Some scholars say that the first ever settlers on Iceland were monks from Scotland (as early as in the second half of the 7th century). However, if it was so they must have left when the Vikings arrived around 874. The first settler who was named was a Norwegian settler Ingólfur Arnarson who came with his family to Iceland. Another of the earliest settlers was Eric the Red who was an explorer. He came also from Norway. His family had to leave the country because of manslaughter. We remember Eric as the man who explored Greenland and New Foundland and Labrador (in Old Norse language: Vinland) for the first time but from the Icelandic sagas (tales) we know that there must have been other Norse settlers who tried it before him. The Icelandic language is a “preserved” variant of the Norse language that was spoken throughout in Northern Europe that time. However, it is a myth that Icelanders would be able to read the old sagas. But here is the beginning and how it started from a more authentic person in the following video (the quality is not the best because it was way too dark in this old Viking hut but the sound is satisfactory, just turn up the volume).