This is a list of famous or important Faroese people. 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, especially in Denmark and other Nordic countries.
This is a dynamic list and may never be able to satisfy particular standards for completeness. You can help by adding missing items with reliable sources.Artists
Authors and poets
- Heðin Brú
- Marianna Debes Dahl
- Joen Danielsen
- Hans Andrias Djurhuus
- Janus Djurhuus
- Jens Christian Djurhuus
- Bergtóra Hanusardóttir
- Jens Pauli Heinesen
- William Heinesen (also a painter, graphical artist and musician)
- Guðrið Helmsdal
- Rakel Helmsdal
- Regin Dahl
- Jógvan Isaksen
- Jørgen-Frantz Jacobsen
- Steinbjørn B. Jacobsen
- Poul F. Joensen
- Oddvør Johansen
- Hanus Kamban
- Sissal Kampmann
- Marjun Syderbø Kjelnæs
- Jóanes Nielsen
- Rói Patursson (also a philosopher)
- Sigrið av Skarði Joensen, journalist, teacher, and feminist.
- Kristian Osvald Viderø (also a clergyman)
Cinema and theatre artists and film people
- Jacob Haugaard, actor, comedian, politician, member of the Danish Parliament
- Heiðrikur á Heygum, filmmaker, musician and artist
- Olaf Johannessen, stage and film actor
- Katrin Ottarsdóttir, director
- Helena Patursson, actress, feminist, and writer
- Sakaris Stórá, film director
- Hans Tórgarð, actor, stage director and playwright
Fashion
- Liffa Gregoriussen (1904–1992), fashion designer and feminist
Musicians
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- Peter Alberg, composer of the Faeroese Anthem
- Lena Anderssen, singer-songwriter and guitarist
- Greta Svabo Bech, singer, provided the vocals for deadmau5's track "Raise Your Weapon"
- Aura Dione, pop singer songwriter
- Kristian Blak, composer and musician
- Tróndur Bogason, composer and musician
- Boys in a Band, indie rock band from Eysturoy, Faroe Islands; won 1st place in Global Battle of the Bands
- Rúni Brattaberg, opera singer
- The Dreams, Faroese punk/rock/pop band from Tórshavn; singer of the band is Hans Edward Andreassen
- Brandur Enni, singer-songwriter, composer and musician
- Bárður Háberg, 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 2010
- Jógvan Hansen, singer and guitarist, participated in the Icelandic Eurovision Song Contest
- Heiðrikur á Heygum, filmmaker, musician and artist
- Óli Jógvansson, musician, songwriter, composer and producer
- Teitur Lassen, singer-songwriter and guitarist
- Høgni Lisberg, singer-songwriter
- Dávur Juul Magnussen, trombonist, principal trombone chair of the Royal Scottish National Orchestra
- Eivør Pálsdóttir, 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, composer
- Høgni Reistrup, singer-songwriter and guitarist
- Evi Tausen, country singer
- Týr, Viking/progressive metal band, fronted by Heri Joensen
- Elinborg, singer-songwriter
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, sculptor
- Sámal Joensen Mikines, painter
- Hans Pauli Olsen, sculptor
- Bárður Oskarsson, children's writer, illustrator and artist
- Tróndur Patursson, painter, glass and iron sculptor, adventurer
- Anker Eli Petersen, 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, Viking age chieftain
- Magnus Heinason, national hero, naval hero and privateer
- Grímur Kamban, first settler
- Naddoddur, Viking and settler
- Nólsoyar Páll, national hero
- Sverre Sigurðsson, king of Norway
Modern
- Andrea Árting (1891–1988), trade union leader
- Atli Dam, 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, Republican leader
- Kaj Leo Johannesen, 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, Prime Minister, 1993–1994
- Malla Samuelsen (1909–1997), politician, first woman to sit in the Løgting
Scholars, scientists and academics
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- Niels Ryberg Finsen, physician, winner of Nobel Prize in Medicine and Physiology in 1903
- Venceslaus Ulricus Hammershaimb, philologist
- Jakob Jakobsen, linguist, philologist
- Anna Suffía Rasmussen, Faroese educator
- Sanna av Skarði, Faroese educator
- Símun av Skarði, folk high school teacher
- Jens Christian Svabo, scientist, philologist
Explorers and travellers
- Magnus Heinason, national hero, naval hero and privateer
- Ove Joensen, in 1986 journeyed alone in a rowboat from the Faroe Islands to Copenhagen in Denmark, a distance of 900 nautical miles (1,700 km), the first and only person so far to do this; the journey took 41 days
- Grímur Kamban, first settler
- Inger Klein Thorhauge, cruise ship Captain
- Naddoddur, explored Iceland
- Livar Nysted, crossed the North Atlantic Ocean from New York City to Great Britain 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
- Tróndur Patursson, has several times been on adventurous journeys with Tim Severin and others, first in 1976
Clergymen
- Lucas Debes, conservative rebel
- V. U. Hammershaimb, philologist
- Daniel Jacob Danielsen, missionary and humanitarian worker
- Jákup Dahl
Athletes
- Rannvá Andreasen, football player
- Heidi Andreasen, swimmer, three-time silver medallist and two-time bronze medallist Paralympian
- Lív Arge, football player
- Ove Joensen, rowing legend
- Pál Joensen, 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, former FC Copenhagen professional football player
- Bára Klakstein, football player (defender) and coach
- Jens Martin Knudsen, football player (goalkeeper)
- Arnborg Lervig, football player
- Gunnar Nielsen, first Faroese football player to play in the Premier League
- Laila Pætursdóttir, football player
- Gilli Rólantsson, professional football player
- Livar Nysted, 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, Danish 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, 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.
See also
References
- Merkistein, Suni (19 July 2012). "Ætlar at gerast stórmeistari" (in Faroese). Kringvarp Føroya. Retrieved 11 April 2016.
- "FIDE Chess Profile" (in Faroese). Ratings.fide.com. Retrieved 11 April 2016.