This is a list of famous or important

Faroese people Faroese people or Faroe Islanders ( fo, føroyingar; da, færinger) are a North Germanic peoples, North Germanic ethnic group and nation Ethnic groups in Europe, native to the Faroe Islands. The Faroese are of Norse–Gaels, mixed Norsemen, Nors ...

. In a small island-society of fewer than 50,000 inhabitants, each person can gain certain meaning for the entire nation. The people listed below, are among those who played or play a distinct role in Faroese culture, politics and history. Many of them are renowned outside the

Faroes The Faroe Islands ( ), or simply the Faroes ( fo, Føroyar ; da, Færøerne ), are a North Atlantic island group and an autonomous territory of the Kingdom of Denmark. They are located north-northwest of Scotland, and about halfway betw ...

, especially in Denmark and other Nordic countries.

Artists

Authors and poets

Heðin Brú Heðin Brú (pronounced ; August 17, 1901, Skálavík – May 18, 1987, Tórshavn) was the pen-name of Hans Jacob Jacobsen, a Faroese novelist and translator. Heðin Brú is considered to be the most important Faroese writer of his generat ...

* Marianna Debes Dahl * Joen Danielsen * Hans Andrias Djurhuus *

Janus Djurhuus Jens Hendrik Oliver Djurhuus, called Janus Djurhuus, (26 February 1881, Tórshavn – 1 September 1948, Tórshavn) was the first modern Faroese poet. He and his younger brother Hans Andreas Djurhuus, also a poet, are called the ''Áarstova'' ...

* Jens Christian Djurhuus * Bergtóra Hanusardóttir * Jens Pauli Heinesen * William Heinesen (also a painter, graphical artist and musician) * Guðrið Helmsdal * Rakel Helmsdal *

Regin Dahl Regin Dahl (5 November 1918 – 29 March 2007) was a Faroese author and composer. Biography Dahl came from a literary family; his father being the translator and provost Jákup Dahl. His own poetry has been described as more modernistic than t ...

* Jógvan Isaksen *

Jørgen-Frantz Jacobsen Jørgen-Frantz Jacobsen (November 29, 1900 – March 24, 1938) was a Faroese writer. He has a distinct place in Scandinavian literature, as he is the only Faroese writer to achieve international best-seller status. This status derives ...

* Steinbjørn B. Jacobsen * Poul F. Joensen * Oddvør Johansen * Hanus Kamban * Sissal Kampmann * Marjun Syderbø Kjelnæs *

Jóanes Nielsen Jóanes Nielsen (born April 5, 1953 in Tórshavn) is a Faroese author and poet of the 1980s generation. Nielsen has written short stories, plays and novels. He has published seven collections of poetry, and was nominated for the Nordic Council's L ...

Rói Patursson Rói Reynagarð Patursson (born 21 September 1947) is a Faroese writer and philosopher. He was also the director of the Folk High School of the Faroes. He was born in Tórshavn, Faroe Islands. After attending the St. Frans School in Tórshavn an ...

(also a philosopher) * Kristian Osvald Viderø (also a clergyman)

Cinema and theatre artists and film people

Jacob Haugaard Daniel Jacob Haugaard (born 12 May 1952) is a Danish-Faroese comedian, actor, musician, composer, writer, TV host and former representative in the Danish Parliament. Activities Jacob Haugaard has been a well-known performer in Denmark for man ...

actor An actor or actress is a person who portrays a character in a performance. The actor performs "in the flesh" in the traditional medium of the theatre or in modern media such as film, radio, and television. The analogous Greek term is (), li ...

, comedian,

politician A politician is a person active in party politics, or a person holding or seeking an elected office in government. Politicians propose, support, reject and create laws that govern the land and by an extension of its people. Broadly speaking ...

, member of the

Danish Parliament The Folketing ( da, Folketinget, ; ), also known as the Parliament of Denmark or the Danish Parliament in English, is the unicameral national legislature (parliament) of the Kingdom of Denmark—Denmark proper together with the Faroe Islands an ...

