Bókastaðir

An Old Norse Library

Place names

The place names in the sagas. Drawn from the glossed Old Norse texts only

A

Agðir
Agder, region in southern Norway
Áivangar
Ái's plains
Alftanes
swan headland
Almannakambr
everyone's ridge
Álreksstaðir
Álrekr's homesteads
Alviðra
all-weather (exposed to every wind)
Álǫst
eel harvest (uncertain compound of 'áll' eel and an obscure second element)
Ambáttará
slave-woman's river
Ánabrekka
Áni's slope
Andakíll
duck inlet
Andakílsá
river of Andakíll (duck valley)
Annmarkastaðir
blemish steads
Ármannsfell
steward's mountain
Arnareyrr
eagle's gravel bank
Arnarfjǫrðr
eagle's fjord
Arnarhváll
eagle's hill
Arnarstaðir
eagle's steads
Arnarstapi
eagle's crag
Arnarvatnsheiði
eagle's lake heath
Arneiðarstaðir
Arneiðr's steads
Árnes
river headland
Arnkelsbrekka
Arnkell's slope
Arnlaugsfjǫrðr
Arnlaugr's fjord
Arnþrúðarstaðir
Arnþrúðr's steads
Ásbjarnarnes
Ásbjǫrn's headland
Ásbjarnarstaðir
Ásbjǫrn's steads
Ásgarðshólar
hills of Ásgarðr (enclosure of the Æsir/gods)
Áslaugarhlíð
Áslaug's slope
Ásmundargnúpr
Ásmundr's peak
Ásmundarstaðir
Ásmundr's steads
Atlaey
Atli's island
Atley
Atli's island (uncertain)
Auðolfsstaðir
Auðólfr's homestead
Auðsstaðir
Auðr's steads
Auðunarstaðir
Auðunn's steads
Aurland
gravel land
Aurriðaá
trout river
Austfirðingafjórðungr
quarter of the East-firthers
also: East-firthers' quarter
Austfirðir
east fjords
Austmannafall
eastmen's (Norwegians') fall
Austragðir
eastern Agðir (Agder), meaning of 'Agðir' itself uncertain

B

Bálagarðssíða
beacon-yard's coast
Bálkastaðir
Bálki's farmstead
Balljǫkull
ball glacier
Barða
valleys
Barðastrǫnd
beard/prow shore
Barkarstaðir
Börkr's steads
Beigaðarhóll
Beigaðr's hill
Berðla
unclear, possibly related to a personal name or old word of uncertain meaning
Bersagǫtur
Bersi's paths
Bersastaðir
Bersi's steading
Berufjǫrðr
bare fjord
Bessastaðir
Bessi's homestead
Bjarkey
birch island
Bjarmaland
land of the Bjarmians (Permians)
Bjarnardalr
bear's valley
Bjarnarey
Bjǫrn's island
Bjarnarfjǫrðr
Bjǫrn's fjord
Bjarnarhǫfn
Bjǫrn's harbour
Bjarnarsker
bear's skerry
Bjarnartaða
Bjǫrn's home-fields
Bjarney
bear island
Bjǫrgvin
Bergen
Bláfjǫll
blue mountains
Blanda
the mixed one (river of blended waters)
Bláskógaheiði
blue-woods heath
Bláskógar
blue woods
Bleiksmýrardalr
pale bog's valley
Blundsvatn
Blund-Ketill's lake
Blǫndudalr
Blanda river's valley
Blǫnduóss
mouth of the Blanda river (river of mixed/turbid waters)
Bollatóft
Bolli's ruined homestead site
Bólstaðarhlíð
farmstead's slope
Bolungarhǫfn
harbour of the young whale (uncertain first element)
Bolungarvellir
fields of the whale-calf(?) (bolungr uncertain)
Bolungarvǫllr
young whale's field
Borðeyri
board/plank gravel-spit
Borgardalr
fort valley
Borgarland
fort land
Borgarlœkr
fort stream
Brákarsund
Brák's sound
Brattabrekka
steep slope
Brattahlíð
steep slope
Breiðá
broad river
Breiðafjarðardalr
broad fjord's dales
Breiðasund
broad sound
Breiðavað
broad ford
Breiðfirðingafjórðungr
Broad-firthers' quarter
Brekkuland
slope land
Bretland
Britain, land of the Britons
Brettingsstaðir
Brettingr's steads
Brimar
Bremen
Brokey
sedge island
Brynjubrekka
byrnie's slope
Búastaðir
Búi's steads
Búðardalr
booth valley
Búðarhamar
booth crag
Búlandshǫfði
cattle-land headland
Búrfell
storehouse mountain
Byrða
burden (possibly related to Old Norse 'byrðr', a load)
Byrgisvík
enclosed bay
Byskupstunga
bishop's tongue (tongue of land)
Bægifótshǫfði
limp-foot's headland
Bægisá
hindrance river

D

Dalaheiðr
dales' heath
Dalalǫnd
valley lands
Dalsbœr
valley farm
Deildarhjalli
disputed ledge
Deildartunga
tongue of land shared in division
Desjarmýrr
haystack's bog
Digramúli
grey headland
Digranes
thick headland
Dímun
possibly "two peaks" (from an older *tví-hamun, "two humps")
Dímunarvágr
Dímun's (two-peaked island's) bay
Dinganes
assembly headland
Djúpá
deep river
Djúpadalr
deep dale
Djúpadalsá
deep valley's river
Djúpafjǫrðr
deep fjord
Dofrafjall
Dofri's mountain
Draflastaðir
curd steads
Drafnarnes
wave headland
Drangey
pillar/sea-stack island
Drápuhlíð
slaughter slope
Drepstokkr
killing-log
Dritsker
dung skerry
Dufgusdalr
Dufgus's valley
Dúfunesskeið
Dúfunes racecourse
Dumbsbakki
Dumbr's bank
Dungalsbœr
Duncansby, Caithness — Dungall's farm (Dungall from Irish Dúngal)
Dýrafjǫrðr
animal fjord
Dǫgurðará
breakfast river
Dǫgurðardalr
day-meal's dale
Dǫgurðarnes
day-meal headland
Dǫnustaðir
Dani's farmstead

