Finland, with its breathtaking landscapes and rich cultural heritage, has a fascinating tradition of surnames that reflect nature, occupations, and ancestral roots. Finnish last names often carry deep meanings, connecting families to the land, history, and even personal traits.
Whether you’re researching your Finnish ancestry, curious about the language, or just love names, this list of 120 popular Finnish surnames will give you insight into their origins and significance.
We’ve categorized them into nature-based, occupational, patronymic, and other unique surnames to make it easier to explore.
Nature-Inspired Finnish Surnames
Finnish culture is deeply tied to nature, so many surnames come from trees, animals, and landscapes.
- Virtanen – The most common Finnish surname, meaning “small stream” (virta = stream, -nen = diminutive suffix).
- Korhonen – Derived from korho, meaning “deaf” or “hard of hearing,” but also linked to old Finnish folklore.
- Mäkinen – From mäki, meaning “hill.”
- Nieminen – Means “peninsula” or “small cape” (niemi).
- Järvinen – Refers to a “lake” (järvi).
- Saarinen – Means “island” (saari).
- Laine – Translates to “wave.”
- Lehtonen – From lehto, meaning “grove” or “small forest.”
- Salminen – Refers to a “strait” or “narrow water passage” (salmi).
- Koskinen – Means “rapids” (koski).
- Lahtinen – From lahti, meaning “bay.”
- Ranta – Means “shore” or “beach.”
- Metsä – Simply means “forest.”
- Kuusinen – Derived from kuusi, meaning “spruce tree.”
- Honkanen – From honka, meaning “old pine tree.”
- Koivisto – Means “birch grove” (koivu = birch).
- Puro – Means “brook” or “small stream.”
- Kallio – Means “rock” or “cliff.”
- Vuori – Translates to “mountain.”
- Salo – Refers to a “wild forest” or “uninhabited woodland.”
Occupational Finnish Surnames
Many Finnish surnames originate from traditional professions.
- Seppänen – Means “smith” (blacksmith).
- Rautio – Derived from rauta, meaning “iron,” often linked to blacksmiths.
- Kangas – Means “fabric” or “cloth,” possibly linked to weavers.
- Peltonen – From pelto, meaning “field,” indicating a farmer.
- Mylläri – Means “miller.”
- Kinnunen – Possibly related to kinnas (mitten), linked to leatherworkers.
- Mattila – Refers to a farm owned by someone named Matti.
- Karjalainen – Means “person from Karelia,” but also linked to cattle herders (karja = cattle).
- Mäkitalo – Means “hill house,” possibly a farmstead.
- Ahola – Means “field by a stream” (aho = clearing).
- Heikkinen – Derived from the name Heikki, often associated with farmers.
- Toivonen – From toivo, meaning “hope,” possibly a hopeful or optimistic person.
- Kujala – Means “lane” or “path,” possibly for someone living near one.
- Partanen – From parta, meaning “beard,” perhaps a nickname for a bearded man.
- Tikkanen – Means “woodpecker,” possibly a hunter or forest worker.
- Lampinen – From lampi, meaning “pond,” possibly a fisherman.
- Peltola – Another name meaning “field,” indicating farming roots.
- Repo – Means “fox,” possibly a hunter or fur trader.
- Varis – Means “crow,” perhaps a nickname for a talkative person.
- Susi – Means “wolf,” possibly a hunter or a fierce individual.
Patronymic & Ancestral Finnish Surnames
Many Finnish surnames come from first names, showing lineage.
- Anttila – “Antti’s farm.”
- Heinonen – “Son of Heino.”
- Pekkanen – “Son of Pekka.”
- Jokinen – “Son of Joki” (or related to joki = river).
- Eriksson – Finnish version of “Erik’s son.”
- Johansson – Finnish form of “Johan’s son.”
- Matikainen – “Descendant of Matti.”
- Oksanen – Possibly from Oksa (branch) or a variation of a first name.
- Hämäläinen – Originally meant “person from Häme” (a Finnish region).
- Pasanen – “Son of Paavo.”
- Tuominen – “Son of Tuomas.”
- Martikainen – “Descendant of Martti.”
- Liimatainen – Possibly from liima (glue), but also a patronymic form.