* Heiðrikur á Heygum, filmmaker, musician and artist * Olaf Johannessen, stage and film actor *

Katrin Ottarsdóttir Katrin Ottarsdóttir (born 1957) is a Faroese movie director and author. Biography Katrin Ottarsdóttir was born in Tórshavn. While growing up in the Faroes, she did not have television available to her, but enjoyed cinema. She went to Denmark ...

, director *

Helena Patursson Súsanna Helena Patursson (27 August 1864 in Kirkjubøur – 15 December 1916 in Kirkjubøur) was a Faroese actress and writer, and the first political feminist in the country, particularly stressing the need for all Faroe Islanders to be able ...

, actress, feminist, and writer *

Sakaris Stórá Sakaris Stórá (born 28 July 1986 in Skopun) is a Faroese film director and screenwriter. In December 2012 he won the first public Faroese film award, Geytin. Biography Sakaris Stórá was born and grew up in the small village of Skopun on the ...

, film director * Hans Tórgarð, actor, stage director and playwright

Fashion

* Liffa Gregoriussen (1904–1992), fashion designer and feminist

Musicians

* Peter Alberg, composer of the Faeroese Anthem * Lena Anderssen, singer-songwriter and guitarist *

Greta Svabo Bech Greta Svabo Bech (born in Tórshavn) is a Faroese singer-songwriter. She first became known for her work with Canadian producer Deadmau5, when "Raise Your Weapon" was nominated for Best Dance Record at the 2011 Grammy Awards54th Annual Grammy Aw ...

, singer, provided the vocals for

deadmau5 Joel Thomas Zimmerman (born January 5, 1981), known professionally as Deadmau5 (stylized as deadmau5; pronounced "dead-mouse"), is a Canadian electronic music producer and DJ. He mainly produces progressive house music, though he also produce ...

's track "

Raise Your Weapon "Raise Your Weapon" is a song by Canadian electronic music producer Deadmau5 featuring vocals from Faroese singer Greta Svabo Bech. It was released on May 23, 2011 as the fifth and final single from his fifth studio album ''4×4=12''. The song w ...

" *

Aura Dione Maria Louise Joensen (born 21 January 1985), known as Aura Dione, is a Danish singer and songwriter. In 2008 she released her debut album, '' Columbine''. The album spawned the hit single " I Will Love You Monday (365)", which reached number one i ...

, pop singer songwriter *

Kristian Blak Kristian Blak (born 31 March 1947), originally from Fredericia, Denmark, lives in the Faroe Islands where he is a composer, musician, and record executive. He is the founder of the Nordic musical ensemble Yggdrasil (named after the World tree ...

, composer and musician * Tróndur Bogason, composer and musician *

Boys in a Band Boys in a Band are an indie rock band from the Faroe Islands. Formed in 2006 in Gøta, the group comprises vocalist/guitarist Pætur Zachariasson, guitarist Heini, bassist Símun Sakaris, drummer The Rógvi, and Heri Schwartz on hammond organ ...

indie rock Indie rock is a subgenre of rock music that originated in the United States, United Kingdom and New Zealand from the 1970s to the 1980s. Originally used to describe independent record labels, the term became associated with the music they produc ...

band from Eysturoy,

Faroe Islands The Faroe Islands ( ), or simply the Faroes ( fo, Føroyar ; da, Færøerne ), are a North Atlantic island group and an autonomous territory of the Kingdom of Denmark. They are located north-northwest of Scotland, and about halfway bet ...

; won 1st place in Global Battle of the Bands * Rúni Brattaberg, opera singer * The Dreams, Faroese punk/rock/pop band from

Tórshavn Tórshavn (; lit. "Thor's harbour"), usually locally referred to as simply ''Havn'', is the capital and largest city of the Faroe Islands. It is located in the southern part on the east coast of Streymoy. To the northwest of the city lies the ...