E

Egilsskarð
Egill's mountain pass
Egilsstaðir
Egill's steads
Eiðaskógr
forest of the isthmuses
Eiðsjór
isthmus lake
Einarsnes
Einarr's headland
Einarsvarða
Einarr's cairn
Einbúabrekka
hermit's slope
Einbúanes
hermit's headland
Einhamarr
one crag
Einkunnir
markers/tokens (uncertain)
Eiríksey
Eiríkr's island
Eiríksfjǫrðr
Eiríkr's fjord
Eiríkshólmar
Eiríkr's islets
Eiríksstaðir
Eiríkr's steads
Ekkjufell
widow's fell
Eldgrímsholt
Eldgrímr's wood
Eldgrímsstaðir
Eldgrímr's farmstead
Elfaraskáld
poet of the Elfar district (region by the Gaut river)
Elliðaey
cargo-ship island
Elliði
a type of ship (perhaps 'the swift one')
En
Iceland
Engihlíð
meadow slope
Esjuberg
Esja's mountain/rock
Espihóll
aspen hill
Eyfirðingafjórðungr
Eyjafjörður-people's quarter
Eyjafjall
island mountains
Eyjafjarðará
Eyjafjörður river
Eyjafjarðardalr
valley of island fjord
Eyjar
islands
Eyjardalsá
island valley's river
Eyjarengi
island meadow
Eyjarvað
island ford
Eyrar
gravel banks/sandbanks
Eyrargilsá
gravel-bank ravine river
Eyrarmaðr
man from Eyrr (gravel bank/sandbar)
Eyrarskógr
gravel-bank wood
Eyrasund
Öresund, "gravel-bank sound"
Eyvindará
Eyvindr's river
Eyvindardalr
Eyvindr's valley
Eyvindarfjǫll
Eyvindr's mountains
Eyvindarfjǫrðr
Eyvindr's fjord
Eyvindarstaðir
Eyvindr's homesteads
Eyvindartorfa
Eyvindr's turf-patch

F

Fagrabrekkuland
fair slope's land
Fagraskógafjall
fair birchwood(s) mountain
Fagridalr
fair valley
Fagriskógar
fair woods
Fagriskógr
fair wood
Fangabrekka
wrestling slope
Fannardalr
snowdrift valley
Fáskrúðsbakki
bank of the (river) Fáskrúð, of uncertain meaning
Fibuli
unknown, likely a pre-Norse or obscure Norwegian fjord-name
Finnbogakambr
Finnbogi's ridge
Finnbogastaðir
Finnbogi's homestead
Finnbogasteinn
Finnbogi's stone
Finnland
land of the Finns
Finnmǫrk
land of the Sámi
Firðafylki
fjord district
Fiskilœkjarhverfi
fish brook district
Fiskilœkr
fish brook
Fitjar
marshy meadows
Fjarðafylki
fjord district
Fjarðarhorn
fjord's corner
Fjósatunga
cowshed tongue
Flatey
flat island
Flateyjardalr
valley of Flat Island
Flateyjardalsheiðr
heath of flat island valley
Flisuhverfi
splinter district
Fljótsdalsheiði
heath of the river valley
Fljótsheiði
river's heath
Fljótshlíð
river's slope
Fljótshverfi
river quarter
Fljótstunga
river tongue (tongue of land by the river)
Flókadalr
Flóki's valley
Flókadalsáróss
mouth of Flóki's valley river
Flyðrunes
flatfish headland
Flysjuhverfi
district of the stripped land
Flǫt
flat, level ground
Fnjóskadalr
rotten-wood valley; from fnjóskr 'rotten wood, tinder', after the river Fnjóská
Fornastaðir
old steads
Fornhagi
old pasture
Fornistaðir
old steads
Forsá
waterfall river
Forsdalr
waterfall valley
Freyfaxahamarr
Freyfaxi's crag
Friðarey
peace island
Friðmundará
Friðmundr's river
Frísland
Frisia, land of the Frisians
Fróðá
fertile river
Fróðárland
land of Fróðá (the 'wise/fertile river')
Fróðárós
mouth of the Fróðá (wise river)
Furðustrandir
wonder strands
Furðustrǫnd
wonder strands
Furusund
pine strait

