Surname Korhonen - Meaning and Origin
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Korhonen: What does the surname Korhonen mean?
The Finnish surname Korhonen is derived from the word "korho" which means "grieving, sorrowful".
Korhonen is a patronymic surname, meaning it is derived from the father’s first name. Because the Finnish language utilizes patronymic naming, the surname Korhonen doesn’t necessarily describe one specific family tree or branch, but rather represents multiple families that trace their ancestry back to a common male ancestor who was sorrowful or grieving.
The Korhonens can trace their lineage all the way back to 1490 in a small farming village called Laihia in the Ostrobothnia region of Finland. In the area surrounding Laihia, many surnames with the same root that originated from this region have been noted, suggesting that this region was a starting point for this branch of Korhonens.
Korhonen is still a common surname among many Finns in Finland today, and is also found across the world among the Finnish diaspora. Although the original meaning of the surname has been lost to time, what remains are the family trees and branches of the original clans of Korhonens, reaching all the way back to 1490 and their roots in the Ostrobothnia region of Finland.
Order DNA origin analysisKorhonen: Where does the name Korhonen come from?
The last name Korhonen is a common surname originating in Finland and Sweden. It is derived from the Finnish word for “list” or “catalogue” and is found particularly in northern European countries.
The Korhonen family is most common in Finland, where it ranks as one of the top 100 surnames. It is estimated that there are around 30,000 people in Finland who share the Korhonen surname, with the highest concentration of them located in the Northern Savo region. Additionally, people with the Korhonen surname are found in various parts of Sweden and Norway, as well as in other countries where Finnish immigrants have settled, such as the United States, Canada, and Australia.
The Korhonen family is an old and distinguished one, having a long history in Finland. Among the most famous Korhonen clan members is sculptor Wäinö Aaltonen, who created some of Finland’s best-known public art works. Several famous sports players and musicians also come from the Korhonen family, including former Finnish Olympian hockey player Antti-Jussi Korhonen and singer-songwriter Jens Korhonen.
Today, the Korhonen family continues to be respected and admired, and its name remains one of the most common in Finland and throughout the Nordic countries.
Variations of the surname Korhonen
KORHONEN is a mainly Finnish surname. This surname has several variants, spellings and surnames of similar origin.
KORHONEN can be spelled in different ways, including Korhonen, Korhonta, Korhonen, Korhonen, and Karhonta. Others spell the last name as Koronczyk, Koroszczyn, Koroszka, Koroska, or Gorszczuk.
KORHONEN has many other surnames with the same origin. These include Gallison, Gjerde, Girden, and Girten. Other similar surnames include Karhu, Karkki, Karonen, and Karrinen.
‘KORHONEN’ is an occupational surname derived from the Finnish word ‘korho’, which means witch, an ancient Finnic god. The word is connected to the myth of the summer solstice, when witches danced with the spirits of the forest. One version of the name, ‘Karki,’ means ‘blade’ or ‘knife,’ suggesting someone whose ancestor was a knife maker or sharpener.
Some variants of KORHONEN are more common than others. For example, ‘Korhonen’ is the most popular spelling, while ‘Korhonta’ is often found in the southern Finnish region of Karelia. Similarly, ‘Koronczyk’ is typically found among Polish-Americans, while ‘Koroszczyn’ is more common among those of Jewish-Polish descent.
No matter what version of the surname is chosen, it’s important to remember that KORHONEN is a Finnish surname which is still heavily associated with summer solstice-related myth, and symbols of blades and knives.
Famous people with the name Korhonen
- Emmi Korhonen: Chef, Entrepreneur, and Life Coach from Finland.
- Maarit Korhonen: Politician from Finland.
- Atte Korhonen: Footballer from Finland.
- Mika Korhonen: Professional golfer from Finland.
- Jarmo Korhonen: Former ice hockey player from Finland.
- Kari Korhonen: Actor, director, and playwright from Finland.
- Jere Korhonen: Entrepreneur from Finland and the CEO of Selecta Group.
- Juha Korhonen: Businessman and the former CEO of the Finnish Defense Forces.
- Eeva-Riitta Korhonen: Folk artist from Finland.
- Tuomas Korhonen: Actor from Finland.