Surname Perttunen - Meaning and Origin
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Perttunen: What does the surname Perttunen mean?
The surname Perttunen is an ancient Finnish surname native to the northern part of the country, specifically to the provinces of Lapland and Northern Ostrobothnia. It is derived from the Finnish word ‘pertti’, which can refer either to a pet or a partner, and the suffix ‘-Una’ which implies ‘from’, thus roughly translating as ‘from the pet’ or ‘from the partner’.
In Traditional Finnish Society, families would often use a surname known as a ‘byname’, which was derived from a specific trade or activity of a family member and would reflect the family’s status, tradition, and origin. Perttunen may have been derived from such an activity or even the family’s general character. In the case of Perttunen, the term ‘pertti’, meaning ‘partner’, suggests that the family may have been viewed as socially valuable or even well-regarded during the time it was created.
The surname Perttunen is quite common in Finland, with many people of this surname living in urban and rural areas throughout the country. Although the origin of the name is unclear, it is clear that the name reflects some element of Finnish history and culture, providing a connection to the past and to the present.
Order DNA origin analysisPerttunen: Where does the name Perttunen come from?
The last name Perttunen is a very common surname in Finland, believed to originate from the ancient Finnish language. Its roots can be found in the Swedish and Finnish historical regions of Finland, known as Turunmaa and Uusimaa. In modern times, the name is still overwhelmingly concentrated in its native country and its population has grown to become one of the most widespread surnames in the country.
The Finnish word ‘perttunen’ itself also means ‘one who lives in Perttu’, a place in southern Finland. This suggests that the surname may have the strongest ties to this area of the country, or possibly to the central region of Finland. While this connection is speculative, it is quite likely that those with this last name hold roots in this area, where it is still very common today. In fact, the 2020 population report indicated that Perttunen is one of the top 10 surnames in Finland, with over 22,000 people carrying the name.
Outside of Finland, this name is also found in small pockets of Sweden, Norway and Canada, especially in the areas with strong Finnish heritage. As one of the ten most-represented surnames in Finland, it is safe to say that the last name Perttunen is alive and thriving in the places it calls home.
Variations of the surname Perttunen
The surname Perttunen is an uncommon, but not rare, surname in Finland. It is most likely derived from the noun “pertti” meaning “rock” and thus can be translated as “little rock” or “rocky”. The variants of this surname are Pertonen, Perdonen and Peratunen.
The most common spelling of Perttunen, Pertonen, is the variant most often used in Finland. This version is generally associated with the areas of Ostrobothnia and other parts of northern Finland.
On the other hand, Perdonen is more commonly used in southern Finland, including the areas of Turku, Häme, Uusimaa and Tavastia. The surname in this form is quite rare, and is closely related to the variants Perdanen and Pertanen.
The most rare variant of Perttunen is Peratunen. This is most likely a dialectal version of the first two variants and is mostly found in eastern Finland. It is rarely used as an actual surname.
In each case, the surname Perttunen is most often used in its original spelling and is uncommon in other variants. It has been used as a surname since at least the 15th century and is still in use today.
Famous people with the name Perttunen
- Reetta Perttunen, Finnish ice hockey defence player
- Lauri Perttunen, Finnish composer and record producer
- Sari Perttunen, Finnish singer
- Mika Perttunen, Finnish singer-songwriter
- Mika Perttunen, Finnish YouTube vlogger
- Imre Perttunen, Finnish composer
- Pirkko Perttunen, Finnish politician
- Perttu Perttunen, Finnish actor
- Akseli Perttunen, Finnish photographer
- Timo Perttunen, Finnish football player