|
  |
|
|
Finnish Surnames
Usually we do not choose our names: a family name is inherited from our ancestors, and a first name is "given" to us by our parents. But it has not always been as easy as that. By the end of the 19th century, when family names became mandatory in Finland, the Finns missing a surname had to choose one, to translate one, or to invent one. Definitely, they did not lack inspiration! Choosing your own surname must have been awesome and challenging. I imagine everyone was eager to pick a good family name. Some hesitated, and changed the surname several times. There might have been hot disputes, family quarrels and a general fever that could inspire not less than a Hollywood story. What were their options? Before 1863, Swedish was the only official language in Finland, and names were kept in parish records in Swedish. For instance, Niilo, son of Lauri, was in official records Nils Larsson. At home, however, he was probably best known as Niilo Laurinpoika (poika means son in Finnish). After 1863, Finnish became an official language, besides Swedish, and people could choose between a Swedish and a Finnish surname. * Laurinpoika (Finnish) vs Larsson (Swedish) A possible scenario: Laurinpoika seemed maybe the best choice to Niilo, who was living in the country-side. But his brother, Paavo, who was a student in Helsinki, was probably fonder of his Swedish surname, and he would not change it. So he preferred to be Paul Larsson rather than Paavo Laurinpoika. * Laurinpoika/Larsson vs Something Else Other members of the family, who did not like either Larsson or Laurinpoika, were free to choose something else, or they could coin their unique surnames. Apparently, names describing nature landscapes seemed very appealing to many Finns. Names like Isokoski (big rapids), Ahoniemi (aho-clearing, niemi-promontory), or Laine (wave) were some beautiful, eligible names on their lists. Countless such names were coined at that time. * Forsman (Swedish) vs Koskinen (Finnish) Some were translations into Finnish (or fennicizations) of Swedish surnames, like the example above. Eventually, the members of a family did not share the same surname. Many Finns today have the surnames their ancestors picked at that epoch, either Finnish or Swedish. After the German model, surnames are now inherited in Finland. However, Finns can officially change their family names once, without a particular reason. |
|
 |
|
No reactions yet.
Please login or sign up to rate this intel.
Please login or sign up to add a comment.
The copyright for this content entitled "Finnish Surnames" has been specified by the contributor as:
All Rights Reserved
This content may not be copied, distributed or adapted by anyone under any circumstances.
|
|
May, 2012
2008
January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December
2009
January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December
2010
January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December
2011
January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December
2012
January, February, March, April, May
|
|
Not a member yet?
Qondio is a powerful network for making it online. If you have a website to
promote, we can help.
Sign up and get in on the action.
|
|
Welcome to Qondio! Discover the awesome power this network can deliver by going to our About page. Or you could skip straight to the Sign Up form.
|
|
