Finnish Place Names - Minnesota

Of Finnish origin.

Source: Kaups 1966, p. 388.

30 miles north of Virginia. The first Finns arrived in 1909.

Source: Ilmonen 1926, p. 175.

Alango was in common use earlier for parts of the area later included in the township.

Source: Kaups 1966, p. 384.

Alango is a misspelling for Alanko.

Source: Kero 1996, p. ?.

Received its name, probably from Finland, by choice of its settlers.

Source: Upham 1969 & Upham 2001.

Of Finnish origin.

Source: Kaups 1966, p. 388.

Source: Kaups 1966, p. 391.

Named after Peter Esko.

Source: Kaups 1979, p. 29.

A community in Thomson Township, sections 21, 22, 27, and 28, with a post office since 1935; it has a Finnish personal name.

Source: Upham 2001.

Source: Kaups 1966, p. 388.

The original townsite plat of Kettle River was called Finland.

Source: Upham 2001.

"For a short period rail service was afforded by the Duluth and Northern Minnesota Railroad, a logging road built from Knife River on Lake Superior to Cascade. Construction was begun in 1898; the road reached Finland in 1911 - it was then that the community acquired its name - and was completed to Cascade in 1915."

Source: Darrell H. Davis, The Finland Community, Minnesota. -The Geographical Review 25(1935), p. 383 & 383.

Forty miles to the north east from Two Harbors. The first Finns settled in 1903.

Source: Ilmonen 1926, p. 184.

A village in section 20 of Crystal Bay Township, T57N, R7W, was developed primarily by Finnish immigrants, who began coming to the area about 1895, although the place name was not noted until about 1911. The Alger-Smith logging railroad extended through the community in 1907. Its post office began in 1915. It was the site of a CCC camp, 1933-38, and an Air Force station, 1950-80.

Source: Upham 2001.

A railroad village in Crystal Bay township, was named for the native country of many of its settlers, including some whose parents came from Sweden.

Source: Upham 1969.

Source: Kaups 1966, p. 389.

Source: Kaups 1966, p. 389.

Source: Kaups 1966, p. 388.

A country post office, 1906-17, in Toad Lake Township, on the southeast end of the lake.

Source: Upham 2001.

Source: Kaups 1966, p. 387.

Source: Kaups 1966, p. 387.

Source: Kaups 1966, p. 387.

Source: Kaups 1966, p. 387.

Source: Upham 2001.

Source: Kaups 1966, p. 387.

Source: Kaups 1966, p. 387.

Source: Kaups 1966, p. 387.

Source: Kaups 1966, p. 387.

Source: Kaups 1966, p. 387.

Source: Kaups 1966, p. 387.

Source: Kaups 1966, p. 387.

Finn lake has several adjacent settlers from Finland.

Source: Upham 1969.

Source: Kaups 1966, p. 387.

Source: Upham 1969.

Source: Kaups 1966, p. 388.

Source: Upham 2001.

Source: Upham 2001.

Unorganized territory of T56N-T57N, R16W, T56N, R17W.

Source: Upham 2001.

See previous.

It is probable that what is presently Gilmore Creek in Alango and Sturgeon Townships was Heino Creek two decades ago.

Source: Kaups 1966, p. 392.

About five miles south of New York Mills.

Source: Ilmonen 1926, p. 192.

In and after 1874 Finns settled in east-central Otter Tail County and here managed to name a hamlet after one of their pioneer settlers.

Source: Kaups 1966, p. 381.

A village in section 6 of Deer Creek Township, was begun in 1873 and named for Matt Heinola, who had a grocery store in his home about 1908. The principal business was the creamery, which opened in 1908 and closed in 1946.

Source: Upman 2001.

A "problem name" (Hypponen?), which may have been given by the Finland-born population.

Source: Kaups 1979, p. 40.

Of Finnish origin.

Source: Kaups 1966, p. 388.

Kalevala township has many Finnish settler, by whom it was given this name of the national epic poem of Finland, meaning "the abode or land of heroes". English translations of it have been published in 1888 and in 1907. "The elements of the poem are ancient popular songs... The poem owes its present coherent form to Elias Lönnrot (1802-1884), who during years of assiduous labor collected the material in Finland proper, but principally in Russian Karelia eastward to the White Sea.... The Kalevala is written in eight-syllabled trochaic verse, with alliteration, but without rime. The whole is divided into fifty cantos or runes. Its subject matter is mythical, with a few Christian elements. Its central hero is Wainamoinen, the god of poetry and music. It is the prototype, in form and contents, of Longfellow's 'Hiawatha'."

Source: Upham 1969.