; singer of the band is Hans Edward Andreassen * Brandur Enni, singer-songwriter, composer and musician *

Bárður Háberg Bárður Háberg (born 1979; also spelled Bardur Haberg) is a Faroese songwriter, producer and multi-instrumentalist. He is one of two owners of the songwriting/production company Baroli Music. Together they write and produce songs for singers from ...

, musician, songwriter and composer, composes music for pop singers from Japan, Holland, Korea * Guðrið Hansdóttir, singer-songwriter, composer and musician * Jens Marni Hansen, singer-songwriter, rock singer and guitar player, participated in the

Dansk Melodi Grand Prix Dansk Melodi Grand Prix (), also known as Melodi Grand Prix or simply DMGP, is an annual music competition organised by the Danish public broadcaster Danmarks Radio (DR) since 1957, which determines the for the Eurovision Song Contest. The fes ...

2010 *

Jógvan Hansen Jógvan Hansen (born 28 December 1978 in Klaksvík, Faroe Islands) is a Faroese singer, musician (violinist and guitar player) and actor who won the first ever Icelandic version of ''The X Factor'' in 2007 with 70% of the popular vote. His album '' ...

, singer and guitarist, participated in the Icelandic Eurovision Song Contest * Heiðrikur á Heygum, filmmaker, musician and artist *

Óli Jógvansson Óli Jógvansson (in English often spelled Oli Jogvansson), born 1969) is a Faroese songwriter/composer. He is the co-owner of Baroli Music, which he and Bardur Haberg founded in 2006. Jógvansson was born in Tórshavn. He and his partner have be ...

, musician, songwriter, composer and producer *

Jóannes Lamhauge Jóannes Lamhauge (born 25 December 1985) has designed a range of Faroese postage stamp A postage stamp is a small piece of paper issued by a post office, postal administration, or other authorized vendors to customers who pay postage (the ...

, singer-songwriter, artist (painter), actor, graphic designer and film director * Teitur Lassen, singer-songwriter and guitarist *

Høgni Lisberg Høgni Lisberg (born 7 June 1982) is a Faroese musician. Band and personal history Høgni was born in 1982 and is son of Sørin Lisberg and Hallbjørg Eliassen. His father is son of Knút Lisberg, who is cousin to Jens Olivur Lisberg (1896–19 ...

, singer-songwriter * Dávur Juul Magnussen, trombonist, principal trombone chair of the

Royal Scottish National Orchestra The Royal Scottish National Orchestra (RSNO) ( gd, Orcastra Nàiseanta Rìoghail na h-Alba) is a British orchestra, based in Glasgow, Scotland. It is one of the five national performing arts companies of Scotland. Throughout its history, the O ...

Eivør Pálsdóttir Eivor, Eivør or Øyvor is a female given name in the Nordic countries. In Sweden, 4,922 people bear the name. The average age is 78. The name perhaps originated from either the Proto-Norse word ''auja'', which is thought to mean "good luck", o ...

, singer-songwriter and guitarist *Rani Petersen, known professionally as Reiley, singer and first Faroese person to represent any country (specifically Denmark) in the Eurovision Song Contest *

Sunnleif Rasmussen Sunleif Rasmussen (born March 19, 1961 in Sandur (Faroe Islands), Sandur in the Faroe Islands) is the foremost Faroese people, Faroese composer of classical music. Biography Rasmussen studied in Norway, then returned to Tórshavn in the Faroes as ...

, composer *

Høgni Reistrup Høgni Reistrup (artistic name ''Högni Reistrup'', born 1984) is a Faroese singer, musician, writer and scientist from Tórshavn, Faroe Islands. He is the co-writer of the book ''Exit Føroyar'' (which means ''Exit Faroe Islands''); he wrote it ...

, singer-songwriter and guitarist *

Evi Tausen Evi Tommysdóttir Tausen (born 1981) is a Faroese country singer. She grew up in Froðba, Faroe Islands, and Kastrup, Denmark. Both of her parents are Faroese. Musical career Evi Tausen started her musical career in 2010 when she released a si ...

, country singer *

Týr (; Old Norse: , ) is a god in Germanic mythology, a valorous and powerful member of the and patron of warriors and mythological heroes. In Norse mythology, which provides most of the surviving narratives about gods among the Germanic people ...