G

Gaflfellsheiði
gable fell's heath
Galmarstrǫnd
shore of Galmar (uncertain first element)
Garðshorn
garth's corner
Garpsdalr
warrior's valley
Gáseyrr
goose sandbank
Gaular
uncertain, perhaps related to a river name meaning 'the roaring one'
Gautelfr
Gautar's river (the Göta river)
Gautsdalr
Gautr's valley
Geirdalsá
goat valley river
Geirolfseyrr
Geirólfr's gravel bank
Geirvǫr
spear landing-place (uncertain first element)
Geirþjófsfjǫrðr
Geirþjófr's fjord
Geitaskarð
goats' pass
Geitdalr
goat valley
Geitishamrar
Geiti's crags
Geitland
goat land
Geitlandsjǫkull
goat land's glacier
Gemlufallsheiði
heath of Gemlufall (old ewe's waterfall/slope)
Gervidalr
artificial valley (uncertain first element)
Giljá
gully river
Gilsá
ravine river
Gilsáreyri
gravel bank of the ravine river
Gilsfjǫrðr
gully fjord
Gjǫgr
narrow rocky channel/gully
Gjǫll
the loud one, resounding
Glaumbœjarland
land of the farm of merriment/din (glaumr 'noise, merriment' + bær 'farm' + land 'land')
Gleipnisvellir
Gleipnir's plains
Glerá
glass river
Glerárskógar
woods of Gler river (glass river)
Gljúfrá
ravine river
Glæsiskelda
Glæsir's spring
Gnúpafell
peaks' mountain
Gnúpsdalr
Gnúpr's valley
Gnúpufell
peak's fell
Gnúpufellsá
Gnúpufell's river
Gnúpuskarð
peak notches
Gnúpverjahreppr
district of the people of Gnúpr (peak)
Goddastaðir
Goddi's steads
Granaskeið
Grani's race-course
Granastaðir
Grani's steads
Grettisbúr
Grettir's storehouse
Grettisgeil
Grettir's ravine
Grettishaf
Grettir's lift
Grettisoddi
Grettir's point
Grettisþúfa
Grettir's hillock
Grikkland
Greece, land of the Greeks
Grímarsstaðir
Grímarr's steads
Grímolfsfit
Grímólfr's fit (grassy strip of land by water)
Grímolfslœkr
Grímólfr's brook
Grímolfsstaðir
Grímólfr's steads
Grímsá
Grímr's river
Grímsbyggð
Grímr's settlement
Grímsdalr
Grímr's valley
Grímsey
Grímr's island
Grímsholt
Grímr's wood
Grímsnes
Grímr's headland
Grímstunga
Grímr's tongue of land
Grímstungur
Grímr's tongues of land
Grindavík
gate/fence bay
Grísartunga
Gríss's tongue of land
Grjótteigr
stony strip of land
Grjótteigsá
stony meadow river
Grjótteigssel
shieling of stony meadow
Gruflunaust
boat-shed of Grufla (uncertain first element)
Grýtubakki
stony bank
Grœnlandsbyggð
Greenland's settlement
Grœnmór
green moor
Guðbrandsstaðir
Guðbrandr's steads
Guðlaugshǫfði
Guðlaugr's headland
Guðmundarey
Guðmundr's island
Guðmundarstaðir
Guðmundr's steads
Gufuárós
mouth of Gufuá (steam river)
Gufuáróss
mouth of steam river
Gufudalr
Gufi's valley
Gufufjǫrðr
Gufa's fjord
Gufunes
steam headland
Gufuskálar
steam huts
Gunnarsholt
Gunnarr's holt (small wood)
Gunnarsstaðir
Gunnarr's steads
Gunnlaugarstaðir
Gunnlaug's steads
Gǫnguskarðsóss
estuary of the walking gap
Gǫrtar
enclosed fields

