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

• Johan Richard Danielson to Johan Richard Danielson-Kalmari
• Matti Helenius to Matti Helenius-Seppälä
• Johannes Brofeldt to Juhani Aho
• Tauno Brännäs to Tauno Palo
• Aleksander Filander to Santeri Alkio
• Georg Zacharias Forsman to Yrjö Sakari Yrjö-Koskinen
• Axel Waldemar Gallén to Akseli Gallen-Kallela
• Kalervo Groundstroem to Kalervo Kurkiala
• Johan Gustaf Hellstén to Juho Kusti Paasikivi
• Erik Nikolai Järnefelt to Eero Järnefelt
• Armas Einar Leopold Lönnbohm to Eino Leino
• Heikki Rydman to Heikki Ritavuori
• Alexis Stenvall to Aleksis Kivi
• Carl Johan Ståhlberg to Kaarlo Juho Ståhlberg
• Juhani Alin to Juhani Arajärvi
• Pekka Aulin to Pekka Ahmavaara
• Julius Ax to Julius Ailio
• Ossian Bergbom to Ossian Wuorenheimo
• Samuel Besprosvanni to Sam Vanni
• Artur Blomberg to Artur Wuorimaa
• Eino Blomros to Eino Kilpi
• Martti Buddén to Martti Välikangas
• Kaarlo Collan Kaarlo Linkola
• Rolf Durchman to Rolf Turkka
• Veikko Fennander Veikko Vennamo
• Edwin Flinck Edwin Linkomies
• V. A. Forsnäs Veikko Antero Koskenniemi
• Tuomas Friis to Tuomas Pohjanpalo
• Onni Gratschoff to Onni Talas
• Hugo Gröndahl Hugo Rautapää
• T. A.Grönhag Toivo Wiherheimo
• Lauri Gummerus Lauri Pihkala
• Reino Helenius Reino Helismaa
• Johan Helenius Johan Helo
• Lassi Hoffrén Lassi Hiekkala
• Matti Hälleberg (Hällberg) Matti Paasivuori
• Rafael Hällström Rafael Paasio
• Ruben Jankeloff Ruben Jaari
• Artturi Jernström Artturi Järviluoma
• Aksel Johansson Aksel Airo
• Erik Johansson to Erkki Kaila
• Eino Johansson to Eino Kaila
• Mikael Johansson to Mikael Soininen
• Johan Eliel Johnsson to Eliel Soisalon-Soininen
• Einar W. Juvelius to Einar W. Juva
• Mikko Juvelius to Mikko Juva
• Oswald Kilhlman to Oswald Kairamo
• Reino Ragnar Lagerlund to Reino Ragnar Lehto
• Erkki Leidenius to Erkki Leikola
• O. W. Lohtander to Oskari Wilho Louhivuori
• Oskar Mattsson to Oskar Merikanto
• Ernst Neovius to Ernst Nevanlinna
• Alexander Nyberg to Santeri Nuorteva
• Hugo Palander to Hugo Suolahti
• Yrjö Renqvist to Yrjö Reenpää
• Vilhelmiina Riktig to Miina Sillanpää
• Heikki Rydman to Heikki Ritavuori
• Jalmari Saxelin to Jalmari Sauli
• Allan Särkilahti to Allan Serlachius
• Elias Simelius to Elias Simojoki
• Martti Simelius to Martti Simojoki
• Yrjö Sirén to Yrjö Sirola
• Paavo Sivén to Paavo Susitaival
• Paavo Snellman to Paavo Virkkunen
• Lauri Stenbäck to Lauri Kivekäs
• Hjalmar Strömberg to Hjalmar Siilasvuo
• Bruno Sundström to Bruno Salmiala
• Väinö Thomasson to Väinö Tanner
• Paavo Thorén to Paavo Talvela
• Antti Thulé to Antti Tulenheimo
• Artturi Törnström to Artturi Hiidenheimo
• Katri Wadenström to Katri Vala
• Armas Wahlstedt to Armas Valste
• Väinö Wallin to Väinö Voionmaa
• Karl Fredrik Wilkman to Karl Fredrik Wilkama

Family names

See also

• Finnicization of Helsinki

References

• Sukunimien muutokset (List of finnicized names)

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