Finnish surnames are special because they show the variety of jobs and backgrounds within the Finnish population.
Finland is a pretty European country known for its fascinating surnames or last names. Learning about Finnish surnames or last names can help you understand their culture better.
Some last names come from a person’s ethnicity, while others come from their father’s name, job, or the area they are from. Some last names may have been chosen or taken on by the person. In this post, we will share a list of interesting Finnish last names and what they mean.
Popular Finnish Surnames Or Last Names with Meanings
- Aalto
The Finnish surname name Aalto comes from the Finnish name ‘Aalto,’ which means ‘wave,’ giving it an ornamental origin.
- Aho
The Finnish surname Aho comes from the name ‘Aho,’ which can mean either a ‘forest clearing’ or a ‘glade.’ During the 19th and early 20th centuries, Aho was used as a decorative name in Finland.
- Ahonen
The Finnish last name Ahonen comes from the Finnish name ‘Aho,’ which means ‘glade,’ and it translates to ‘small glade.’
- Annala
The Finnish surname Annala got its name from the female name ‘Anna’ and the ‘la’ ending.
- Anttila
The Finnish surname Anttila comes from the first name ‘Antti’ and the suffix ‘la’. The last name Anttila comes from a place where someone either works or lives on a farm called Anttila.
- Aro
The Finnish last name Aro comes from the name ‘Aro,’ which can mean ‘wet meadow,’ ‘relatively infertile ground,’ or ‘hard.’ The surname Aro also has an ornamental meaning.
- Arola
The Finnish surname ‘Arola’ comes from a place called ‘Arola’ in Europe, meaning that it has a historical connection to a particular geographical location.
- Autio
The Finnish surname Autio comes from the name ‘Autio’ which means deserted, so when we say Autio we are talking about a farm or field that has been left empty.
- Courie
Courie is a Finnish surname that comes from small places in France called Courie.
- Elo
The Finnish surname Elo comes from the name ‘Elo’ which means ‘harvest,’ ‘grain,’ or ‘life.’ It is believed to have originated as a decorative surname.
- Erkkila
Erkkila comes from the name of a farm called ‘Erkkila’ and also from the personal name ‘Erkki’ with the addition of the suffix ‘la.’
- Eskola
Eskola is a Finnish last name that comes from a farmstead called ‘Eskola.’ The name Esko also comes from the birth name ‘Esko’ with the ‘la’ added at the end.
- Haapala
Haapala is a Finnish surname that is not commonly known in other countries outside of Finland. The surname Haapala comes from the name ‘Haapa,’ which means ‘Aspen,’ with the addition of the ‘la’ suffix. The name Haapala has its roots in people who live or work at farms with that name.
- Haataja
The Finnish surname Haataja, which is an old Finnish family name, likely comes from the name ‘Haataa’ in a Finnish dialect, meaning ‘to work hard.’
- Hakala
The Finnish surname Hakala comes from the name ‘Haka,’ which means ‘paddock’ or ‘pasture,’ giving it a toponymic origin. It is also considered an ornamental name.
- Halko
The Finnish surname Halko comes from the name ‘Halko,’ which means ‘split log’ or a ‘piece of wood.’ This last name has roots in the occupation of a wood-cutter.
- Halla
The Finnish last name Halla comes from the name ‘Halla’ which means ‘Frost’ or ‘fallow field.’ It is also used as an ornamental name by many people in Finland.
- Halonen
The Finnish surname Halonen is derived from the combination of ‘Hali,’ which is a first or personal name, and ‘nen,’ which is a suffix commonly used in surnames.
- Hamalainen
The Finnish surname Hamalainen comes from a region in central Finland called Hame province.
- Hanninen
The Finnish last name Hanninen is believed to come from the German name Johannes, with the addition of the surname ending ‘nen.’
- Hannula
The Finnish surname Hannula comes from the name ‘Hannu,’ which is a variation of the German name Johannes, with the addition of the suffix ‘la.’ Hannula was also used as the name for multiple farmsteads, giving it a toponymic origin.
- Harju
The Finnish last name Harju comes from the name ‘Harju’ which means ‘a ridge.’ It has its roots in a place name, indicating people who lived on a ridge near a river.
