The municipality is named after the Lyngen fjord (Old Norse: Lygnir). The name of the fjord is derived from the word logn which means "quiet, still, or calm".

The coat-of-arms is from modern times (1987). The arms show a black horse of the local breed (Lyngshest) on a silver background. The silver color symbolizes the sea and fishing industry and the horse represents the local agriculture.

The Lyngen Church was built at Karnes in 1731, and was moved to its present location at Lyngseidet in 1740. In 1775, the church was rebuilt in its current cross shape, with the material from the old church used for a boathouse in Oldervik. Finally in 1840–1845, the church was renovated with a new tower, galleries, windows and panelling.

Other interesting buildings include the large wooden school in Solhov, which was built in 1924 to strengthen the Norwegian influence in this area which was largely populated by the Sami and Kven people.

During the Cold War the Norwegian Army planned to abandon Finnmark and halt the Soviets along the European route E06 highway at the choke point between the Lyngen fjord and the mountains. However, there were always great worries that the Soviets would also advance through Finland and the very sparsely defended extreme north of Sweden (north of Kiruna, south of Treriksröset) and attack the Lyngen position from the rear via Signaldalen.

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Wikipedia