Finnicization (also finnicisation, fennicization, fennicisation) is the changing of one's personal names from other languages (usually
Swedish
Swedish or ' may refer to:
Anything from or related to Sweden, a country in Northern Europe. Or, specifically:
* Swedish language, a North Germanic language spoken primarily in Sweden and Finland
** Swedish alphabet, the official alphabet used by ...
) into
Finnish
Finnish may refer to:
* Something or someone from, or related to Finland
* Culture of Finland
* Finnish people or Finns, the primary ethnic group in Finland
* Finnish language, the national language of the Finnish people
* Finnish cuisine
See also ...
. During the era of
National Romanticism
Romantic nationalism (also national romanticism, organic nationalism, identity nationalism) is the form of nationalism in which the state claims its political legitimacy as an organic consequence of the unity of those it governs. This includes ...
in
Finland
Finland ( fi, Suomi ; sv, Finland ), officially the Republic of Finland (; ), is a Nordic country in Northern Europe. It shares land borders with Sweden to the northwest, Norway to the north, and Russia to the east, with the Gulf of B ...
, many people, especially
Fennomans
The Fennoman movement or Fennomania was a Finnish nationalist movement in the 19th-century Grand Duchy of Finland, built on the work of the ''fennophile'' interests of the 18th and early-19th centuries.
History
After the Crimean War, Fennoman ...
, finnicized their previously Swedish family names.
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.
A notable event in finnicization was the centenary, in 1906, 100 years after the birth of the philosopher and statesman
Johan Vilhelm Snellman
Johan Vilhelm Snellman (; 12 May 1806 – 4 July 1881) was an influential Fennoman philosopher and Finnish statesman, ennobled in 1866. He was one of the most important 'awakeners' or promoters of Finnish nationalism, alongside Elias Lönnrot a ...
. Author
Johannes Linnankoski
Johannes Linnankoski (originally Vihtori Johan Peltonen, 18 October 1869 – 10 August 1913) was a Finland, Finnish author and playwright, which mainly influenced writing in the Golden Age of Finnish Art. His most famous work is the romance novel ...
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.
Finnicized names
{, class="wikitable sortable"
!Finnish name introduced!!Former name!!Notable users!! Year of change!!Source
, -
, Arvelo, , Achrén, , Armas Arvelo, Ritva Arvelo's father, , 1906, ,
, -
, Ahtisaari, , Adolfsen, , Oiva Ahtisaari,
Martti Ahtisaari
Martti Oiva Kalevi Ahtisaari (; born 23 June 1937) is a Finnish politician, the tenth president of Finland (1994–2000), a Nobel Peace Prize laureate, and a United Nations diplomat and mediator noted for his international peace work.
Ahtisa ...
Julius Ailio
Julius Ailio (19 July 1872 – 4 March 1933) was a Finland, Finnish archaeologist and a Social Democratic Party of Finland, Social Democratic politician. He was a member of the Senate of Finland. He was born in Loppi, and died in Helsinki, aged ...
Ossian Wuorenheimo
Ossian Wuorenheimo (until 1906 Bergbom) (3 December 1845, Viborg - 13 June 1917, Helsinki) was a Finnish politician
A politician is a person active in party politics, or a person holding or seeking an elected office in government. Politi ...
Sam Vanni
Sam Vanni (till 1941 Samuel Besprosvanni; 6 July 1908 – 20 October 1992) was a Finnish painter. He is considered to be the pioneer of abstract art in Finland.Onni Rantasalo, , 1906, ,
, -
, '' Wuorimaa/Vuorimaa'', , Blomberg, , Aarne Wuorimaa and Artur Wuorimaa , , 1906, 1923, ,
, -
, Kilpi, , Blomros, , Eino Kilpi, , , ,
, -
, Jalas, , Blomstedt, , , , 1906, 1943, ,
, -
, Kaira, , Bodström
, , , 1906, ,
, -
, Poijärvi, , Boijer
, , , 1906, ,
, -
, Parvilahti
, Boman
,
, 1944
,
, -
, Linnala , , Borgman
, , , 1906, ,
, -
, Paloheimo, , Brander
, , , 1906, ,
, -
, Palosuo, , Brander
, , , 1933, ,
, -
, Tulikoura, , Brandstaka
, , , 1906, ,
, -
, Honka, , Bremer
, , , 1906, ,
, -
, Aho , , Brofeldt , ,
Juhani Aho
Juhani Aho, originally Johannes Brofeldt (11 September 1861 – 8 August 1921), was a Finnish author and journalist. He was nominated for the Nobel prize in literature twelve times.
Early life
Juhani Aho was born at Lapinlahti in 1861. His pa ...
, , 1907, ,
, -
, Palo , , Brännäs, ,
Tauno Palo
Tauno Valdemar Palo (born Tauno Brännäs; 25 October 1908 – 24 May 1982) was a Finnish actor and singer in what some consider the golden age of Finnish cinema.
In ''Guide to the Cinema of Sweden and Finland'' Peter von Bagh names Palo as the ...