The oldest and largest Finnish settlement in Carlton County. Destroyed in a fire in 1918.

Source: Ilmonen 1926, p. 186.

The name is abandoned [Kalavala].

Source: Kaups 1966, p. 388-389.

A post office, 1901-13, in Automba Township, section 26.

Source: Upham 2001.

Named after a Finnish settler. Altered to Kingas Bay, then to Kings Bay.

Source: Kaups 1966, p. 382, 388 & 391.

Named after a Finnish settler. Altered to Kingas Lake, then to Kings Lake.

Source: Kaups 1966, p. 382, 388 & 391.

Source: Kaups 1966, p. 392.

Of Finnish origin.

Source: Kaups 1966, p. 388.

The Finnish settlers who came to Mile 22 were John Ström (Strömsholm) and his brother Matts, the brothers John and Victor Sjöblom, and many others, from Larsmo. They gave the place a new name Larsmont after their home parish in Finland.

Source: Myhrman 1972, p. 265.

A village in T52N, R11W (Two Harbors), section 16, was once the site of major logging operations in the 1880s and 1890s. The name dates to 1914 and was coined by Gust Mattson, a native of Larsmo, Finland, and one of the earliest settlers of the place, from Larsmo and nt from the English words mount and mountain; the majority of settlers were from Larsmo, although Norwegians and Swedes also came to the area. It had a station of the Duluth and Iron Range Railroad. Its post office began in 1915, changing to a rural branch in 1966.

Source: Upham 2001.

A railroad station between Knife River and Two Harbors, was named for an adjoining settler, who is a farmer and fisherman.

Source: Upham 1969.

The name of a small railroad station on the now abandoned Duluth and Northern Minnesota Railway. The name is abandoned.

Source: Kaups 1966, p. 388 & 390.

Named after John Waxlax, one of the first settlers in the area. The surname Waxlax is derived from the name of a farm (Waxlax - Vakslaks) in Korsholm (Mustasaari) parish, Finland.

Source: Kaups 1979, p. 29.

A railroad station in Beaver Bay township, and its lake of this name, commemorate  John Waxlax, a Swedish immigrant from Finland, whose homestead farm adjoined the lake.

Source: Upham 1969.

Named after John Waxlax who had settled along the lake.

Source: Kaups 1966, p. 390.

A village in section 11 of T56N, R8W (Beaver Bay Township), with a post office, 1913-15, was named for the Johannas Waxlax family, Swedish immigrants who came in 1896 and aqcuired the first homestead. Johannas was killed in a train accident in 1910.

Source: Upham 2001.

Leiding is a misspelling for Laitinen.

Source: Kero 1996, p. ?.

A township in T63-65N, R19W, T64-65N, R20W was named for one of its families of Scandinavian settlers. A post office was probably located in the township, January-June 1908.

Source: Upham 2001.

Of Finnish origin.

Source: Kaups 1966, p. 388.

Of Finnish origin.

Source: Kaups 1966, p. 388.

Of Finnish origin.

Source: Kaups 1966, p. 388.

J. W. Lähde, editor of Uusi Kotimaa, a Finnish-language newspaper published first in New York Mills in 1881, may have suggested that the name should be bestowed as a place name. The place name is abandoned.

Source: Kaups 1966, p. 387 & 388.

A village in Wolf Lake Township, section 28, with a commemorative Finnish name, first settled in 1888 on Wolf Lake; had a station of the Northern Pacific Railroad and a post office, 1898-1914; the first postmaster, William Isola, was also the township clerk.

Source: Upham 2001.

Source: Kaups 1966, p. 387.

Source: Upham 2001.

Of Finnish origin.

Source: Kaups 1966, p. 388.

The first Finns arrived in 1905.

Source: Ilmonen 1926, p. 184.

Although the name is said to derive from the first postmaster of the hamlet, a Finnish pioneer, John Mäkinen, it is also an apt descriptive term.

Source: Kaups 1966, p. 389.

A village in T56N, R16W, at the intersection of sections 3, 4, 9, and 10. The post office began in 1922, with John Makinen as first postmaster.

Source: Upham 2001.

Source: Kaups 1979, p. 44.

The Finns have a church.

Source: Ilmonen 1926, p. 174.

According to Wasastjerna the name was selected from several names proposed by the inhabitants at the time of the establishing of the local post office in 1905. Although the Palo post office was discontinued in 1933, the hamlet still goes by the name.

Source: Kaups 1966, p. 390.

A village at the intersection of sections 16, 17, 20, and 21 of White Township, T57N, R15W, with a post office, 1907-33; its name is likely of Finnish derivation.

