Hvitserkur means "White shirt", which allegedly origins from the fact that the other side of the rock is far more white, due to guano dropped from numerous nesting
seabirds on the side facing the fjord. It was probably used as a landmark for naval navigation on Húnafjörður in the old days, and hence the name was chosen
because it looks white when seen from a boat out at sea. It stands on a shallow sand bank, which becomes partially dry at low tide - as seen here.