An Owner's Mark (bomärke in Swedish, puumerkki in Finnish) is a legal symbol, a geometric conbination of lines, used to show ownership or interests. It does not always mean that the owner of the Owner's Mark could not read, but it was similar to the coat of arms owned by the nobility.
As the name is a word that identifies a person, the Owner's Mark is his visible symbol. Researchers have debated whether the Owner's Mark is a property of a farm or of an individual. Today it is declared that it may be both.
The use of Owner's Marks was in accordance with ancient Germanic laws. Roman laws did not become known in the northern parts of Europe until Christianity was introduced. The fight between Germanic and Roman laws was, in fact, a fight between symbols (Owner's Marks) and documents (charters). In those days the Owner's Mark was a symbol or brandmark which was used to show ownership. One had to choose an existing example as a symbol or brandmark, such as a rune. It then had to be approved by the other villagers.
Owner's Marks have been used in the western societies as early as 500 A.D., as mentioned in Germanic laws. An illegal use of an Owner's Mark was a serious crime in the Swedish law during the period 1347 to 1442. The law of 1798 decreed that every document signed with an Owner's Mark should also be signed by two witnesses.
Owner's Marks were found wherever property and interests were marked. Today many Owner's Marks are found in archives of church records, especially in the protocols from the parish meetings during the 18th and 19th centuries, as well as in account books of parishes from the 17th century. Many farms have saved old contracts of sale with Owner's Marks. Owner's Marks are also found on old tombstones. The oldest Owner's Mark in Finland is one on a tombstone from the 13th century, found in Ulvila parish, SW Finland.
Owner's marks are found on various objects. They do not indicate a year nor show the names of owners. Almost all Owner's Marks in archives are accompanied by the name of the owner and the year when signed.
During early years of the study of Owner's Marks, researchers realized they could be used in genealogy. Many Owner's Marks, especially in Germany, were inherited from father to son. Certain types of Owner's Marks were typical for families or clans. Many times Owner's Marks without accompanying names are found on documents which show to which families the mark belonged. Because women used Owner's Marks belonging to male relatives, kinships may be found.
Use of Owner's Marks in SW Parts of Finland | ||
 | Johannes Gregori Aurelius, vicar in Lappi parish | Used four different marks between 1639 and 1691 |
 | Johannes Gregori Aurelius, vicar in Lappi parish | Used four different marks between 1639 and 1691 |
 | Johannes Gregori Aurelius, vicar in Lappi parish | Used four different marks between 1639 and 1691 |
 | Johannes Gregori Aurelius, vicar in Lappi parish | Used four different marks between 1639 and 1691 |
 | Heikki Tuomaanpoika from Vasarainen in Raumo parish | 1606 (used three different marks) |
 | Heikki Tuomaanpoika from Vasarainen in Raumo parish | 1611 (used three different marks) |
 | Heikki Tuomaanpoika from Vasarainen in Raumo parish | 1614 (used three different marks) |
 | Heikki Klemetinpoika from Skinnarla in Lappi parish | 1637 |
| Heikki Klemetinpoika from Skinnarla in Lappi parish | 1639 |
 | Heikki Klemetinpoika from Skinnarla in Lappi parish | 1649 |
| Matti Jaakonpoika from Tuohiniemi in Köyliö parish died in 1787 without children. The next owner of the farm was: | |
 | Matti Antinpoika (b. 1779, d. 1844) from Tuohiniemi in Köyliö parish. He died also without children. Farmer (lampuoti) from 1825 was: | |
 | Elias Mikonpoika (b. 1797, d. 1846) from Tuohiniemi in Köyliö parish. All three had same types of owner's marks (above). | |
 | Johan Michelsson from Pussila in Pyhämaa parish | 1814 |
 | Samuel Michelsson from Pussila in Pyhämaa parish. New owner of farm brought a new owner's mark | 1860 |
 | Fredrik Mattsson from Pussila in Pyhämaa parish. New owner of farm brought a new owner's mark | 1871 |
 | Justiina Antintytär from Kokemäki Horeli in Ylistaro parish used her husband's owner's mark (husband was Karl Gustaf) | 1840 |
 | Liisa Mikontytär, a widow from Kokemäki Ketola in Ylistaro parish used an owner's mark not used by her late husband | 1828 |
 | Maria Kauppila from Pyhäranta parish used an anchor, almost same as her husband's mark (below) | 1837 |
 | Samuel Davidson from Pyhäranta parish, husband of Maria Kauppila (above) | 1833 |
 | Katariina Heikintytär from Hintikkala Heikkilä in Kokemäki, quite different from her husband's mark (below) | 1850 |
 | Juho Heikinpoika from Hintikkala Heikkilä in Kokemäki, husband of Katariina Heikintytär (above) | 1847 |
| Source: Paavo O. Ekko, Puumerkit ja riimut menneisyyden avaimina. 1984, p. 63-65.