Source: Upham 2001.

A Spanish word meaning a tree, is the name of a lumber-manufacturing hamlet about ten miles south of Biwabik.

Source: Upham 1969.

The place name is abandoned.

Source: Kaups 1966, p. 388.

Named after its first postmaster Alga (Olga?) Petrell.

Source: Kaups 1979, p. 29.

A village in section 10 of Fairbanks Township (T56N, R12W). The post office, 1909-20, was spelled Petrell, with Alga Petrell as postmaster.

Source: Upham 2001.

Of Finnish origin.

Source: Kaups 1966, p. 388.

Rentola = a place of relaxation.
Rentola is a Finnish farm name and surname.

A logging camp, 1912-15, located in Sago Township and owned by Emil and Abraham Koski. The name means "unencumbered generosity or abundance".

Source: Upham 2001.

The Township of Runeberg was the first place to get an officially accepted Finnish name on the map of the United States. It was named and organized on May 24, 1887.

Source: Kaups 1978, p. 64.

Settled in 1882 and organized May 24, 1887, was named in honor of Johan Ludwig [sic!] Runeberg, the great Swedish [sic!] poet. He was born at Jakobstad, in Finland, February 5, 1804, and died at Borgå, near Helsingfors, May 6, 1877. A country post office was located in the township, 1888-1906. A small community was settled here in 1882, with a sawmill and general store.

Source: Upham 2001.

Settled in 1882 and organized May 24, 1887, was named in honor of Johan Ludwig [sic!] Runeberg, the great Swedish [sic!] poet. He was born at Jakobstad, in Finland, February 5, 1804, and died at Borgå, near Helsingfors, May 6, 1877. A country post office was located in the township, 1888-1906.

Source: Upham 1969.

J. W. Lähde, editor of Uusi Kotimaa, a Finnish-language newspaper published first in New York Mills in 1881, may have suggested that the name should be bestowed as a place name. The name is abandoned.

Source: Kaups 1966, p. 387 & 388.

Runeberg post office was established in 1888.

Source: Kaups 1978, p. 66.

A station of the Duluth, Winnipeg and Pacific Railway, also listed as Saari Bros. Spur, Saari Spur, and Sarri.

Source: Upham 2001.

The first settlers came in 1891.

Source: Ilmonen 1926, p. 188.

The name is abandoned.

Source: Kaups 1966, p. 388.

Salo township was named by its Finn settlers for a town in southwestern Finland.

Source: Upham 1969 & Upham 2001.

Named after the country store owned by Henry Salo.

Source: Frank Karasti / frankk55741@yahoo.com / Aug 29, 2003.

A place name, also known as Salo's Corner, circa 1941, but no location found.

Source: Upham 2001.

A post office authirized on April 28, 1905, with John G. Jacobson, postmaster, but not established. Location not noted.

May be the place Finns called Saukkojärvi.

Source: Ilmonen 1926, p. 192.

I large Finn village where Finns settled in 1888.

Source: Ilmonen 1926, p. 194.

Used as a synonym for Bass Lake.

Source: Evankelis-luterilainen kansalliskirkko. Ensimmäiset 50 vuotta. 1949, p. 335.

J. W. Lähde, editor of Uusi Kotimaa, a Finnish-language newspaper published first in New York Mills in 1881, may have suggested that the name should be bestowed as a place name.

Source: Kaups 1966, p. 387.

A village and post office, 1912-19, with a commemorative Finnish name, located in Wolf Lake Township, section 6.

Source: Upham 2001.

Source: Upham 2001.

The first Finns who were permanent settlers came in 1916. Names: Otto Salo, Edwin Juntunen, Jaffet & Edward Heikkinen, Oscar Maki and Nestor & Richard Wierimaa.

Source: 50 Years and More of Suomi, p. 4. 50th Anniversary Publication Compiled by Residents of Suomi, MN.

A settlement with 30 Finnish families. The first Finns arrived in 1917.

Source: Ilmonen 1926, p. 183.

The settling of Suomi and the name "Suomi" has to be credited to the Pellervo Land Office [Pellervon maatoimisto]. The name Suomi was given because of the Finnishness of the men of the Pellervo Land Office, and the many lakes and meadows reminding of Finland. Is it a coincidence that the whole community except for one family is Finnish?

The first Finns settled in Suomi in 1917. Of the first settled families the families of Ed. Juntunen, J. Heikkinen, H. Kela and O. Mäki are still living there.

Source: G. Saari, "Suomi", in Siirtokansan kalenteri 1934, p. 151-152.