, Viking/progressive metal band, fronted by

Heri Joensen Heri Joensen (; born 21 February 1973) is a Faroese musician, notable for being the vocalist for the heavy metal band Týr. Heri was born in the Faroe Islands capital of Tórshavn which has had an influence on his song writing. As well as Týr, ...

Painters, graphical artists and sculptors

* Astrid Andreasen, textile, scientific and stamp artist * Aggi Ásgerð Ásgeirsdóttir, painter * Steffan Danielsen, painter * Hans Hansen, painter * Zacharias Heinesen, painter and graphical artist *

Janus Kamban Janus Kamban (10 September 1913 in Tórshavn – 2 May 2009) was a Faroese sculptor and last living representative from the "first generation" of professional artists in the Faroe Islands. Kamban is the first and most important sculptor in the F ...

, sculptor * Sámal Joensen Mikines, painter *

Hans Pauli Olsen Hans Pauli Olsen (born August 24, 1957 in Tórshavn, Faroe Islands) is a Faroese sculptor currently living in Denmark, and held in high regard. He is one of the most popular artists in the Faroes. His work is found not only in art galleries but ...

, sculptor * Bárður Oskarsson, children's writer, illustrator and artist *

Tróndur Patursson Tróndur Patursson (born 1 March 1944 in Kirkjubøur) is a Faroese painter, sculptor, glass artist and explorer. He was educated in Norway and was initially a sculptor. He has since become better known as a painter and glass artist. In February ...

, painter, glass and iron sculptor, adventurer *

Anker Eli Petersen Anker Eli Petersen (born 7 June 1959 in Tvøroyri) is a Faroese writer and artist. He is most known for his many Faroe Islands postage stamp designs under the name Anker Eli. Many of his stamps depict scenes from Norse mythology, Christianity, ...

, graphical and stamp artist, songwriter * Ingálvur av Reyni, painter, graphical artist * Vigdis Sigmundsdóttir, painter, artist * Ruth Smith, painter * Ole Wich conceptuel artist, photographer and graphical artist * Frida Zachariassen, painter, writer

Leaders and politicians

Historical

* Sigmundur Brestisson, Viking age chieftain * Lucas Debes, conservative rebel * Floksmen, Faroese rebels in the Middle Ages *

Tróndur í Gøtu Tróndur í Gøtu ( Icelandic: Þrándur í Götu, Old Norse Þrǫ́ndr í Gǫtu) (c. 945 – 1035) was a Viking era chieftain from the Faroe Islands. Biography Tróndur í Gøtu lived at his father's home in the village of Gøta on the isl ...

, Viking age chieftain *

Magnus Heinason Magnus Heinason (Mogens Heinesøn) (1548 – 18 January 1589) was a Faroese naval hero, trader and privateer. Magnus Heinason served William the Silent and his son Maurice of Nassau, Prince of Orange for 10 years as a privateer, fighting t ...

, national hero, naval hero and privateer *

Grímur Kamban Grímr Kamban was, according to the ''Færeyinga saga'', the first Norse settler in the Faroe Islands. The modern Faroese form of the name is ''Grímur'', but it was ''Grímr'' in Old Norse and is often anglicised as ''Grim''. Settlement of the ...

, first settler * Naddoddur, Viking and settler *

Nólsoyar Páll Nólsoyar Páll (originally, Poul Poulsen Nolsøe) (11 October 1766 – 1808 or 1809) is a Faroese national hero. He was a seaman, trader, poet, farmer and boat builder who tried to develop direct trade between the Faroes and the rest of Eu ...

, national hero * Sverre Sigurðsson, king of Norway

Modern

* Andrea Árting (1891–1988), trade union leader *

Atli Dam Atli Pætursson Dam (12 September 1932 – 7 February 2005) was a Faroese politician who served as Prime Minister of the Faroe Islands on three occasions, most recently from 1991 to 1993. To this date, he is the longest-serving Prime Minister in ...