Martti Välikangas
Martti Välikangas (born Martti Buddén, August 1, 1893, County of Kuopio – May 9, 1973, Helsinki) was a Finnish architect renowned for the design of so-called "Puu-Käpylä" ood-Käpylä the Garden City housing area in Käpylä near Helsi ...
Teuvo Puro
Kaarlo Teuvo Puro (9 November 1884 Helsinki – 24 July 1956 Helsinki) was a Finnish actor, writer and director.
Puro co-directed the first Finnish fiction film, '' Salaviinanpolttajat'', with Louis Sparre
Pehr Louis Sparre af Söfdeborg ...
Kaarlo Linkola
Kaarlo Linkola (surname until 1906 Collan; 1888–1942) was a Finnish botanist and phytogeographer.
Linkola was docent of botany at Helsinki University 1919–1922. He was professor of botany at University of Turku from 1922, and at Helsinki ...
Rolf Turkka
Rolf Turkka (30 August 1915, Lahti – 29 November 1989, Espoo; original surname ''Durchman'') was a Finnish sailor who competed in the 1948 Summer Olympics and in the 1952 Summer Olympics
The 1952 Summer Olympics ( fi, Kesäolympialaiset ...
Veikko Vennamo
Veikko Emil Aleksander Vennamo (originally ''Fennander'') (11 June 1913 – 12 June 1997) was a Finnish politician. In 1959, he founded the Finnish Rural Party (''Suomen Maaseudun Puolue''), which was succeeded by the True Finns in 1995. He had o ...
, , 1938, ,
, -
, Alkio, , Filander, ,
Santeri Alkio
Santeri Alkio (born Aleksander Filander; 17 June 1862 – 24 July 1930) was a Finnish politician, author and journalist. He is also considered to be the ideological father of Finnish Centre Party.
History
Alkio was born in Laihia; his parent ...
Yrjö-Koskinen
The Yrjö-Koskinen family is a Finnish nobility, Finnish noble family of Swedish people, Swedish descent, formerly known as Forsman, granted nobility, noble status in 1882.Ritarihuone Friherrliga ätten nr 62 YRJÖ-KOSKINEN Members of the family he ...
, , Forsman , ,
Yrjö Sakari Yrjö-Koskinen
Baron Yrjö Sakari Yrjö-Koskinen (birth name Georg Zakarias Forsman, author name Yrjö Koskinen; 10 December 1830 in Vaasa – 13 November 1903 in Helsinki) was a friherre, senator, professor, historian, politician and the chairman of the Finnis ...
V. A. Koskenniemi
Veikko Antero Koskenniemi (8 July 1885 – 4 August 1962) was a Finnish poet born in Oulu.
From 1921 to 1948, Koskenniemi served as Professor of Literary History at the University of Turku. He was the university's rector from 1924 to 1932. ...
Tuomas Pohjanpalo Tuomas Pohjanpalo (3 March 1861 – 27 February 1933; surname until 1906 ''Friis'') was a Finnish industrialist and politician, born in Kalajoki. He was a member of the Parliament of Finland from 1907 to 1909, representing the Finnish Party
T ...
Onni Talas
Onni Eugen Aleksander Talas (15 June 1877 – 3 May 1958; till 1895 Gratschoff) was a Finnish lawyer, politician, professor and diplomat, and was a member of the Senate of Finland.
Talas was born in Lappeenranta. He was the Chargé d'affaires ...
Erno Paasilinna
Erno Paasilinna (14 March 1935, in Petsamo – 30 September 2000, in Tampere) was a Finnish writer and journalist. He received several literary prizes, the most notable being the Finlandia Prize in 1984 for his collection of essays ''Yksinäisyys ...
's father , , before 1934, ,
, -
, Pihkala , , Gummerus, ,
Lauri Pihkala
Lauri "Tahko" Pihkala (born Gummerus, 5 January 1888 – 20 May 1981) was the inventor of pesäpallo, the Finnish variant of baseball. In 1969 he became one of the first persons to receive an honorary doctorate in Sport Sciences from the Univer ...
Vilho Helanen
Vilho Veikko Päiviö Helanen (24 November 1899 – 8 June 1952) was a Finnish civil servant and politician.
Helanen was born in Oulu, and was a student as the University of Helsinki, where he gained an MA in 1923 and completed his doctorate in ...
Reino Helismaa
Reino Vihtori "Repe" Helismaa (12 July 1913, Helsinki – 21 January 1965) was a Finnish singer-songwriter, musician and scriptwriter, mainly known for his humorous, yet homely songs. One of his best-known interpreters was Tapio Rautavaara. He a ...
Johan Helo
Johan Helo (22 August 1889, in Helsinki – 25 October 1966; surname until 1906 Helenius) was a Finnish lawyer, diplomat and politician.
Helo served as Minister of Social Affairs from 13 December 1926 to 15 November 1927, Minister of Transport and ...
Harri Holma Harri Gustaf Holma (last name until 1906 ''Hellman''; April 14, 1886 – April 14, 1954) was a Finnish diplomat and assyriologist.