- Hautala
The Finnish last name Hautala comes from the Finnish name ‘Hauta,’ which means ‘pit,’ combined with the suffix ‘la.’ This name Hautala might have been used for a farm with a pit used for storage, burning charcoal, or cooking.
- Heikkila
The Finnish last name Heikkila comes from the personal name ‘Heikki,’ which is based on the German name Heinrich, and includes the ending ‘la.’ Heikkila is commonly used to refer to someone who comes from a family led by a person named Heikki.
- Heikkinen
A popular last name in Finland, Heikkinen comes from the first name ‘Heikki’ paired with the ending ‘nen.’
- Heino
It comes from the Finnish name ‘heina’ which means ‘hay.’ The name might have been chosen for decoration.
- Hietala
The Finnish last name Hietala comes from the Finnish name ‘hieta’ which means ‘sand’ and the suffix ‘la.’ This last name could have also been used for naming various farmsteads with sandy grounds.
- Hiltunen
The Finnish surname Hiltunen comes from an old German name ‘hild’ which means ‘strife’ or ‘battle.’ The surname is created by adding the suffix ‘nen’ to this name.
- Honkala
The Finnish surname Honkala comes from the Finnish name for ‘pine tree,’ indicating its decorative roots.
- Huhta
The Finnish last name originates from the Finnish name ‘Huhta,’ which means ‘forest clearing’ or ‘glade.’ This means that the surname comes from a place name.
- Jarvela
The Finnish surname Jarvela comes from the Finnish name ‘jarvi,’ which means ‘lake,’ with the ‘la’ suffix added to it.
- Jarvi
The Finnish last name ‘Jarvi’ originates from the Finnish name for ‘lake.’ It is a name that likely refers to individuals who lived near a lake. It could also have been chosen as a decorative name by a specific group of people.
- Jokela
The Finnish last name Jokela comes from the Finnish name ‘joki,’ which means ‘river.’ It is a type of surname that describes people who lived near a river.
- Jokinen
The Finnish last name Jokinen comes from the first name ‘Joki,’ which means ‘river.’ It might also have been used by people connected to or employed by the Jokela family.
- Juntunen
The Finnish surname Juntunen is a shortened version of the birth names ‘Juntto’ or ‘Juntti,’ with the addition of the suffix ‘nen.’
- Kallio
The surname Kallio comes from the Finnish name for ‘rock.’ It is believed that the surname may have been used for decorative purposes.
- Kangas
The Finnish surname Kangas comes from the Finnish name for ‘fabric’ or ‘cloth.’ It is possible that this name was given to a family involved in selling or making textiles.
- Kantola
The Finnish surname Kantola comes from the Finnish name ‘Kanto’ which means a tree stump. The name could either be based on a place or job.
- Kari
The Finnish surname Kari comes from the name that means ‘sandbar,’ ‘small island,’ or ‘stony rapids.’ It is a surname that has both a toponymic and ornamental background.
- Karjala
Karjala comes from a Finnish surname that means ‘cattle.’ It is a name given to people who used to work as cattle farmers or herdsmen.
- Kauppi
Kauppi is a version of the name ‘Jakaupr,’ which comes from the first name ‘Jacob.’
- Kemppainen
The Finnish last name Kemppainen likely originates from the Swedish term ‘kampe,’ which refers to a warrior or soldier.
- Keranen
The Finnish surname Keranen is likely to come from the Finnish name ‘Kerapaa,’ which might have been a nickname for someone with short hair or a round head.
- Keto
The Finnish surname ‘Keto’ comes from a Finnish name that means ‘grassy field’ or ‘meadow.’ This last name probably comes from a place name or may have been linked to a farm.
- Ketola
The Finnish last name is based on a Finnish name that means ‘meadow’ or ‘field.’
- Kilpela
The Finnish surname Kilpela originates from the Finnish name ‘kilpi,’ which translates to ‘shield,’ and is combined with the suffix ‘la.’
- Kinnunen
The Finnish surname probably comes from the Swedish name ‘skinn’ which means ‘pelt’ or ‘hide.’ This name is likely to have been associated with a particular occupation.
