Surname Similä - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'S'
Similä: What does the surname Similä mean?
Similä is a Finnish surname. Like many Finnish surnames, it could potentially be connected to a geographical location, job, or personal feature of the original bearer. However, its direct translation or specific meaning is not easily identifiable in contemporary or historical Finnish language. The ending -lä is common in Finnish surnames and generally indicates a place of origin or residence. The part "Simi-" does not have a clear interpretation. It might be linked to an old Finnish word or name, but its exact meaning is not clear without further historical and genealogical research. As family names are often unique and can change over generations, the precise interpretation of Similä may also depend on individual family history and ancestry.
Order DNA origin analysisSimilä: Where does the name Similä come from?
The last name Similä is most common in Finland, with around 1,500 people carrying the name. It is a Finnish-language surname derived from the word for 'similar'. Similä can also be found in Sweden, where there are around 350 people who bear the name. Additionally, the surname Similä is also found in Russia, the United States, Canada and Estonia.
Most of the people with the last name Similä who live in the United States hail from Finland. The earliest known instance of the surname in the US was from a man named Lars Similahti who was born in Finland in 1819 and emigrated to the US in 1889. Based on a 2010 United States Census, around 180 people with the last name Similä are currently living in the United States, with the majority of them being first or second-generation immigrants.
In Canada, statistics from the 2016 Canadian Census show that 27 people with the name Similä reside in the country. Most of them can trace their family origins back to Finland, with a few individuals having their last names spelled as Simila or Similae instead.
In Estonia, Similä can be found amongst a few hundred people who are of Finnish descent. The first known family known with the surname Similä in Estonia appeared in 2015, before which the name rarely existed there.
Overall, the last name Similä is most common in Finland, with a few thousand people bearing the name. It can be found in smaller numbers in Sweden, Russia, the United States, Canada and Estonia.
Variations of the surname Similä
The surname Similä is derived from the Finnish word “simila” meaning “a small valley”. It is a common Finnish surname found mainly in the areas of Finland, Sweden, and Norway.
Variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin for “Similä” include Similo, Similoja, Similoo, Similovi, Similova, Similainen, Similäinen, Similana, Similenski, Siemilä, Siemiläinen, Simalanen, Simalainen, Simalan, Simle, Simil, Similka, Simile, Simmila, Simolainen, Simolain, Simola, Simolaa, and Simoli.
Similä is often anglicized as “Simila” or “Similà”. It is sometimes seen as an alternate spelling of “Similä”, especially in America. Other surnames of the same origin are Simo, Sime, Simeoli, Simuna, Simunaen, Simula, Simulainen, Simumala, Simvola, Simvlov, and Simcoski.
The common spellings seen in Finland and Sweden are Simila, Similot, Similainen, and Similäinen. In Norway, alternate spellings include Similo and Similoo.
Overall, the surname Similä has many variants and spellings that are used throughout Finland, Sweden, and Norway. While all of these variants have the same origin, they may be spelled differently depending on the country, leading to variations and anglicizations.
Famous people with the name Similä
- Lauri Similä: a Finnish writer and a science professor at the University of Helsinki.
- Leena Similä: a Finnish former gymnast who won a bronze medal at the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich.
- Lasse Similä: a Finnish former association football player who competed in the 1968 Summer Olympics in Mexico City.
- Heleena Similä: a Finnish actress best known for her roles in the television drama Kauheaa köyhyyttä (2006) and the feature films Oktober (1995) and Sandkings (1996).
- Harri Similä: a Finnish former basketball player who competed in the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal.
- Jenni Similä: a Finnish professional golfer who competed on the Ladies European Tour.
- Ilkka Similä: a Finnish actor who has appeared in films such as Black Ice (2003), Beaches (2004) and Lapland Odyssey (2010).
- Teemu Similä: a Finnish professional ice hockey player who currently plays for HPK of the Liiga.
- Kari Similä: a Finnish football manager and former player who is currently in charge of FC Inter Turku.
- Johanna Similä: a Finnish singer-songwriter who released her debut album Teit meistä kauniin in 2009.