What Do Swedish Finn Surnames Mean?
A surname is often the first clue to a family’s past. This guide explains the main types of Swedish Finn surnames, how they were formed and what they can tell you about your ancestors.
Genealogy
Are you my cousin? – by Carl V. Lillvik
This edition of the Occasional Dispatch looks at a personal example of how brothers born in the US moved back to Finland with their Finnish family, returned to the US several years later and ended up with totally different last names. There is an explanation you likely haven't heard before.
Migration and relationships over the Gulf of Bothnia
Across generations, close ties of migration and marriage bridged the Gulf of Bothnia between Sweden and Finland. Parish registers and family chronicles continue to reveal how deeply shared these coastal roots truly are.
Sofia’s Story
Sofia’s Story by Maggie PattersonRead more family history uncovered by Maggie Patterson in the article Sorting Out Grandpa—A Deep Dive into Deception I love this picture…
Stanley Nelson’s Search For Relatives
This article originated in the NORDEN newspaper, 31 August 2000. Translated by June Pelo. Nine-year old Erik Westerholm sat on a plane from Yttermark to America…
Progenitors
by June PeloSource unknown. A progenitor (one who begets or brings forth) is an ancestor in the direct line, or a forefather. Any man or woman…
Our Heritage—Our Names
Source: excerpts from the ‘Freas Family book’. Translated by June Pelo. The recorded past is available for us to discover. We can define our personal heritage at…
Klockars Farm and Family in Malax
Written by John Forsberg, March 1994.Translated by June Pelo. According to expert interpretation of the indistinct text in the Malax communion book of 1667, Jåpa(r)s farm…
Missing ‘Indberg’ Family Branch is Found
Pia Norrgård, Österbottningen, Norden 2 Sep 2004.Translated by June Pelo. For over 60 years Kia Schley’s father Karl-Erik Inberg searched for relatives in the United States. When…
Scandinavian Naming Practices – Genealogy Research in Scandinavia
By June Pelo. Prior to about 1850 all Scandinavian countries used a form of patronymics. The given name of a father was used as a surname…
Search for Origin & Definition of Place Names
By Edvin Brännbacka.Sources: Translated by June Pelo. It is risky for an amateur to give such difficult information about the origins of our early place…
Literacy in Finland—the Start of Church Records
Extracts from Finnish Genealogical Research, by Vincent and Tapio.June Pelo. In 1660 Johanes Gezelius the Elder was appointed Bishop of Åbo. His priority when he arrived…