H

Haffjarðará
ocean-fjord river
Hafgrímsfjǫrðr
Hafgrímr's fjord
Hafnarfjǫll
harbour mountains
Hafragil
he-goats' ravine
Hafraklettr
goat cliff
Hafratindr
goat peaks
Hafrsá
he-goat's river
Hafsfjarðarey
island of the sea-fjord
Háfslœkr
dip-net brook
Haganes
pasture headland
Hagbarðshǫfuð
Hagbarðr's head
Hálfdanartungur
Hálfdan's tongues of land
Halland
Halland, region name possibly meaning 'high land'
Hallbjarnarvǫrðum
Hallbjörn's cairns
Hallfreðargata
Hallfreðr's path
Hallfreðarstaðir
Hallfreðr's steads
Hallgeirsey
Hallgeir's island
Hallormsstaðir
Hallormr's farmsteads
Hallsteinsnes
Hallsteinn's headland
Hamarengi
crag meadow
Hámundarstaðir
Hámundr's steads
Hanakambr
cock's comb
Háramarsey
Haramsøy, island in Norway (first element of uncertain meaning)
Harraból
Harri's dwelling
Harrastaðir
Harri's farmsteads
Haugabrekkur
mound slopes
Haugasund
Haugesund, mound sound
Haugsgarðr
mound enclosure
Haugsnes
mound ness
Haukadalsá
hawk valley's river
Haukadalsárós
mouth of the Hawk-valley river
Hauksá
Haukr's river
Heggsstaðir
Heggr's steads
Hegranessþing
assembly of Hegranes (heron peninsula)
Heiðarhús
heath houses
Heinabergssandr
sandy plain by Heinaberg (whetstone rock)
Helgafell
holy mountain; home of Snorri goði
Helgafellsland
land of the holy mountain
Helgavatn
Helgi's lake
Heljardalsheiðr
heath of Hel's valley
Hellishólar
cave hills
Hellisvellir
cave plains
Hellugnúpsskarð
rock-peak's pass
Helluland
land of flat stones
Helsingaborg
Helsingborg, Sweden — fort of the Helsingar, a people-name possibly meaning 'strait-dwellers'
Helsingaland
land of the Helsingar (Hälsingland, Sweden)
Helsingjaborg
Helsingborg (Sweden), fort of the Helsingar (people-name of uncertain origin)
Heraðsdalr
district valley
Herðibreiðstunga
broad-shouldered tongue of land
Herðla
unclear; possibly related to 'herðr' (hard, shoulder-like ridge)
Herðluver
Herðla's fishing station
Herjólfsfjǫrðr
Herjólfr's fjord
Herjólfsnes
Herjólfr's headland
Hernar
Hernar, islands off western Norway near Bergen
Hestanes
horse headland
Hestavað
horse ford
Hestnes
horse headland
Híerúsalem
Jerusalem
Hildisey
Hildir's island
Hísing
opaque island name (perhaps 'the shining one' or from a root meaning inner/hidden)
Hitará
she-otter river
Hítardalr
valley of the Hít river ("bag" river)
Hitarnes
headland of the Hítá river
Hjallaland
land of the (rock) ledge
Hjaltadalr
Hjalti's valley
Hjaltland
Shetland
Hjarðarhagi
herd pasture
Hjarðarholtsland
land of herd wood
Hjarðarskarð
herd's gap
Hliðskjǫlf
gate's / slope's shelf (Óðinn's high seat)
Hnefilsdalr
Hnefill's valley
Hofgarðar
temple enclosures
Hofland
temple land
Hofsholmar
temple holms
Hofsland
temple land
Hofsstaðir
temple's steads
Hofstaðir
temple steads
Hofsvágr
temple bay
Hólar
hills
Hólmar
islets/holms
Hólmlátr
islet's seal-lair
Hólsmaðr
man/men from Hóll (hill/knoll)
Holtavǫrðuheiði
wooded-hill cairn heath
Holtavǫrðuheiðr
wooded-cairn heath
Hornafjǫrðr
horn fjord
Hrafnagil
raven's ravine
Hrafnagilslaug
hot spring/bathing pool of raven's gully
Hrafnista
raven island (second element unclear)
Hrafnkelsdalr
Hrafnkell's valley
Hrafnkelsstaðir
Hrafnkell's steads
Hrafnsfjǫrðr
raven's fjord
Hrafntóftir
raven's ruins (abandoned house sites)
Hrappsstaðir
Hrappr's farmstead
Hraundalr
lava valley
Hraunfjǫrðr
lava fjord
Hraunhafnarós
river mouth of lava harbour
Hraunhafnaróss
river mouth of lava harbour
Hraunsdalr
lava-field valley
Hringaríki
Ringerike, "ring kingdom"
Hripkelsstaðir
Hripkell's farmsteads
Hrísateigr
brushwood strip
Hrísbrú
brushwood bridge
Hríseyjarnarfi
Narfi of Brushwood-island
Hrólfsstaðir
Hrólfr's steads
Hrollaugsstaðir
Hrollaugr's steads
Hrolleifsdalr
Hrólfr's valley
Hrossageilar
horse gullies
Hrútafjarðará
river of ram fjord
Hrútafjarðarhals
ram fjord's ridge
Hrútsstaðir
Hrútr's homestead
Húfuhylr
cap pool
Humra
the Humber (a river in England, of unknown pre-Celtic origin)
Húnavatnsleið
Húnavatn's [bear cub/young whale lake] assembly district
Húnavatnsþing
assembly district of Húnavatn (bear cub/young bear lake)
Húsafell
houses' fell
Húsanes
houses' headland
Húsastaðir
houses stead
Hvalfjǫrðr
whale fjord
Hvalsey
whale island
Hvalshaushólmi
whale-skull islet
Hvalshaushólmr
whale-skull islet
Hválslœkr
Hváll's brook
Hvammsdalr
valley of the small round valley/hollow
Hvammsfjǫrðr
fjord of the small valley
Hvammsleið
path to the small valley
Hvammssveit
district of Hvammur (small valley)
Hvanndalir
angelica dales
Hvanneyrr
angelica gravel-bank
Hvarfsgnípa
turning-point peak
Hvatastaðir
Hvati's steads
Hvin
whistling place
Hvinisfjǫrðr
fjord of Hvin (first element obscure, perhaps a plant or 'whistling' name)
Hvítadalr
white valley
Hvítárvellir
plains of the white river
Hæringshlaup
Hæringr's leap
Hǫfðahverfi
headland district
Hǫfðamaðr
headland men
Hǫfn
harbour, haven
Hǫrðabólstaðr
Hörði's farmstead
Hǫrðabrekka
Hörðar's slope
Hǫrðadalr
valley of the Hǫrðar (Norwegian tribe)
Hǫrgárdalr
valley of the heathen-altar river
Hǫskuldsey
Höskuldr's island
Hǫskuldsstaðir
Hǫskuldr's homestead

I

Illugastaðir
Illugi's steads
Ingimundarhǫll
Ingimundr's hill
Ingjaldshváll
Ingjaldr's hill
Ingjaldssandr
Ingjaldr's sand
Ingólfsfell
Ingólfr's mountain
Ingólfsfjǫrðr
Ingólfr's fjord
Ingólfsholt
Ingólfr's hill
Ingólfshǫfði
Ingólfr's headland
Ingunnarstaðir
Ingunn's steads
Innstrǫndum
inner strands
Ísafjǫrðr
ice fjord
Íslandi
Iceland

J

Jamtaland
land of the Jamtir (Jämtland, Sweden)
Jarðlangsstaðir
Jarðlangr's steads
Jarlsnes
earl's headland
Járnsíðulœkr
iron-side brook
Jórunnarstaðir
Jórunn's steads
Jótland
Jutland, land of the Jutes
Jótlandssíða
side/coast of Jutland
Jǫkulsdalr
glacier's valley
Jǫrundarfjall
Jörundr's mountain

