Surname Meronen - Meaning and Origin

Meronen: What does the surname Meronen mean?

The last name Meronen is a Finnish surname of uncertain origin. It is believed to be derived from the Nordic word "mero", meaning small lake or pond. The Meronen surname is found most commonly in Finland, where it is the fifth most common last name.

The earliest mentions of the name Meronen in Finland date to 1686 near the region of Viipuri, in the historical province of Karelia. The name was also found among other Finnish settlers in St. Petersburg, Russia in the 19th century.

The name Meronen has developed various meanings and nicknames over time, including Meronenportti ("Meronen's Gate") and Merosenportti ("Port of Meronen"). In some cases, it has come to be seen as a reference to the Meronarkko river in northern Finland, while in others it has been associated with the Meronniemi isthmus in the north of the country.

The current bearer of the Meronen name is Aino Meronen (born in 1946), who is a prominent poet and playwright from Karelia, Finland. The Meronen surname is passed down through many generations across Finland, and its connection to literature and the arts has created a strong bond among Meronens.

Meronen: Where does the name Meronen come from?

The last name Meronen is most common in Finland. According to Statistics Finland, Meronen is the 158th most common family name in the country, and is found in most of the major cities throughout the region.

In the United States, the last name Meronen is much more sparse, but still present. According to the United States Census Bureau, an estimated 500 people in the United States carry the name. Most are concentrated in California, followed by Minnesota, Wisconsin, and New York.

The Meronens clustered in California most often trace their ancestry to the Finnish immigrants who moved to the West Coast during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Many of those immigrants were miners looking for work in the burgeoning gold and silver fields of the West. Later, during World War II, when Finland and the United States were allies, some members of the Finnish Air Force were stationed in California, and some may have chosen to stay after the war.

In Finland, the Meronen surname can be traced back to 1817. The majority of Meronens in Finland today come from the southwestern city of Turku. While the Meronen name is still common in Finland today, there are fewer members of the family living in their ancestral homes and many who have moved away to pursue employment opportunities in other parts of the world.

Variations of the surname Meronen

The surname Meronen is of Finnish origin, and is generally known as Meronen or Meronan. Variants and spellings of the same origin include Meronin, Meronnen, Meronnenen, Meronelse, Meronena, and Meronenka.

The surname can also take on the shape of alternate spellings and derivations. Some of these include Merrugnon, Merroust, Meroin, Merouanne, Merrowen, Merowene, Meronins, Merrins, Merrinsen, Merrunsan, Merrunsen, Merrilyn, Meryn, Merrand, Merryn, Merrin, Murren, Murron and Murroun.

Through the process of natural linguistic evolution, this surname can also be found with various suffixes. These can be -en, -son, -sen, -man, -ner, -sonen, and -ander. Examples of this include, among others, Meroltesen, Merriholetsen, Merilongson, Merolaason, Merorbatsen, Merilanders, Merrigpasson, and Merrijitsen.

The surname can also be found with the prefixes Mac and Mc, giving the surnames MacMeronen, McMeronen, MacMeronin, McMeronin, MacMeronnen, and McMeronnen.

In some cases, as with other last names, various spellings can be used to form patronyms, diminutives, and/or pet names. Examples of this are Mikko Meronen, Oiva Meronen, Miska Meronen, Outi Meronan, Meroska, and Meroo.

Altogether, the surname Meronen can take on many forms, all of which are related to the same origin.

Famous people with the name Meronen

• Pekka Meronen, Finnish ski jumper who competed in three Winter Olympics between 1968 and 1972
• Rauni Meronen, Finnish politician who served as the mayor of Kajaani for three terms between 1970 and 1980
• Marko Meronen, Finnish former long-distance runner who competed in the 1992 Summer Olympics
• Raimo Meronen, Finnish politician who served as the mayor of Ilomantsi in 1999–2008
• Joonas Meronen, Finnish slalom canoeist who has competed since the late 2000s
• Santeri Meronen, Finnish ice hockey player for Tappara in the Liiga
• Aapo Meronen, Finnish Poker player who has won several tournaments in Europe
• Kalle Meronen, Finnish professional footballer who last played for IFK Mariehamn
• Simo Meronen, Finnish modern pentathlete who competed at the 2012 Summer Olympics
• Kristiina Meronen, Finnish orienteering competitor who won the gold medal at the 2014 World Mountain Running championships

Other surnames