Holma was born in Hämeenlinna. His parents were colleague Anders Victor Hellman and Anna Ida Charlotta af Enehje ...
, , 1906, ,
, -
,
Paasikivi
Juho Kusti Paasikivi (; 27 November 1870 – 14 December 1956) was the seventh president of Finland (1946–1956). Representing the Finnish Party until its dissolution in 1918 and then the National Coalition Party, he also served as Prime Minister ...
Saarenpää Saarenpää is a Finnish surname. Notable people with the surname include:
* Klebér Saarenpää (born 1975), Swedish footballer and manager
*Seppo Saarenpää
Seppo Saarenpää (born 5 September 1937) is a Finnish former sports shooter. Saaren ...
Ensio Hiitonen
Kaarlo Ensio Paulus Hiitonen (last name until 1923 ''Hidén''; 27 October 1900 Helsinki – 14 January 1970) was a Finnish Doctor of Law and lawyer of Alko.
Hiitonen's parents were Dr. Karl Julius Hidén and Helmi Liisi Parmanen. Hiitonen became ...
Uno Harva
Uno Nils Oskar Harva (known as Uno Holmberg until 1927; 30 August 1882, Ypäjä – 13 August 1949, Turku) was a Finnish religious scholar, who founded the discipline in Finland together with Rafael Karsten. A major figure in North Eurasian ethn ...
Matti Paasivuori
Matti Paasivuori (6 May 1866, Ilmajoki - 16 June 1937 in Helsinki) was a Finnish politician from the Social Democratic Party. Paasivuori was the Chairman of the Social Democratic Party on three occasions: 1909–1911, 1913–1917 and 1926–193 ...
Rafael Paasio
Kustaa Rafael Paasio, born Hellström (6 June 1903 – 17 March 1980) was a prominent Finnish politician and editor from Social Democratic Party. He served as Prime Minister of Finland twice.
Paasio was born in Uskela and was in contact with the ...
Artturi Järviluoma
Kustaa Artturi Järviluoma (9 August 1879 – 31 January 1942) was a Finnish journalist, screenwriter and author. Until 1902, he went by the name Jernström. He is best known for his play '' Pohjalaisia'' (The Ostrobothnians), which later formed t ...
Kaila
Kaila may refer to:
People with the surname Kaila:
* Eino Kaila (1890-1958), Finnish philosopher, critic and teacher
* Erkki Kaila (1867–1944), Finnish theologian, Archbishop of Turku
* Lauri Kaila, Finnish entomologist and researcher of biodi ...
, , Johansson , ,
Erkki Kaila
Erkki Kaila, previously Erik Johansson (2 June 1867 in Huittinen – 9 December 1944 in Turku) was the Archbishop of Turku, and the spiritual head of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland between 1935 and 1944. He was a Member of Parliament ...
and
Eino Kaila
Eino Sakari Kaila (8 August 1890 – 31 July 1958 In some reference books there is an incorrect death date 1958-08-01.) was a Finnish philosopher, critic and teacher. He worked in numerous fields including psychology (sometimes considered to be the ...
Eliel Soisalon-Soininen
Johan Mårten Eliel Soisalon-Soininen (born ''Johnsson'', raised to the nobility as ''Soisalon-Soininen''; 26 May 1856 – 6 February 1905) was a Finland, Finnish Chancellor of Justice.
Johnsson was born in Lieksa, Pielisjärvi, and graduated fr ...
, , 1904, ,
, -
, Jousi , , Junnelius, , , , 1906, ,
, -
, Juva, , Juvelius, , Einar W. Juva and
Mikko Juva
Mikko Einar Juva (22 November 1918 – 1 January 2004) was a Finnish historian, theologian and Lutheran archbishop.
Biography
He was professor in Nordic history 1957–1962 at the University of Turku and professor in Finnish and Scandinavian ...
Koskelo Koskelo is a Finnish surname. Notable people with the surname include:
* Juho Koskelo (1870–1942), Finnish-American singer and cellist
* Kaarlo Koskelo (1888–1953), Finnish wrestler
* Pauliine Koskelo
Pauliine Koskelo (née Järvelä; born Ju ...
Sauli Niinistö
Sauli Väinämö Niinistö (; born 24 August 1948) is a Finnish politician who has served as president of Finland since March 2012, the 12th person to hold that office.
A lawyer by education, Niinistö was Chairman of the National Coalition Part ...
Oskari Wilho Louhivuori
Oskari Wilho Louhivuori (18 September 1884 – 1 July 1953) was a Finnish politician
A politician is a person active in party politics, or a person holding or seeking an elected office in government. Politicians propose, support, rejec ...
Ernst Nevanlinna
Ernst Nevanlinna , originally ''Neovius'', (10 May 1873 – 7 September 1932) was a Finnish politician. He was born in Pielisjärvi, Lieksa, and was professor of economics in the University of Turku and editor in chief of Uusi Suomi newspaper from ...
Sukunimien muutokset (List of finnicized names)
{{Cultural assimilation, sp=ize
Social history of Finland
Finnish nationalism
Finnish language
Cultural assimilation