K

Kakalahóll
Kakali's hill
Kaldakinn
cold cheek
Kaldárdalr
cold river valley
Kaldbakskleif
cold back's cliff
Kaldbaksvík
cold back bay
Kálfá
calf river
Kálfanes
calf headland
Kalfshváll
calf's hill
Kalfsvaðseyrr
calf-ford's gravel bank
Kambgarðr
comb-yard
Kambsheiði
comb's heath
Kárhǫfði
Kár's headland
Karlsá
man's river
Karnsá
Kárn's river
Karnsnes
Kárn's headland
Katanes
Caithness, Scotland, from Old Norse 'headland of the cat-folk (Picts)'
Kaupangr
market town, trading place
Keldudalr
spring valley
Kelduness
spring headland
Kerseyri
tub's gravel-bank
Ketilseyri
Ketill's gravel spit
Ketilsfjǫrðr
Ketill's fjord
Kiðjaberg
kids' (young goats') rock
Kimbavágr
Kimbi's bay
Kirjálaland
land of the Karelians
Kjalarey
keel island
Kjalarnessþing
keel headland's assembly
Kjálkafjǫrðr
jawbone fjord
Kjallaksá
Kjallakr's river
Kjallaksstaðir
Kjallakr's farmsteads
Klaufabrekka
cleft slope
Klifshagi
cliff pasture
Knappstaðir
Knappr's steads
Knarrareyrr
cargo-ship's gravel bank
Knarrarnes
ship's headland
Knarrarsund
ship (knǫrr) sound
Knarrarvað
cargo ship's ford
Knjúkr
knoll, hillock
Knútusel
Knútr's shieling
Kolbeinsáróss
Kolbeinn's river mouth
Kolbeinsstaðir
Kolbeinn's farmstead
Kolbeinsvík
Kolbeinn's cove
Kolgrafafjǫrðr
coal-pit fjord
Kolkistustraumr
coal-chest's current
Kólkumýrar
Kólka's marshes
Kolsgjá
Kolr's gorge
Konungahella
Kungälv, Sweden, from Old Norse 'king's rock/skerry'
Kóranes
Kóri's headland
Korkalœkjarvárþing
spring assembly of Korkalækr (the 'kork-brook')
Krákunes
crow headland
Krákunesskógr
forest of crow headland
Króksdalr
Krókr's valley
Króksfjǫrðr
hook fjord
Kroppr
hump, lump (of land)
Krossanes
cross headland
Krossárdalr
cross river valley
Krosshólar
cross hills
Krossnes
cross headland
Krossnesi
cross headland
Krumshóll
Krumr's hill
Krumskelda
crooked bog
Kræklingahlíð
periwinkle slope
Krǫfluhellir
claw cave
Kunnjáttaborg
fortress of acknowledged consent (uncertain, possibly a corrupted or legendary name)
Kunnjáttr
Connacht (Ireland)
Kvenland
land of the Kvens
Kvíabekkr
pen brook
Kvígandafelli
heifer's fell

L

Lagarfljót
lake's river
Landsnes
land's headland
Langafit
long meadow
Langaholt
long hill
Langanes
long headland
Langárfors
waterfall of the long river
Langavatn
long lake
Langavatnsdalr
long lake's valley
Langholt
long wood
Laufás
leaf ridge
Laugaból
hot spring farmstead
Laugabœr
hot-spring farm
Laugaland
hot-spring land
Laugarbrekka
hot spring's slope
Laugarhús
hot spring houses
Laugavatnsdalr
hot-spring lake valley
Laxáróss
mouth of the salmon river
Laxfit
salmon meadow
Leiðholmr
way islet
Leiðolfsstaðir
Leiðólfr's steads
Leifsbúðir
Leifr's booths
Leikskálavellir
play-shed fields
Leirulœkr
clay brook
Leiruvágar
muddy bays
Leka
uncertain, possibly related to 'leaking' or a sloping shape
Leysingjastaðir
freedman's steads
Líðandisnes
passing headland
Lifangr
Levanger
Limafjǫrðr
Limfjord, Denmark
Limgarðssíða
branch-fence coast
Ljá
uncertain; possibly related to a word for scythe
Ljáeyrr
gravel bank by the river Ljá
Ljárskógar
scythe woods
Ljósavatnsskarð
pass of Ljósavatn (light lake)
Ljósvetningaleið
path of the people of Ljósavatn (light-waters)
Ljótárdalr
valley of the Ljótá (ugly river)
Lokhellar
closed caves
Lokhellur
lid stones
Lónsheiðr
lagoon heath
Lundarbrekka
grove slope
Lygra
perhaps related to 'calm, still' (uncertain)
Lyngdalsheiðr
heather valley heath
Lýsufjǫrðr
glow/light fjord
Lœkjamót
confluence of streams
Lœkjarbugr
brook bend
Lœkjarskógr
brook wood
Lǫgberg
law rock

M

Manarbygð
Man's settlement
Marbœli
sea dwelling
Markarfljót
woodland's river
Márskelda
horse's bog-spring
Mávahlíð
gulls' slope
Meðaldalr
middle valley
Melkorkustaðir
Melkorka's steads
Melrakkahólsbardagi
arctic fox hill's battle
Melsland
gravel-bank's land
Merkiá
boundary river
Miðá
middle river
Miðárdalr
middle river valley
Miðdalir
middle dales
Miðfitjar
middle marsh-meadows
Miðfjarðarey
mid-fjord's island
Miðfjarðarós
middle fjord's mouth
Miðfjarðarvatn
midfjord lake
Miðjǫkull
mid glacier
Miklabœr
great farm
Minþakseyri
gravel spit of unclear 'Minþak'
Mjófanes
narrow headland
Mjóla
the narrow one
Mjósyndi
narrow sound
Mjóvanes
narrow headland
Móeiðarhváll
Móeiðr's hill
Mógilslœkr
peat-bog gully stream
Mosdalr
moss valley
Mósey
Mousa (island off Shetland), from Norse 'moss island'
Móseyjarborg
fort of mossy island
Mosfell hitt øfra
moss mountain
Mostr
unclear, name of an island off Norway (possibly related to 'gathering' or 'moot')
Mosvellir
moss plains
Múlaþing
headland assembly-district
Múli
muzzle, jutting crag
Munúðarnes
desire headland
Mýnes
gnat headland
Mýrœfi
Moray (region in Scotland)
Mývatnshverfi
midge lake district
Mœri
Møre
Mǫðrudalr
valley of the maðra (bedstraw) plant or river
Mǫðrudalsheiði
heath of Möðrudalur (valley of the obscure element 'móðr')
Mǫðrufell
bedstraw fell
Mǫrn
name of a mythical river, of unknown meaning
Mǫrtunga
moor tongue (spit of land by a moor)

