Swedish Finn Surnames in America
Excerpts from Finnish Americana, by Marianne Blomqvist.Translated by June Pelo. After arriving in America, many immigrants anglicized their Christian and family names. This was done to…
Learn about culture, traditions, and history.
Swede Finn Junction
Terjärv Emigration
By Ole Granholm, Österbottningen newspaper, 2 Feb 2003.Translated by June Pelo. A search of the church archives reveals that 1,800 Terjärv residents emigrated to the United…
The Family
Excerpts from “Finnish Folk Culture” by Ilmar Talve.Translated by June Pelo. The family has been the basic unit of the community in Finland since prehistoric times.…
The Immigrant Journey—Passing through Ellis Island
Excerpts from “Liberty” by Leslie Allen.Submitted by June Pelo. The tide of immigration ran high in 1850, but the 25 years before World War I brought…
The Legacy of Johannes Granö, a Priest in Siberia —Son, J.G. Granö & Grandson, Olavi Granö
By Ole Granholm, 2004.Translated by June Pelo. Johannes Granö felt the urge to travel to Siberia in the fall of 1880 after he met Pastor Udelius…
Korpilainen Homestead in Korplax Village, Karleby Parish
By Hans-Erik Krokfors; Asst. Professor of Marketing at Åbo (Turku) Finland. Krokfors special hobby is genealogy in Karleby Parish, and he has a database of over…
Warg Family in Gamlakarleby
By Leo Nyholm, Genos 1997, Vol. 4.I thank TM Helvi Ukkola who negotiated completion of the information, and Helge Smedjebacka of Terjärv who kindly gave me…
Finns taken as Prisoners by Russians during Stora Ofreden 1714-1715
Reported by Henricus Engmarck, chaplain Gamlakarleby, 17 November 1721 Mikko Himanka submitted this to Karebynejden No., 38, 2006. He noted that the Russians probably burned the…
East Tawas, Michigan
Written by G. B. (full name unknown) in Österbottningen, Gamlakarleby, Finland, 3 Feb 1939.Translated by June Pelo. East Tawas, Michigan can hardly be considered one of the…
Finns Who Speak Swedish
Excerpts from “Insight Guides – Finland”.Translated by June Pelo. Swedish-speaking parents in Finland face hard choices. If their own Swedish mother tongue is to continue, their…
Emigrants from Gamlakarleby & Karleby—Declared Dead by the Court
From Karlebynejden, Nr. 34, 2002.Translated by June Pelo. Declared dead as of 1.1.1915: Declared dead as of 1.1.1929: Declared dead as of 1.1.1930: Declared dead as…
Early Towns of Finland
Excerpted from “Finnish Folk Culture” by Ilmar Talve.Translated by June Pelo. During the Middle Ages there were only six towns in Finland, and eight in…