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Same Examples of Owner's Marks in Ostrobothnia | ||
 | Per Mattsson from Pelo in Nedervetil parish | 1759 |
 | Matts Johansson from Pelo in Nedervetil parish. Later used by Karl-Johan Pelo | about 1840 |
 | Mattias Mattsson from Pelo in Nedervetil parish | 1892 |
 | Johan Mattsson from Pelo in Nedervetil parish | 1759 |
 | Henrik Mattsson from Pelo in Nedervetil parish | 1759 |
 | Anders Mattsson from Pelo in Nedervetil parish | 1759 |
| Source: June Pelo, Port Charlotte, Florida, U.S.A.
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Use of Owner's Marks in the Åland Islands | ||
 | Norrgård in Sottunga parish
Mickel Olofsson Mickel Eriksson Mickel Mickelsson After splitting of the farm the head farm used a new variant of the owner's mark: | 1737 1785 1826 |
 | Johan Tomas Henriksson
Johan Tomas Henriksson Johan Tomas Henriksson The new part of the farm used the old owner's mark: | 1858 1861 1878 |
| Ollas in Sottunga parish
Olof Eriksson Olof Eriksson Johan Erik Olofsson | 1848 1851 1871 |
 | Henrikas in Sottunga parish
Abraham Mattsson After the farm was splitted both parts used the same owner's mark: | 1747-65 |
| Henrikas Östergård "Hindrikas Östrona" in Sottunga parish
Johan Henriksson Abraham Johansson Abraham Johansson Another variant: | 1781 1781-93 1803 |
 | Daniel Mattsson Granberg
Johan Johansson Johan Johansson Karl Petter Johansson | 1822-23 1848 1859 1866 |
| Henrikas Vestergård "Hindrikas" in Sottunga parish
Matts Johansson Matts Johansson Johan Johansson Johan Johansson Johan Petter Johansson Johan Petter Johansson The owner's mark was also used reversed. | 1771 1798 1811-22 1837 1848 1861 |
| Source: Göran Dahl, Bomärken på Åland. 1994, p. 476-477.
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Owner's Marks Belonging to Civil Servants (sexmän) of the Church in Muolaa Parish, Karelia, SE Finland, in 1724 | ||
 | Johan Rasta
[Juhani Rastas] | |
 | Thomas Mätöin
[Tuomas Määttäinen] | |
 | Thomas Persinen
[Tuomas Pärssinen] | |
 | David Davidsson
[David Davidsson] | |
 | Jören Dunder
[Yrjö Dunder (Tonteri)] | |
 | Anders Pyckö
[Antti Pyykkö] | |
 | Johan Turunlilla
[Juhana Turulila (Turulinen)] | |
 | Jören Cuissma
Yrjö Kuisma] | |
 | Jören Pyckö
[Yrjö Pyykkö] | |
 | Peter Wisälain
[Pietari Visalainen] | |
 | Thomas Nickain
[Tuomas Nikkainen] | |
 | Ålåw Wanhain
[Olavi Vanhainen] | |
 | Peter Sintoin
[Pietari Sintoinen] | |
 | Nils Kålkain
[Niilo Kolkkainen] | |
 | Jören Pönckä
[Yrjö Pönkkä] | |
 | Jören Mälcköin
[Yrjö Mälköinen] | |
 | Thomas Hänninen
[Tuomas Hänninen] | |
 | Pohl Hönninen
[Paavali Hänninen] | |
 | Olåw Lapalain
[Olavi Lappalainen] | |
 | Bertÿll Culdain
[Pärttyli Kultainen] | |
 | Johan Rätto
[Juhana Rättö] | |
 | Staroster Jören Romu
[Yrjö Romu, "oldest in village"] | |
 | Thomas Hänninen
[Tuomas Hänninen] | |
 | Carl Sussi
[Kaarlo Susi] | |
 | Anders Pönekä
[Antti Pönkkä] | |
 | Bertÿl Virålain
[Pärttyli Virolainen] | |
 | Anders Jörwelain
[Antti Järveläinen] | |
 | Lars Hatöm
[Lauri Hätönen] | |
 | Simon Nausain
[Simo Nousiainen] | |
 | Thomas Cuporin
[Tuomas Kuparinen] | |
 | Jören Wisulain
[Yrjö Visulainen] | |
 | Carl Röuckin
[Kaarlo Röykkinen] | |
 | Mats Toicka
[Matti Toikka] | |
 | Mats Wanhain
[Matti Vanhainen] | |
 | Hendrick Mäckäläin
[Heikki Mäkeläinen] | |
 | Anders Mälcköin
[Antti Mälköinen] | |
 | Mats Ännickin
[Matti Ännikkinen] | |
 | Hans Rättö
[Hans Rättö] | |
 | Brels Lami
[Pertteli Lammi] | |
 | Johan Torkeli
[Juhana Torkkeli] | |
 | Nils Rossi
[Niilo Rossi] | |
| Source: Sulo Haltsonen, Muuan kannakselaisten puumerkkien kokoelma v:lta 1724. P. 71-73 in Kotiseutu 1956. | ||