N

Naumdœlafylki
Naumdalir people's district
Naumudalr
Namdalen, valley of the Naumu river
Naustanes
boathouse ness
Naustdalr
boathouse valley
Nautabú
cattle farm
Nefstaðir
nose's steads
Nes
headland
Nesland
ness land
Nið
Nið, river name (possibly related to 'waning moon' or 'dark')
Njarðvík
Njǫrðr's bay
Norðimbraland
Northumbria, from Old English 'land of the people north of the Humber'
Norðlendingadómr
court of the Northerners
Norðlendingafjórðungr
quarter of the northerners
Norðmandí
Normandy, from 'land of the Northmen'
Norðmœri
northern border-land
Norðrfjǫrðr
north fjord
Norðrsel
north shieling
Norðrtunga
north tongue (of land)
Norvegr
Norway

O

Oddaeyrr
point sandbar/gravel-spit
Oddbjarnarleið
Oddbjǫrn's path
Oddeyri
point's gravel bank
Oddmarslœkr
Oddmarr's brook
Oddsstaðir
Oddr's steads
Ófeigsfjǫrðr
Ófeigr's fjord
Ófeigsfors
Ófeigr's waterfall
Ófeigsstaðir
Ófeigr's steads
Óláfsey
Óláfr's islands
Óláfsfjǫrðr
Óláfr's fjord
Ormarsstaðir
Ormarr's steads
Ormsá
worm's river
Ormsstaðir
Ormr's steads
Orrahváll
black grouse's hill
Orrastaðir
Orri's steads (Orri, 'black grouse', as a nickname)
Orrustudalr
battle valley
Orrustuholmr
battle islet
Orrustuhváll
battle hill
Ósland
river-mouth land
Óslóarfjǫrðr
Oslo fjord
Ostrarfjǫrðr
fjord of the island Ostr
Óttarsstaðir
Óttarr's steads
Oxamýri
oxen's marsh
Oxamýrr
oxen marsh

P

Páfagarðr
pope's court

R

Rafalar
a place in the eastern Baltic (identification uncertain, possibly Estonia); no known meaning
Ránarvellir
Rán's fields
Rangárhverfi
crooked river's district
Rangárleið
road along the Rangá (crooked river)
Rangárvǫllr
crooked river's plains
Rangæingabúð
Rangæingar's booth
Rangæingafjórðungr
Rangá-people's quarter
Rauðamelr
red gravel-bank
Rauðavíkrhǫfði
red bay's headland
Rauðilœkr
red brook
Rauðsgil
Rauðr's ravine
Raufarnes
rift headland
Raumsdalr
valley of the Raumar (a people name)
Refsstaðir
Refr's steads
Reyðarfell
trout mountain
Reyðarmúli
trout headland
Reykjadalsáróss
mouth of the river of smoke valley
Reykjaheiði
smoky heath
Reykjahlíð
smoke slope
Reykjahverfi
smoke district
Reykjarfjǫrðr
smoke fjord
Reykjarhamarr
smoke crag
Reykjarvík
smoky bay
Reykjasel
shieling of the steams (smokes)
Reykjaskarð
smoky mountain pass
Reykjastrǫnd
smoke shore
Reykjavellir
smoky fields
Reynisnes
rowan tree headland
Rifsker
reef skerry
Rogaland
land of the Rygir (uncertain, perhaps 'restless/current' people)
Ros
Ross (Scotland), from Gaelic 'ros', headland

