land.
Auðr is associated with early Christian influence in Iceland — before official conversion.
Her settlement pattern suggests organized migration, not chaos.
Helgi the Lean — Eyjafjörður (North Iceland)
Region: North Iceland
Settled in Eyjafjörður.
Raised in a mixed religious environment (Christian and pagan influences).
His story reflects cultural blending in early Iceland.
The North developed distinct regional identity early on.
Ingimundur the Old — Vatnsdalur (North Iceland)
Region: Vatnsdalur
Associated with Vatnsdæla saga.
Chose his settlement site carefully, guided by omens and practicality.
The north was colder and harsher — settlement required foresight.
Hrafna-Flóki Vilgerðarson — Westfjords
Region: Northwest Iceland
One of the early explorers who named the island “Iceland” after seeing drift ice.
His early attempt at settlement failed due to poor preparation.
His story reminds us:
Not all early settlers succeeded.
Settlement Was Not Even
Iceland was not filled in uniformly.
The southwest and west were settled earlier and more densely.
The East and remote regions followed.
The Highlands were never permanently settled.
Early settlement followed:
• Arable land
• Natural harbors
• River valleys
• Grazing potential
The land determined viability.
What the Settlement Pattern Reveals
The early Icelanders did not spread randomly.
They created:
-
Regional power centers (West Iceland)
-
Legal center (Þingvellir)
-
Trade routes
-
Family-based territories
Iceland’s identity formed regionally before it formed nationally.
A Final Observation
The first Icelanders were not mythical figures.
They were pragmatic.
They chose:
Shelter from wind.
Access to water.
Viable pasture.
The map of settlement is a map of survival decisions.
And much of modern Iceland still follows that logic.