Origin of the name "Iceland".

The etymology of the word "Iceland" can be traced back to Old Norse, the language spoken by the early Scandinavian settlers who arrived on the island in the 9th century. The name "Iceland" itself is a compound word in Old Norse, consisting of two parts: "íss" and "land."

The first part, "íss," means "ice" in Old Norse. This reflects the presence of glaciers and ice formations that the early settlers would have encountered when they arrived on the island. The second part, "land," simply means "land" or "country." So, "Ísland" in Old Norse literally translates to "Land of Ice."

It is believed that the name "Ísland" was given to the island by the early Norse explorer and settler, Hrafna-Flóki Vilgerðarson. According to the Icelandic sagas, Flóki gave the island this name after he encountered extensive sea ice during his exploratory voyage. The name eventually stuck and became the official name of the island.