- Räsänen – “Son of Räsä” (old Finnish name).
- Kettunen – “Son of Kettu” (fox).
- Manninen – “Son of Manni” or related to manni (man).
- Penttilä – “Pentti’s farm.”
- Savolainen – “Person from Savonia” (a Finnish region).
- Uotila – “Uoti’s farm.”
- Viitala – “Viita’s farm.”
Unique & Descriptive Finnish Surnames
Some Finnish surnames describe traits, characteristics, or unique origins.
- Aalto – Means “wave.”
- Hurme – Means “gore” or “blood,” possibly a warrior’s name.
- Lumi – Means “snow.”
- Poutanen – From pouta, meaning “clear weather.”
- Sinisalo – Means “blue forest.”
- Valkonen – From valko, meaning “white.”
- Mustonen – Means “black” (musta), possibly dark-haired.
- Karvonen – From karva, meaning “fur” or “hair.”
- Pitkänen – Means “long” (pitkä), possibly tall.
- Lyytikäinen – Derived from lyhyt, meaning “short.”
- Ikonen – Means “icon,” possibly linked to religious art.
- Hirvonen – From hirvi, meaning “moose.”
- Ketola – Means “fox’s farm.”
- Keskinen – Means “middle” or “central.”
- Kuula – Means “bullet” or “ball.”
- Kiiski – Means “perch” (fish).
- Haapala – Means “aspen grove.”
- Leppänen – From leppä, meaning “alder tree.”
- Riikonen – Possibly from riikku (a dialect word for something small).
- Tammi – Means “oak tree.”
Modern & Less Common Finnish Surnames
Some surnames are rarer but still meaningful.
- Aho – Means “glade” or “clearing.”
- Huttunen – Possibly from huttu (a dialect word for disorder).
- Kivelä – Means “stone place.”
- Nurmi – Means “lawn” or “grassfield.”
- Rautiainen – Means “iron-like” or “strong.”
- Sipilä – From sipi, meaning “flake” or “petal.”
- Tervo – Means “tar,” possibly linked to tar-makers.
- Vilppula – Possibly from vilpas, meaning “quick.”
- Ylönen – Means “upper” or “higher.”
- Äijälä – From äijä, meaning “old man” or “boss.”
- Hietala – Means “sandy place.”
- Juntunen – Possibly from juntti (a dialect word for a sturdy person).
- Kainulainen – Refers to someone from Kainuu (a Finnish region).
- Lappalainen – Means “person from Lapland.”
- Moilanen – Possibly from moila (a dialect term).
- Niskanen – From niska, meaning “neck.”
- Ojala – Means “small river.”
- Paavola – “Paavo’s farm.”
- Ruotsalainen – Means “Swede” or “person from Sweden.”
- Suomalainen – Means “Finnish person.”
Military & Noble-Inspired Finnish Surnames
Some surnames have historical or noble roots.
- Aaltonen – “Wave’s descendant,” possibly noble.
- Häkkinen – From häkä, meaning “soot,” but also a strong surname.
- Kekkonen – Famous due to President Urho Kekkonen.
- Linna – Means “castle.”
- Sotavalta – Means “military power.”
- Virkkunen – Possibly from virkkaa (to weave).
- Wirtanen – Variant of Virtanen.
- Ylipää – Means “high head,” possibly noble.
- Knaapi – Means “page” or “servant.”
- Kreivi – Means “count.”
Rare & Unusual Finnish Surnames
Some surnames are unique or less common.
- Halla – Means “frost.”
- Kaihua – Possibly from kaiho, meaning “longing.”
- Liekki – Means “flame.”
- Mykkänen – From mykkä, meaning “mute.”
- Närhi – Means “jay” (bird).
- Onnela – Means “happy place.”
- Puro – Means “stream.”
- Riekki – Means “sand” or “grit.”
- Sade – Means “rain.”
- Tähti – Means “star.”
Final Thoughts
Finnish surnames are a beautiful blend of nature, history, and personal identity. Whether your last name is Virtanen, Korhonen, or something more unique, each carries a story; connecting you to Finland’s forests, lakes, and traditions.
Do you have a Finnish surname in your family? Share its meaning in the comments!
Hyvää päivää! (Have a good day!)