- Kivela
The Finnish last name comes from the Finnish name ‘kivi’ which means ‘stone.’ The name was likely first used for farm properties that had this surname.
- Kivi
The surname Kivi in Finnish means ‘stone’ or ‘pebble.’ This last name is likely based on a specific location.
- Koivisto
The Finnish surname Koivisto comes from the Finnish name ‘koivu,’ which translates to ‘birch tree.’ It is a name that relates to people who lived near a forest of birch trees.
- Kokko
The Finnish surname Kokko comes from the Finnish name ‘kotka,’ which means ‘eagle.’
- Korhonen
The Finnish surname Korhonen comes from a nickname ‘Korho,’ which means ‘deaf person.’ It might have originally been used to describe someone clumsy or someone who keeps to themselves.
- Korpela
The Finnish last name Korpela comes from the Finnish name ‘Kopri’ which means a faraway forest. It is likely that the name Korpela originated from a place name.
- Koskela
The Finnish surname is based on a Finnish name ‘koski’ which means ‘rapids’ or ‘waterfall.’
- Kotila
The Finnish last name Kotila comes from the Finnish name ‘koti,’ which means ‘home.’ It is likely that this name was originally based on the name of a place where people lived, like a farm.
- Kujala
The Finnish last name Kujala comes from the Finnish name ‘kuja’ which means ‘lane’ or ‘alley.’ It is a toponymic name and might have indicated a house or farm located near lanes or alleys.
- Kumpula
The Finnish surname Kumpula comes from the Finnish name ‘kumpu,’ which means ‘grassy mound,’ and has the surname suffix ‘la.’
- Kurtti
The surname Kurtti comes from the Finnish name ‘Kurtti,’ which originally comes from the Germanic name ‘Kurt.’
- Kuusisto
The Finnish surname ‘Kuusisto’ comes from the Finnish name for ‘spruce,’ which is ‘kuusi.’ The name Kuusisto has a geographical origin.
- Kyllo
The Finnish last name Kyllo comes from the Finnish name ‘kylla,’ which means ‘yes.’ It is believed that the name was likely used for decoration.
- Laakso
The Finnish surname Laakso in Finnish means ‘valley.’ It is a name that refers to people who lived in or near a valley.
- Lahti
The last name Lahti originates from the Finnish name ‘lahti’, which means a bay or cove. It is believed to be a toponymic name or possibly have an ornamental meaning.
- Laine
The Finnish surname Laine comes from Finnish and means ‘wave.’ Laine can be a name based on a place or used for decoration.
- Laitinen
The Finnish last name Laitinen comes from the Germanic name ‘Laiti’ followed by the surname suffix ‘nen’.
- Lampi
The Finnish surname Lampi comes from the Finnish name ‘lampi,’ which means ‘pond.’ This name is based on a place.
- Lampo
It’s a different version of the name Lampi. Another possible source of the last name could be the name ‘Alampo,’ which comes from the Greek personal name ‘Eulampios’ meaning ‘most splendid.”
- Lassila is a Finnish last name. Lassila comes from the Swedish name ‘Lasse’ with the addition of ‘la’ at the end. It essentially translates to ‘Lasse’s place.’
- Lauri
The Finnish surname Lauri comes from the name ‘Lauri,’ which originally comes from the Latin name ‘Laurentius.’
- Lehtinen
The Finnish last name Lehtinen comes from the Finnish name ‘Lehti,’ which means ‘leaf.’ It is probably a last name or decorative name that was taken on by someone.
- Lehto
The Finnish surname Lehto comes from the Finnish name for ‘grove.’ This name has its roots in the location where someone lived, specifically near a grove or orchard.
- Leino
The last name Leino probably comes from the Finnish names ‘leini,’ ‘leina,’ or ‘leino,’ which mean ‘sad’ or ‘weak.’ It was most likely used as a decorative name.
- Lepisto
The Finnish surname Lepisto comes from the Finnish name ‘Leppa,’ which means ‘alder tree.’ It is believed to be a Finnish surname based on a place name.
- Leppanen
The Finnish surname Lappanen originates from the Finnish name ‘Leppa,’ which means ‘alder tree.’ It would have been used to describe people who lived at a farm called Leppa or near a forest of alder trees.
