Finnicization

Finnicization (also finnicisation, fennicization, fennicisation) is the changing of one's personal names from other languages (usually Swedish) into Finnish. During the era of National Romanticism in Finland, many people, especially Fennomans, finnicized their previously Swedish family names.

A set of graves in Tampere, showing the Swedish surname ‘Kyander’ as well as the fennicized ‘Kiianmies’.

Some of these people were descended from Finnish-speaking farmers, who had previously changed their Finnish names to Swedish ones after climbing society's ladder. This was an understandable stratagem, as official positions (and even many trades) were only open to those speaking Swedish, and a Finnish name would have been an impediment to success.

In the 18th century, Finnish recruits serving in the Swedish army were given short Swedish surnames such as Törn, Malm and Brun. This was because Swedish officers found Finnish names difficult to pronounce. Some of these names were later finnicized to Törni, Malmi, etc.

A notable event in finnicization was the centenary, in 1906, 100 years after the birth of the philosopher and statesman Johan Vilhelm Snellman. Author Johannes Linnankoski encouraged Finns to give up their Swedish names on 12 May, Snellman's birthday. During 1906 and 1907 about 70,000 Finns changed their names.[1]

Finnicized names

First names

Family names

Finnish language nameFormer name
ArveloAchrén
AhtisaariAdolfsen
AhtovuoAdolfsen
ÄimäAejmelaeus
AlajaAlander
ArajärviAlin
AlmiAlm
Tuomas-Kettunen Alopaeus
AhvenlahtiAndrejeff
AsantiAschan
Ahmavaara Aulin
AilioAx
WuorenheimoBergbom
KallialaBergroth
VuorenjuuriBergroth
VanniBesprosvanni
Wuorimaa/VuorimaaBlomberg
KilpiBlomros
JalasBlomstedt
KairaBodström
PoijärviBoijer
Linnala Borgman
Paloheimo Brander
PalosuoBrander
TulikouraBrandstaka
HonkaBremer
Aho Brofeldt
Palo Brännäs
VälikangasBuddén
AlhavaByckling
KalelaCajander
KannistoCandelin
KannilaCannelin
LinkolaCollan
Turkka Durchman
EnäjärviEklund
Mikkola Eklund
TunkeloEkman
EnneEnbom
Äyräpää Europaeus
Vennamo Fennander
AlkioFilander
Linkomies Flinck
Koskimies Forsman
Yrjö-Koskinen Forsman
Koskenniemi Forsnäs
HainariForsström
PohjanpaloFriisi
JännesGenetz
Kuusi Granfelt
TalasGratschoff
RautapääGröndahl
AuraGröndahl
WiherheimoGrönhag
KuusistoGrönlund
RantakariGrönqvist
Paasilinna Gullsten
Pihkala Gummerus
HalstiHagman
KalliaHallsten
HaarlaHarberg
HarvaHeerman
Heikinheimo Heikel
PäivänsaloHelander
HattaraHelenius
HelismaaHelenius
HeloHelenius
RaholaHelenius
WaltariHelenius
HeliövaaraHelin
Paasikivi Hellsten
HiitonenHidén
HiekkalaHoffrén
Soini Hoffrén
HarvaHolmberg
KarikoskiHolmström
Paasivuori Hällberg/Hälleberg
HelasvuoHällström
Paasivirta Hällström, af Hällström
Paasio Hällström/Hellström
HeporautaHästesko
RihtniemiHögman
IvaloIngman
JaariJankeloff
WihuriJansson
Rautavaara/Rautawaara Jernberg
Rautavuori Jernberg
JärviluomaJernström
Rautavirta Järnström
AiroJohansson
Kaila Johansson
Somerjoki Johansson
Soininen Johnsson
Soisalon-SoininenJohnsson
Jousi Junnelius
JuvaJuvelius
Rauanheimo Järnefelt
Kahanpää Kahelin
KairamoKihlman
Kurki-Suonio Krohn
KuloKällberg
LehtoLagerlund
LahdensuoLagerstedt
Hirvensalo Lagus
KalimaLandgren
LeikolaLeidenius
LeppäläLindeqvist
LinkoLindroth
LoimarantaLindstedt
LouhivuoriLohtander
SaarnioLundén
MaasaloMasalin
Malmivaara Malmberg
Merikanto Mattsson
Mannermaa Menander
KivaloMittler
MuromaMurén
Nevanlinna Neovius
NuorivaaraNyberg
Nuorteva Nyberg
Nurminen Nyman
SuvirantaOlander
Suolahti Palander
SalmenojaPalin
Paatela Pavén
ReenpääRenqvist
ReenkolaRenvall
SillanpääRiktig
Ruusuvaara Rosberg
RuutuRuuth
RitavuoriRydman
SadeniemiSadenius
SaalasSahlberg
IlvessaloSarén
SavonjousiSavonius
SauliSaxelin
HarmajaSchadewitz
UtsjokiSchlüter
KoulumiesSchulman
SärkilahtiSerlachius
HersaloSigell
SimojokiSimelius
SirolaSirén
SirpoSirob (Wolfson)
SusitaivalSivén
Virkkunen Snellman
Kivekäs Stenbäck
KivikoskiStenfors
KivirikkoStenroos
RenkonenStreng
TeräsvuoriStåhlberg
SiilasvuoStrömberg
SolaSundberg
SalmialaSundström
RislakkiSvanberg
SventoSventorzetski
SaarimaaSöderholm
TuulioTallgren
HonkajuuriTallroth
Tavastähti Tavaststjerna
Tanner Thomasson
TalvelaThorén
TuuraThrulsson
Tulenheimo Thulé
TuurnaThuneberg
Tuuliluoto Tillaeus
Tarjanne Törnqvist
Hiidenheimo Törnström
VähäkallioVilander
ValaWadenström
ValsteWahlstedt
Voionmaa Wallin
Waris Warén
ValvanneWegelius
VuorjokiWegelius
WennervirtaWennerström
WilkamaWilkman
VeistaroWinqvist
VoipioÅkerman

See also

References

  1. Kotimaisten kielten tutkimuskeskus :: Snellmanin 100-vuotispäivä ja sukunimien suomalaistaminen
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