Bjarni Benediktsson

Place of Birth: Reykjavik, Iceland

Date of Birth: 26 January, 1970

Ethnicity: Icelandic

Bjarni Benediktsson is an Icelandic politician. He served as Prime Minister of Iceland, from 11 January, 2017 to 30 November, 2017, and has been Minister for Foreign Affairs, since 11 October, 2023. He has also been Leader of the Independence Party, since 29 March, 2009, and Minister for Finance and Economic Affairs, from 23 May, 2013 to 11 January, 2017, and again, from 30 November, 2017 to 11 October, 2023. He is also known as Bjarni Ben.

He is the son of Benedikt Sveinsson and Guðríður Jónsdóttir. He is married to Þóra Margrét Baldvinsdóttir, with whom he has four children.

Bjarni’s patrilineal ancestry can be traced back to his fifth great-grandfather, Páll Magnússon.

Bjarni’s paternal grandfather was Sveinn Benediktsson (the son of Benedikt Sveinsson and Guðrún Pétursdóttir). Bjarni’s great-grandfather Benedikt was the son of Sveinn “Víkingur” Magnússon and Kristjana Guðný Sigurðardóttir. Guðrún was the daughter of Pétur Kristinsson and Ragnhildur Ólafsdóttir.

Bjarni’s paternal grandmother was Helga Ingimundardóttir (the daughter of Ingimundur Benediktsson and Ingveldur Einarsdóttir). Bjarni’s great-grandfather Ingimundur was the son of Benedikt Diðriksson and Kristín Þórðardóttir. Ingveldur was the daughter of Einar Gestsson and Steinunn Vigfúsdóttir Thorarensen.

Bjarni’s maternal grandfather was Jón Gunnarsson (the son of Gunnar Jónsson and Guðríður Einarsdóttir). Bjarni’s great-grandfather Gunnar was the son of Jón Gunnarsson and Guðbjörg Klemensdóttir. Bjarni’s great-grandmother Guðríður was the daughter of Einar Andrésson and Margrét Guðmundsdóttir.

Bjarni’s maternal grandmother was Hólmfríður Sigurlína Björnsdóttir (the daughter of Björn Ólafur Jónsson and Guðríður Hjaltadóttir). Bjarni’s great-grandfather Björn was the son of Jón Ólafsson and Sófía Jónsdóttir. Bjarni’s great-grandmother Guðríður was the daughter of Hjalti Sigurðsson and Guðlaug Guðvarðardóttir.

Bjarni’s matrilineal ancestry can be traced back to his fourth great-grandmother, Guðrún Pétursdóttir.

Sources: Althingi profile of Bjarni Benediktsson – http://www.althingi.is

Genealogy of Bjarni Benediktsson (focusing on his father’s side) – https://www.geni.com

Obituary of Bjarni’s paternal grandmother, Helga Ingimundardóttir – http://www.mbl.is

Bjarni’s maternal grandfather, Jón Gunnarsson, on the 1910 Icelandic census – http://manntal.is

Baptismal record of Bjarni’s maternal great-grandfather, Gunnar Jónsson – https://familysearch.org

Baptismal record of Bjarni’s maternal great-grandmother, Guðríður Einarsdóttir – https://familysearch.org

Obituary of Bjarni’s maternal grandmother, Hólmfríður Sigurlína Björnsdóttir – http://www.mbl.is

Baptismal record of Bjarni’s maternal great-grandfather, Björn Ólafur Jónsson – https://familysearch.org

Bjarni’s maternal great-grandmother, Guðríður Hjaltadóttir, on the 1870 Icelandic census – http://manntal.is