, Prime Minister, 1970–1993 (periodically) * Jóannes Eidesgaard, Prime Minister, 2003–2008 * Jona Henriksen (1924–2006), politician, one of the first women to be elected to the Løgting *

Høgni Hoydal Høgni Karsten Hoydal (born 28 March 1966), commonly called Høgni Hoydal, is a Faroese politician, who served as Minister of Fisheries and Deputy Prime Minister from 2015 to 2019. He has been the party leader of Tjóðveldi since 1998. Bef ...

, Republican leader *

Kaj Leo Johannesen Kaj Leo Holm Johannesen (born 28 August 1964 in Tórshavn) is a Faroese politician. He was the prime minister of the Faroe Islands, representing the Faroese Unionist Party ( Sambandsflokkurin). He took office, succeeding Jóannes Eidesgaard on ...

, Prime Minister, 2008–2015 * Karin Kjølbro (born 1944), politician, one of the first women to be elected to the Løgting * Anfinn Kallsberg, Prime Minister, 1998–2003 *

Marita Petersen Marita Petersen () (née Johansen (); 21 October 1940 – 26 August 2001) was the first and to date only female Prime Minister of the Faroe Islands and the first female speaker of the Løgting (Parliament). She was elected to the Løgting in 1988 ...

, Prime Minister, 1993–1994 * Malla Samuelsen (1909–1997), politician, first woman to sit in the Løgting

Scholars, scientists and academics

Niels Ryberg Finsen Niels Ryberg Finsen (15 December 1860 – 24 September 1904) was a Faroese- Icelandic physician and scientist. In 1903, he was awarded the Nobel Prize in Medicine and Physiology "in recognition of his contribution to the treatment of diseases, e ...

, physician, winner of Nobel Prize in Medicine and Physiology in 1903 *

Venceslaus Ulricus Hammershaimb Venceslaus Ulricus Hammershaimb (March 25, 1819 – April 8, 1909) was a Faroese Lutheran minister who established the modern orthography of Faroese, the language of the Faroe Islands, based on the Icelandic language, which like Faroese, de ...

, philologist * Jakob Jakobsen, linguist, philologist * Símun av Skarði, folk high school teacher *

Jens Christian Svabo Jens Christian Svabo (1746 – 1824) was a pioneering Faroese linguist, scholar, and ethnographer. Svabo was born in Miðvágur, Vágar, the Faroe Islands to a minister and his wife. Svabo studied history, music, and theology in Miðvágur and l ...

, scientist, philologist

Explorers and travellers

, national hero, naval hero and privateer * Ove Joensen, in 1986 journeyed alone in a rowboat from the

Copenhagen Copenhagen ( or .; da, København ) is the capital and most populous city of Denmark, with a proper population of around 815.000 in the last quarter of 2022; and some 1.370,000 in the urban area; and the wider Copenhagen metropolitan ar ...

Denmark ) , song = ( en, "King Christian stood by the lofty mast") , song_type = National and royal anthem , image_map = EU-Denmark.svg , map_caption = , subdivision_type = Sovereign state , subdivision_name = Kingdom of Denmark , establish ...

, a distance of 900 nautical miles (1,700 km), the first and only person so far to do this; the journey took 41 days *

, first settler * Inger Klein Thorhauge, cruise ship Captain * Naddoddur, explored Iceland *

Livar Nysted Livar Nysted (born 27 September 1970) is an ocean rower and an artist, a painter. He grew up in the small village of Hvannasund in the Faroe Islands. Nysted has achieved five world records in ocean rowing. In 2010 he – together with three othe ...

, crossed the North Atlantic Ocean from

New York City New York, often called New York City or NYC, is the most populous city in the United States. With a 2020 population of 8,804,190 distributed over , New York City is also the most densely populated major city in the Un ...

