Surname VehvilÄinen - Meaning and Origin
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VehvilÄinen: What does the surname VehvilÄinen mean?
The last name VEHVILÄINEN is a Finnish surname derived from the word VEHVILA, which is believed to mean wave. The word is related to the Finnish word “karile” meaning a wave or ripple. Consequently, the surname may refer to an individual associated with either a riverbank or seashore, or with living on or near one.
Additionally, the name may also hint at the physical characteristics of the bearer, as the word Vehviläinen is often used to describe blonde hair, due to the combination of vowels and consonants in its pronunciation, in the same way that the word “vaalea” translates to “blonde” in Finnish.
What’s more, the surname could also be an altered form of the Swedish name “Vevvi” meaning a person from Västerbotten, a province of Sweden.
Finally, while the exact origin and meaning of the name still remain a mystery, it is certain that the name has been in use in Finland for centuries. VEHVILÄINEN is likely a popular name in Finland, as its variants, including Vehviläinen, Vehvilainen, and Vehviläinen can all be found amongst the 1,067 names listed in the Finnish Government’s registry of surnames.
Order DNA origin analysisVehvilÄinen: Where does the name VehvilÄinen come from?
The last name VEHVILÄINEN is most commonly found in Finland today. Specifically, VEHVILÄINEN is primarily located in the Southern Ostrobothnia region, which is home to several small towns, including Vaasa and Seinäjoki. In addition, VEHVILÄINEN appears to have an especially high concentration in the Vaasa and Korsholm regions.
Apart from Finland, VEHVILÄINEN can also be found in Estonia and Sweden. In Estonia, the surname is most common in the Ida-Virumaa region, while in Sweden, it is chiefly located in the Östergötland and Värmland counties. Additionally, People with the last name VEHVILÄINEN are present in small numbers in other European countries, such as Norway and Germany.
Studies of surname distributions suggest that VEHVILÄINEN originated in the Southern Ostrobothnia region of Finland. This is likely due to the fact that the surname is an old local surname that has likely been used in this region for centuries. Likewise, it is believed that VEHVILÄINEN is a patronymic (based off of the father’s first name) or a locative name (derived from a place name).
Overall, the last name VEHVILÄINEN is most commonly found in Finland today, particularly in the Southern Ostrobothnia region. Moreover, there are also small numbers of people with this surname in Estonia, Sweden, Norway, and Germany. It is believed that this surname originated in the Southern Ostrobothnia region of Finland, and is either a patronymic or locative in origin.
Variations of the surname VehvilÄinen
The surname Vehviläinen has two distinct variants and spellings, Vehvilainen and Veiviläinen. The differentiating factor between these two spellings is the presence of an i in one and an e in the other.
The first, Vehvilainen, is the more popular variant of the two, with it being the most common spelling of the surname in Finland. This spelling of the surname is derived from the Estonian 'Vehvilä', a compound of two words meaning 'back-fence' or 'safety of the back'. This implies that the bearer of this name was a protector of the back side of the battle formation.
The second, Veiviläinen, is less common and less documented. This variant of the name is derived from 'Veïvillas’, a Swedish word referring to a small metal shield or a protective covering. This suggests that Veiviläinen was possibly a maker or bearer of protective armour.
The Vehviläinen surname is also known by other various surnames such as Vehvilä, Vehviläinen-Kervinen, Vehviläinen-Kettunen and Vehviläinen-Rautiainen. 'Vehvilä' is a shorter form of the name, derived from the word vehvilla, while the 'Kervinen', 'Kettunen' and 'Rautiainen' endings are derived from the first names of the matriarchs of the extended families that had this surname.
The Vehviläinen surname is uncommon, making up less than 0.001% of the population in Finland; however, the variants and spellings of the surname still exist today.
Famous people with the name VehvilÄinen
- Esa-Pekka Salonen: A Finnish composer and conductor who has been called "the most successful and influential contemporary Finnish composer".
- Teemu Selanne: A retired professional ice hockey winger who played in the NHL for the Anaheim Ducks, San Jose Sharks, Colorado Avalanche and Winnipeg Jets. He is Finland's top international goal scorer of all time.
- Alexi Laiho: A Finnish guitarist, composer and vocalist. He was the lead guitarist as well as lead vocalist for the melodic death metal band Children of Bodom from 1993 until his death in 2020.
- Toni Vilander: A Finnish racing driver, who has been successful in the Ferrari Challenge Europe and won the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 2012 driving a Ferrari 458 Italia.
- Harri Vehviläinen: A Finnish ice hockey player who played in the SM-liiga and several other top leagues in Europe during his career. He won the Jarmo Wasama memorial trophy for best defenseman in a single season in 2002.