Profile Text
Place of Birth: Reykjavik, Iceland
Date of Birth: 26 January, 1970
Ethnicity: Icelandic
Bjarni Benediktsson is an Icelandic politician. He has served as Prime Minister of Iceland, from 11 January, 2017 to 30 November, 2017, and again, from 9 April, 2024 to 21 December, 2024. He has also been Leader of the Independence Party, from 29 March, 2009 to 2 March, 2025, Minister for Finance and Economic Affairs, from 23 May, 2013 to 11 January, 2017, and again, from 30 November, 2017 to 14 October, 2023; and Minister for Foreign Affairs, from 14 October, 2023 to 9 April, 2024; as well as, a Member of the Althing for Southwest, from 10 May, 2003 to 6 January, 2025. He is also known as Bjarni Ben.
Bjarni is the son of Guðríður Jónsdóttir and Benedikt Sveinsson. 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