Surname Setälä - Meaning and Origin
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Setälä: What does the surname Setälä mean?
The last name Setälä is a Finnish surname. The root of the name is setä, which means 'uncle' in Finnish. It is typically found in the regions of Pirkanmaa and Ostrobothnia in southwestern Finland.
Setälä is an uncommon surname, and is estimated to be held by around 650 people in Finland. The name is thought to be derived from the term setämestari, which means 'master uncle', and indicates that the original bearers of the name were respected members of the community.
In many cases, the surname Setälä was adopted from the given name of a father or grandfather, and is constructed from the first syllable of the male ancestor's name and the Finnish word for 'field'. This means that there is a large variety of surnames related to Setälä, like Setäinen, Setänmaa and Setälaakso, each combining the 'setä' or 'uncle' root with a different field or geographical location.
The most common variant of the name is Setälä, which is generally an occupational surname for a farmer, labourer or master craftsman. The Setälä people in Finland today are descendants of these farmers or craftsmen from the south of the country.
Setälä is a unique Finnish surname, with a long history that links it to leaders of the community, skilled craftsmen and farmers of centuries past. It is an uncommon and proud name that has been handed down through the generations.
Order DNA origin analysisSetälä: Where does the name Setälä come from?
The last name Setälä is most common today in Finland, where according to 2019 population statistics, it is the 52nd most common last name in the country. Outside of Finland, the last name is still relatively uncommon but can be found scattered among towns and cities across the globe.
In the United States, it’s especially common in states that were once home to a large number of Finnish immigrants, such as Minnesota, Maine, Michigan, and Wisconsin. In the city of Duluth, Minnesota, as many as 5.35% of the population possesses the last name Setälä.
In Canada, the last name has seen a surge in popularity over the past couple of decades as many Finnish-Canadians made the move to the country. Especially in the provinces of Ontario and British Columbia where the last name has become increasingly popular.
Additionally, Setälä can also be found in many countries in northern Europe such as Norway, Sweden, Denmark, and Germany. There are also several instances in which the last name appears in places further afield such as Estonia, Spain, China, and even the United States’ neighboring country, Mexico.
Overall, the Setälä surname is usually associated with Finland and is still quite rare throughout most of the world. However, despite its rarity, it is still possible to find instances of it in various parts of the world, particularly in those places that were once home to a large population of Finnish immigrants.
Variations of the surname Setälä
Setälä is a Finnish surname that has multiple variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin.
The most common variants of the surname are Setala, Setälä, Setä, Sethin, Sittala, Sidällä, Setlane, and Sethall.
The most common spelling variation of the surname is ‘Setälä’. Other spelling variations of the surname include Sethin, Sidälä, Setlan, and Sethall.
The most common surnames of the same origin are Setala, Setanen, Setälahti, Setäkangas, Setäläinen, Setterbacka, Setävaara, and Setäväisänen.
Other, less common Finnish surnames of the same origin include Setta, Setämies, Sivan, and Setähäkkinen.
The surname Setälä is derived from the Finnish word ‘setä’, which means ‘uncle’. This indicates that the surname is an occupational name, originated from the work or profession of a man who was related to a family as an uncle.
The surname is present all around the world in its various variants and spellings, with prominent presence in Finland, Sweden, and other countries of northern Europe. It is also quite popular in the United States, where it is spelled as Setala and Sethall, and also in Canada.
Setälä is a unique and meaningful surname, and its variants and spellings still hold strong in many parts of the world.
Famous people with the name Setälä
- Olavi Setälä, Finnish contemporary classical composer
- Arttu Setälä, Finnish ice hockey player
- Juuso Setälä, Finnish footballer
- Ilmari Setälä, Finnish statesman and educator
- Helena Setälä, Finnish artist
- Paavo Setälä, Finnish literary scholar
- Pirkka Setälä, Finnish jazz musician
- Matti Setälä, Finnish modern pentathlete and Olympic competitor
- Väinö Setälä, Finnish politician
- Harri Setälä, Finnish classical music producer and entrepreneur