Stefán Ólafsson

Stefán Ólafsson of Vallanes (c. 1618–1688) was an Icelandic churchman and poet.

Life Stefán was one of the fifteen children of Ólafur Einarsson (1573–1651), and nephew to Oddur Einarsson, bishop of Skáltholt, the priest of the east-Icelandic settlement of Kirkjubær.

Stefán's father Ólafur had studied theology at the University of Copenhagen from 1594 to 1598. In that year Ólafur began teaching at the Latin School in Skálholt, becoming rector in 1600. He married Kristín Stefánsdóttir, granddaughter of Gísli Jónsson, Bishop of Skálholt, in 1605. Ólafur ceased teaching at the school in 1608.

Margrét Eggertsdóttir has interpreted Stefán as "a well-educated poet who delighted in experimentation and whose work is strongly influenced by contemporary currents originating in the European mainland".

Legacy A monument to Stefán by Ríkharður Jónsson (1888–1977), unveiled 15 August 1971, stands at Vallanes.