Surname Keskinen - Meaning and Origin
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Keskinen: What does the surname Keskinen mean?
The last name Keskinen is a Finnish surname, derived from the Finnish word "keski," meaning "middle." The name is thought to be the surname of those who lived in or near the middle of the region that is now Finland. It may also have been given to families that had a place of importance in the community, such as the local blacksmith or miller. Historically, the name Keskinen is most common in eastern parts of Finland, especially in the regions around the city of Kuopio.
The traditional meaning of Keskinen is derived from its literal translation of "middle". However, some believe that the surname originated from a manor house called Kessinari, from which its name was derived. It is also thought to be related to the old Finnish word kesä, meaning “summer”, signifying that families might have been early settlers in the area or were active in the summer season.
The original spelling of the name is a bit tricky, however. The spelling of the name has changed over generations, with some common variations being Keskinen, Keskino, Keskin, Kesselin and Kassinen.The spelling is likely to have been changed based on local dialects.
Despite the uncertainty of its origin, the surname Keskinen is broad and common, indicating that it was likely popular among many generations of people in Finland. It has strong ties to the Finnish culture and heritage and holds a unique connection to the country’s past.
Order DNA origin analysisKeskinen: Where does the name Keskinen come from?
The last name Keskinen is most commonly seen in Finland. In recent years, population data shows that a large number of Keskinen's have moved to metropolitan areas, particularly cities such as Helsinki and Tampere. This may be due to the fact that many jobs are located in those cities.
The Keskinen surname is derived from the Finnish word keskinen, which means "for axe". Keskinen is an old family name which originated in Finland, probably near the small town of Hämeenkyrö. The first mention of the name was recorded in 1398. Today, many Keskinen's have moved to other countries, and the name can also be found in Estonia, Sweden, Norway, and the United States.
Keskinen is a relatively common Finnish surname, ranking 185th in popularity on a list of over 5,000 surnames. According to the Population Register Centre, there were 11,051 Keskinen family members living in Finland as of 2017. Overall, there were 15,856 people in Finland with the same last name. It is estimated that there are more than 2,000 Keskinen's living in Sweden and 1,500 in the United States.
The MyHeritage research website also recorded over 8,000 individuals with the surname Keskinen. Many of them are still living in the original Finnish regions where the family originated. However, some have dispersed to other Scandinavian countries, and into Europe, the Americas, and other parts of the world.
Variations of the surname Keskinen
Keskinen is a Finnish surname. Variants of the surname include Keskine, Keskin, Keksinen, Keksinnen, Keksin, Keksio, Keksia, Keskininen, Kesisonen, Kaeskinen, Kaskinen, and Kaskia. Variations of the spelling may also include Kaskeinen, Kaiskinen, Kaiskia, Kaeskinen, Kaisko, and Kaesio.
The surname Keskinen is derived from the name Kaskeinen, which would have been used to refer to those who lived near a bridge. This would have specifically been on regions of Finland such as Oulu and the coastal area of the Baltic Sea. The name originates from the Finnish words 'kaski' and 'os' meaning bridge and headland respectively.
The surname is common and has many related forms on the Official Registry of Surnames in Finland. Examples include Kaeskinen, Kaskinen, Kaskeinen, Keskinen, Kaskia, Kaskela, Kaiskinen, Kaesio, Kaisko, Keksinen, Keksinnen and Keksin.
In addition, other related surnames originating from the same locations include Kasla, Kesti, Kestilä, Kestner, and Kestävä. These surnames have similar origin stories and are often linked to places or regions associated with bridges.
In Finland, the surname Keskinen is one of the top 250 most common surnames as per 2020 statistics issued by the Population Register Centre of Finland. The surname is also popular in the Scandinavian countries of Denmark, Norway and Sweden.
Famous people with the name Keskinen
- Antti Keskinen (born 1970), Finnish athlete and multiple world champion in high-jumping.
- Pekka Keskinen (born 1968), Finnish Olympic wrestler.
- Jari Keskinen (born 1953), Finnish ski jumping champion.
- Antti Keskinen (born 1970), Finnish former ice hockey player and World Champion in 1995.
- Suvi Keskinen (born 1992), Finnish singer and songwriter.
- Reijo Keskinen (born 1951), Finnish former ski-jumper and Olympic medalist.
- Janne Keskinen (born 1968), Finnish ski-jumper and six-time Nordic skiing world champion.
- Joonas Keskinen (born 1996), Finnish professional ice hockey player.
- Pirjo Keskinen (born 1962), Finnish politician and former minister.
- Juha Keskinen (born 1968), Finnish contemporary artist.