- Linna
It is the Finnish surname for ‘castle.’ This last name might have initially described people who were employed in a castle or resided close to a castle.
- Luoma
The origin of the Finnish surname ‘Luoma’ is from Finland, where it means a mole or a reddish mark on the face. It could have started as a nickname and eventually became a last name.
- Maijala
The Finnish surname Maijala comes from the Finnish term ‘Maja,’ which translates to ‘hut’ or ‘cottage.’
- Makela
The surname Makela is a name that comes from the Finnish name ‘maki,’ which means ‘hill.’
- Maki
The Finnish surname Maki means ‘hill.’ It is either a name based on a specific place or a name chosen for its decorative sound.
- Manner
‘Mainland’ or ‘continent’ is what the Finnish surname refers to. The name was probably chosen for decorative purposes.
- Manni
It is a Finnish last name that has been passed down and probably comes from the Icelandic name ‘Manni,’ which translates to ‘Man.’
- Nieminen
Nieminen is a Finnish last name that comes from the Finnish name ‘Niemi’ which means ‘peninsula.’
- Nikula
The Finnish surname Nikula comes from the Finnish personal name ‘Niku,’ which is derived from the name Nicholas.
- Nurmi
The last name is a Finnish name that refers to an area of land covered in grass or used for grazing animals. The surname could be related to the land’s location, the work done on the land, or simply chosen for aesthetic purposes.
- Oja
This Finnish last name is derived from the Finnish name ‘oja,’ which refers to a man-made ditch or dike.
- Partanen
Partanen was originally a nickname that comes from the Finnish name ‘parta’ which means ‘beard.’
- Peura
Peura is a Finnish last name that comes from the Finnish name ‘Puro,’ which means ‘stream’ or ‘creek.’
- Pietila
This surname comes from the Finnish first name ‘Pieti,’ which is related to the name ‘Peter.’
- Ranta
This surname comes from the name ‘Ranta’ in Finnish, which means ‘shore’ or ‘beach.’ The name probably originated from a place name.
- Rautio
The Finnish surname Rautio comes from a job title and translates to ‘smith’ in the Finnish language.
- Rinnie
The Finnish surname ‘Rinnie’ comes from the Finnish name ‘Rinne,’ which means a sloping or hilly area. Rinnie has both a place-name and decorative origin.
- Ruona
The Finnish surname Ruona comes from the name ‘ruona,’ which means ‘alluvial land’ or ‘creek.’ The name is also a shorter form of other similar last names like Ruonala, Ruonakangas, and Ruonakoski.
- Saari
The surname Saari in Finnish means ‘island.’ This surname is used to refer to people who once lived on an island.
- Saksa
The surname Saksa comes from the Germanic name ‘Sachs,’ which means ‘Saxon.’ It probably originated as a way to describe German traders based on their ethnicity.
- Salo
It is a last name that is based on a location and originates from a name in Finnish that means a wild forested area.
- Seppanen
Seppanen comes from the Finnish name ‘seppa,’ which translates to ‘smith.’ This means that the name is related to a person’s occupation as a metal worker.
- Takala
The Finnish last name comes from the Finnish name ‘taka,’ which means ‘behind,’ ‘back,’ or ‘rear.’ Takala originates from a place name, suggesting that it comes from a farm located far away or in a distant location.
- Toivonen
The Finnish surname Toivonen comes from the Finnish name ‘toivo,’ which means ‘hope.’ It is believed to be a decorative last name.
- Tuomala
Tuomala is a fancy surname that combines the name ‘Tuomas,’ an alternate form of Thomas, with the ending ‘la.’
- Vanhanen
The Finnish surname Vanhanen comes from the Finnish name ‘Vanha,’ which translates to ‘old.’
- Vitta
The Finnish surname Vitta comes from the ancient German name ‘vitu’ which means ‘forest.’ Vitta is probably a surname based on a specific location.
Frequently Asked Questions
Finnish surnames or last names come from various places and farmsteads in the country. Surnames like Arola, Halla, and Jarvi are based on locations, while names like Erkkila, Autio, and Eskola come from farms. By looking at these popular Finnish surname or last names, you can learn about the country’s unique naming system and their roots in Old German, Swedish, and German languages.