S

Salteyrarós
mouth of the salt gravel-spit
Saltíri
Kintyre, from Gaelic 'headland'
Saltnes
salt headland
Sámsstaðir
Sámr's steads
Sandaleið
sands' path
Sandaós
sands' river mouth
Sandaóss
sands' river mouth
Sandey
sand island
Sandhaugar
sand hills
Sandhaugr
sand mounds
Sandhólaferja
sand-hills' ferry
also: sand-hill ferry
Sandnes
sand headland
Sarpr
crop, maw (of a bird)
Sarpsborg
Sarpsborg, Norway, 'fort by the rapids'
Sauðadalr
sheep valley
Sauðafell
sheep mountain
Sauðafellsland
lands of Sheep Fell
Sauðarfjǫrðr
sheep fjord
Sauðey
sheep island
Saurar
muddy grounds
Saxa
short sword (sax)
Selalón
seal lagoon
Seljabrekkur
shieling slopes
Seljadalr
valley of the shielings
Seljafjǫrðr
shielings fjord
Seljahǫfði
shieling headland
Síða
the side
Síðumúli
long slope's mule (headland)
Siglunes
mast headland
Sigluvík
mast bay
Sigmundarnes
Sigmundr's headland
Silfrastaðir
silver steads
Síreksstaðir
Sírekr's steads
Skaftafell
shaft mountain
Skaftafellsþing
assembly of Skaftafell (crag's fell)
Skagastrǫnd
headland's strand
Skálahollt
hall's wood
Skálavík
hut bay
Skáldsstaðir
poet's steads
Skalmarfjǫrðr
sword fjord
Skalmarnes
Skálm's headland
Skáney
scum/crust island
Skáneyjarfjall
mountain of Skáney (‘crust/scale island’)
Skaptaholt
Skapti's wood
Skarar
Skara, a town in Sweden (etymology uncertain, perhaps 'edge' or 'ridge')
Skarðaborg
Scarborough, from 'fort by the cliff cleft'
Skarðsheiðr
pass heath
Skarfsstaðir
cormorant's steads
Skeggjastaðir
Skeggi's steads
Skeiðsbrekkur
racecourse slopes
Skjaldarey
shield island
Skjaldbreiðr
shield-broad, i.e. broad as a shield
Skjalfandafljót
river of the trembling one (Skjálfandi)
Skjalfandi
the shaking/trembling one
Skógarstrǫnd
forest shore
Skógastrǫnd
forest shore
Skorey
notched island
Skorradalr
notch valley
Skorraey
Skorri's island
Skotlandsfirðir
fjords of Scotland
Skrámuhlaupsá
Skráma's-leap river
Skrattavarði
demon's cairn
Skraumuhlaupsá
river of Skrauma's leap
Skriðinsenni
landslide's headland
Skriðnisenni
landslide's brow
Skriðudalsá
river of the landslide valley
Skutiley
Skutill's islands
Skutilsfjǫrðr
serving-tray fjord (skutill = trencher/harpoon, sense unclear)
Skǫfnungsey
Skǫfnungr's island
Sleðaás
sledge ridge
Sleggjufall
sledgehammer's fall
Sleggjustaðir
Sleggja's farmsteads
Sléttahlíð
smooth slope
Slysfjǫrðr
accident fjord
Smiðsstaðir
smith's steads
Smjǫrvatnsheiðr
butter lake heath
Snotrunes
wise woman's headland
Snæfellsjǫkull
snow mountain's glacier
Snæfellsnes
snow mountain's peninsula
Snæfellsstrǫnd
shore of snow mountain
Sogn
Sogn (a district in Norway, name of uncertain origin)
Sognsjór
Sogn sea (Sognefjord)
Sóknadalr
attack valley
Sólheimar
sun homes
Sóli
possibly related to 'súla' (pillar) or 'sól' (sun)
Sólskel
sun shell
Sólund
unclear origin, possibly related to 'sól' (sun)
Sópandaskarð
sweeping gap/pass
Sótanes
Sóti's headland
Spágilsstaðir
Spá-Gils's steads
Spákonufell
prophetess's fell
Spjótsmýrr
spear bog
Staðarhóll
homestead hill
Stafá
staff river
Stafaholt
staves' hill
Stafey
staff island
Stafholt
staff wood
Stafholtstungur
tongues (land between rivers) of Stafholt (staff/pillar homestead)
Stakkagil
stack ravine
Stakksmýrr
stack bog
Stangarholt
pole wood
Steingrímsfirði
Steingrímr's fjord
Steingrímsfjǫrðr
Steingrímr's fjord
Steinker
Steinkjer
Steinrøðarstaðir
Steinrøðr's steads
Steinsholt
stone's holt (small wood)
Steinsstaðir
Steinn's steads
Steinsvað
stone ford
Stífla
dam, weir
Stígandahróf
Stígandi's boat-shed
Stika
stick, stake
Stokkahlaða
log barn
Stokkanes
log(s)/beam(s) headland
Stokkar
logs, beams
Storð
shore, coast
Stórolfsvǫllr
Stórolfr's field
Strandaflói
shores' bay
Straumey
current island
Suðrstrǫnd
south coast
Súgandafjǫrðr
Súgandi's fjord (Súgandi meaning 'the whistling one')
Sunnudalir
Sunday valleys
Sunnudalr
south valley
Sunnudalseyrar
Sunday valley's gravel banks
Sunnudalsmynni
mouth of Sunday valley
Sunnudalsþing
assembly of Sunnudal (sunny valley)
Súrnadalr
Súrna river's valley
Svalbarð
cool bank
Svanshól
swan's hill
Svarfaðardalr
disturber's valley
Svarfaðardalsá
river of Svarfaðr's dale (Svarfaðr perhaps meaning 'disturber')
Svarfaðardalsáróss
Svarfaðardal river's mouth
Svartsfellsmýrar
marshes of Svartr's mountain (or 'black mountain')
Sveinungsvík
Sveinungr's bay
Svelgsá
whirlpool river
Svelgsárdalr
whirlpool river's valley
Sverðskelda
sword bog
Svíaveldi
realm of the Swedes
Sviðningr
burnt clearing, from 'svíða' (to singe)
Svignaskarð
bending pass
Svínafell
pig mountain
Svínanes
pig headland
Svínavatn
pig lake
Svǫlustaðir
Svala's steads (possibly 'swallow' or 'cool/chill')
Syðrilǫnd
Sutherland, from Old Norse 'southern land'
Sygnafylki
district of the people of Sogn
Sylgsdalir
valleys of the (river) Sylgr
Sælingsdalr
valley of the fortunate one
Sælingsdalsá
river of the blessed/happy valley
Sælingsdalsheiðr
heath of the valley of contentment (sælingr, from sæll 'happy')
Sælingsdalslaug
hot spring of Sælingsdalr ("valley of seals/happiness", first element uncertain)
Sælingsdalstunga
tongue of land in Sælingsdalr (valley of the resting sheep/hut valley)
Sǫkkolfsdalr
Sökkólfr's valley
Sǫlvadalr
Sölvi's valley
Sǫxu
short sword

T

Tálknafirði
gill fjord
Titlingsstaðir
sparrow's steads
Tíundaland
tenth land (a tithing district)
Tjǫrnes
pond headland
Tóftavǫllr
ruin/homestead-site field
Tóptavǫllr
field of house-ruins
Torfastaðir
Torfi's farmsteads
Torfufell
turf mountain
Torgar
uncertain, name of a Norwegian island (perhaps containing a pre-Norse or unclear element)
Traðir
cattle paths (lanes between fenced fields)
Tréfótshaugr
Tréfótr's ('Wood-foot's) mound
Trékyllir
tree pouch
Trékyllisvík
wooden-pouch bay
Trollaskeið
trolls' racecourse
Trǫllaháls
trolls' ridge
Túnberg
Tønsberg, Norway, perhaps 'enclosure hill'
Tunguland
tongue-of-land land
Tvídœgra
two days' journey