Great Britain Great Britain is an island in the North Atlantic Ocean off the northwest coast of continental Europe. With an area of , it is the largest of the British Isles, the largest European island and the ninth-largest island in the world. It i ...

in a rowboat with four rowers; they broke a 114-year-old world record * Sigert Patursson, traveled to western Siberia and the Kara Sea, Mongolia and Egypt and through Europe *

, has several times been on adventurous journeys with

Tim Severin Timothy Severin (25 September 1940 – 18 December 2020) was a British explorer, historian, and writer. Severin was noted for his work in retracing the legendary journeys of historical figures. Severin was awarded both the Founder's Medal ...

and others, first in 1976

Clergymen

* Lucas Debes, conservative rebel * V. U. Hammershaimb, philologist * Daniel Jacob Danielsen, missionary and humanitarian worker *

Jákup Dahl Jákup Dahl (English and German ''Jacob Dahl'') (5 June 1878 – 5 June 1944) was a Faroese Provost and Bible translator. In 1908 he became known as a linguist with the first Faroese grammar lessons for school students. Life and work Dahl w ...

Athletes

* Katrina Akursmørk, football player * Rannvá Andreasen, football player * Heidi Andreasen, swimmer, three-time silver medallist and two-time bronze medallist

Paralympian The Paralympic Games or Paralympics, also known as the ''Games of the Paralympiad'', is a periodic series of international multisport events involving athletes with a range of physical disabilities, including impaired muscle power and impaire ...

* Lív Arge, football player * Ove Joensen, rowing legend *

Pál Joensen Pál Joensen (born 10 December 1990) is a Faroese elite swimmer. He was born in Vágur, Suðuroy, Faroe Islands. He has won World and European Championship medals. His bronze medal in the men's 1500 metre freestyle at the 2012 FINA World Swim ...

, swimmer, triple European Junior Champion in Belgrade 2008; gold winner in 1500m freestyle at the FINA World Cup in Moscow 2009 * Ásla Johannesen, football player *

Todi Jónsson Todi Adam Jónsson (born 2 February 1972) is a retired Faroese professional football striker who has played for Danish premier league clubs Lyngby FC and FC København, Norwegian club Start and Danish club Fremad Amager. He started and ended ...

, former

FC Copenhagen Football Club Copenhagen ( da, Football Club København, ), commonly known as FC København, FC Copenhagen, Copenhagen or simply FCK, is a professional Danish football club in Copenhagen, Denmark. FCK was founded in 1992 as a superstructure on ...

professional football player * Bára Klakstein, football player (defender) and coach *

Jens Martin Knudsen Jens Martin Knudsen (12 October 1930 – 17 February 2005) was a Danish astrophysicist. During his scientific career Knudsen authored or co-authored more than 100 scientific articles, and was a longtime advisor to NASA. Early years Knudsen w ...

, football player (goalkeeper) * Arnborg Lervig, football player * Gunnar Nielsen, first Faroese football player to play in the

Premier League The Premier League (legal name: The Football Association Premier League Limited) is the highest level of the men's English football league system. Contested by 20 clubs, it operates on a system of promotion and relegation with the English Fo ...

* Laila Pætursdóttir, football player * Gilli Rólantsson, professional football player *

, ocean rower, crossed the North Atlantic in a rowboat together with three others, setting a new world record * Bjørk Herup Olsen, middle and

long distance runner Long may refer to: Measurement * Long, characteristic of something of great duration * Long, characteristic of something of great length * Longitude (abbreviation: long.), a geographic coordinate * Longa (music), note value in early music men ...

Danish Danish may refer to: * Something of, from, or related to the country of Denmark People * A national or citizen of Denmark, also called a "Dane," see Demographics of Denmark * Culture of Denmark * Danish people or Danes, people with a Danish a ...

Junior Champion * Regin Vágadal, strongman * Sverri Sandberg Nielsen, rower, mainly competes in the heavyweight single sculls. * Johan Sundstein, professional eSportsman ( Dota 2), 2x International Champion, 6x Major Champion.

Chess players

* Helgi Dam Ziska, is the top ranked and the highest ever rated player from his country, and has been rated number one amongst Faroese chess players since the age of 16. He is the first Faroese player to qualify for the Grandmaster title.

References

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