U

Úlfarsfell
Úlfarr's fell
Úlfarsfellsháls
Úlfarr's fell's ridge
Úlfsdalir
wolf's dales
Ulfsdalr
wolf's valley
Unadalr
Uni's valley
Unaósi
Uni's river-mouth
Undirskáli
under-hall
Undunfell
Undun's mountain
Upsir
eaves, ledges
also: eaves, overhanging rock
Urðarvatn
scree/rockslide lake
Urðskriðuhólar
scree-slide hills
Útdalir
outer valleys
Útsteinn
Utstein, Norway, literally 'out stone'

V

Vaðsteinaberg
ford-stones cliff
Vaglar
perch
Válafall
Váli's fall
Valagilsá
falcon ravine river
Válastaðir
Váli's steads
Valdres
Valdres, a district in eastern Norway
Vallalaug
plains' pool
Valland
France, land of the Gauls
Vallanes
field ness
Valseyrarþing
assembly at Val's sandbank
Varmalœkr
warm brook
Vatnafjǫrðr
fjord of lakes
Vatnahverfi
lakes' district
Vatnsdalsá
lake valley's river
Vatnsfirðingabúð
booth of the men of Vatnsfjǫrðr (lake fjord)
Vatnsfjarðardalr
lake fjord's valley
Vatnsháls
lake ridge
Vatnshálshǫfði
water neck's headland
Vatnshlíð
lake's slope
Vatnsskarð
lake pass
Vébjǫrg
Viborg (Denmark), from Old Norse 'sanctuary hill'
Vefsnir
unknown, name of a Norwegian district (Vefsn)
Veiðilaus
without catch (fishless)
Veiðileysa
lack of game/fish
Vellankatla
boiling kettle
Vermaland
Värmland, land of the Vermar people
Vestfjǫrðr
west fjords
Vestfjǫrðu
west fjords
Vestir
western (one)
Vestmannaeyjar
islands of the west men (Irishmen)
Vestrdalsá
west valley river
Vestrfold
Vestfold (western land)
Víðines
willow headland
Víðivellir
willow fields
Viðvík
wood bay
Vífilsdalr
Vífill's valley
Vigrafjǫrðr
spear fjord
Vík
bay (Vík, the Oslofjord region of Norway)
Vikrarskeið
pumice-stone stretch (of shore)
Víkveri
person from Vík (the Oslofjord region)
Vína
the Dvina river (a river name of uncertain origin, sometimes linked to 'wine')
Vindheimr
windy home
Vínheiðr
meadow heath
Vínuskógr
forest of the Vín (river)
Vitar
beacons/cairns (markers)
Vitazgjafi
certain giver
Vǫðlaheiðr
heath of the fords
Vǫrl
unclear meaning, possibly related to 'vör' (landing place)
Vǫrs
Voss, a district in Norway

Y

Ylfi
uncertain, possibly related to 'she-wolf'
Yrjar
unclear, possibly related to gravel or mud (aurr)

Þ

Þambardalr
valley of the paunch (þǫmbr, 'paunch' or a nickname)
Þingeyrar
assembly's sandbanks
Þingeyrasveit
assembly-mounds district
Þinghǫfði
assembly headland
Þingskálanes
assembly-booth headland
Þingskálar
assembly booths
Þistilsfjǫrðr
thistle fjord
Þjófadalr
thieves' valley
Þjórsárdalr
bull river's valley
Þjótta
the roaring one
Þorbeinisstaðir
Þorbeinir's homestead
Þorbrandsstaðir
Þorbrandr's homestead
Þórdísarholt
Þórdís's wood
Þórdísarstaðir
Þórdís's steads
Þóreyjargnúpr
Þórey's peak
Þorgautsstaðir
Þorgautr's steads
Þorgeirsfell
Þorgeirr's mountain
Þorgeirsfjǫrðr
Þorgeirr's fjord
Þorgerðarstaðir
Þorgerðr's steads
Þorgilsstaðir
Þorgils's farmstead
Þórisdalr
Þórir's valley
Þóroddsstaðir
Þóroddr's farmstead
Þórólfsfell
Þórólfr's mountain
Þórormstunga
Þórormr's tongue of land
Þórsá
Þórr's river
Þórsárdalr
Þórsá river's valley (Þórr's river valley)
Þórshof
Thor's temple
Þorskafjarðarheiði
cod fjord heath
Þorskafjarðarþing
cod fjord's assembly
Þrándarholt
Þrándr's holt (small wood)
Þrándarstaðir
Þrándr's steads
Þriðjungavað
third-part ford
Þrælaskriða
slaves' landslide
Þrælastraumr
thralls' current
Þrælavík
thralls' bay
Þváttá
washing river
Þverárland
land of cross river
Þykkvaskógr
thick wood

Æ

Æðasteinn
eider stone
Ærlækr
ewe brook
Æsundir
strait(s), first element unclear
Æsustaðir
Æsa's farmsteads
Ættartangi
family point (tongue of land)

Ö

Ǫgvaldsnes
Ǫgvaldr's headland
Ǫlduhryggr
wave ridge
Ǫ́lfossá
ale-falls river
Ǫlfossvatn
Ölfoss lake
Ǫlfus
unclear, possibly related to a river name
Ǫlfysingabúð
booth of the men of Ölfus
Ǫlvaldsstaðir
Ǫlvaldr's steads
Ǫngulsá
Ǫngull's river
Ǫngulsey
Anglesey, from Old Norse 'hook island'
Ǫngulsstaðir
Ǫngull's homestead
Ørlygsstaðir
Örlygr's steads
Ǫxarárhólmr
islet of Axe River (axe river's islet)
Øxarheiði
axe heath
Öxnabrekkur
oxen slopes
Øxnafell
oxen's mountain
Øxnagróf
oxen pit