A village settlement located on small portions of unorganized townships T58N, R26W, and T58N, R27W, originally surveyded about 1870, having some homesteaders and logging interests. Often referred to by the names Bowstring Hill and Albo. The first of the settlers came in 1916, many from Finland, who named the community for their native country. It had a post office 1921-35.

Source: Upham 2001.

The church was founded in 1918. The cemetery was founded almost in the beginning.

Source: G. Saari, "Suomi", in Siirtokansan kalenteri 1934, p. 151-152.

Organized in July 1918 by Rev. Henry Sarvela, Duluth MN, at Jaffet Heikkinen farm.

Source: 50 Years and More of Suomi, p. 5. 50th Anniversary Publication Compiled by Residents of Suomi, MN.

Source: A Stierna Family Saga / jnrstierna@aol.com / 27.4.1999.

The name is abandoned.

Source: Kaups 1966, p. 388.

The naming of Tegneer post office after the Swedish poet Esaias Tegner (1782-1846), which was located in an area of Finnish settlement in southeastern Becker County, is more obscure. Tegner's influence on the development of Finnish nationalistic literature, and his concern about Russia's domination of Finland, may have been the contributing reasons for naming the post office after him.

Source: Kaups 1979, p. 29.

A country post office, 1890-1906, whose name may be of Finnish origin, located in Spruce Grove Township.

Source: Upham 2001.

Organized July 24, 1882, was named in honor of Esaias Tegner (b. 1782, d. 1846), a famous Swedish poet. In 1811 he was awarded the prize of the Academy of Sweden for a long poem entitled "Svea"; and in 1825 he published his most celebrated work, "Frithjofs Saga", based on the old Norse saga of this name.

Source: Upham 1969.

A village in the southwest part of Toivola.

Source: Upham 2001.

A large farming area, only Finnish inhabitants.

Source: Ilmonen 1926, p. 172.

Established in 1910 and functional until the 1930's.

Source: Kaups 1966, p. 390.

A post office, 1910-35, in section 36 of Bassett Township [in St. Louis County], T57N, R12W, and located 1915-20 in Lake County.

Source: Upham 2001.

The name is abandoned.

Source: Kaups 1966, p. 388.

A post office, 1910-35, in section 36 of Bassett Township, T57N, R12W, and located 1915-20 in Lake County.

Source: Upham 2001.

The first Finns settled in 1901. A Finnish (?) church.

Source: Ilmonen 1926, p. 181.

Toivola was in common use earlier for parts of the area later included in the township when it was established in 1911.

Source: Kaups 1966, p. 384 & 390.

The township (T54N, R19-20W) bears a Finnish name, equivalent to "Hopeville" or "Land of Promise", given by Thomas Arkkola, a pioneer immigrant from Finland. The village in sections 7 and 18 (T54N, R20W) had a post office, 1913-74, continuing as a community post office since 1974.

Source: Upham 2001.

Bears a Finnish name, equivalent to "Hopeville" or "Land of Promise", given by Thomas Arkkola, a pioneer immigrant from Finland. Toijala is a village in the southwest part of that country.

Source: Upham 1969.

Wasastjerna is of the opinion that Toivola was named after one of its supposed Finnish pioneer settlers, Heikki Toivola. Available evidence, however, does not substantiate this: "In 1905 the church congregation was organized.... It was at one of these services that the settlement was named. The name Era Maa, meaning wilderness, and Toivola, meaning hopeful, were selected and voted upon. The settlers decided to to call their new community Toivola".

Source: Kaups 1966, p. 390.

Applied by non-Finnish persons to features of later origin associated with places first named by Finns. Established in 1905.

Source: Kaups 1966, p. 388, 389 & 390.

J. W. Lähde, editor of Uusi Kotimaa, a Finnish-language newspaper published first in New York Mills in 1881, may have suggested that the name Topelius should be bestowed as a place name.

Source: Kaups 1966, p. 387.

A name of Finnish origin.

Source: Kaups 1978, p. 65.

A farmers' trading village in section 25 of Newton, platted in the summer of 1901, was named for Zachris Topelius, although it was erroneously spelled Dopelius for many years, possibly first by the railroad, and later by its post office, 1901-16; other maps use the correct form. Topelius (1818-98) was a distinguished Swedish [sic!] editor, educator, historian, poet, and novelist of Helsingfors, Finland. The village was first known as Benton's Crossing and then as Amboy (1899).

Source: Upham 2001.

A village [Dopelius] of the Northern Pacific railway in Newton, was platted in the summer of 1901. With change of the initial letter, this was the name of of a distinguished Swedish [sic!] editor, educator, historian, poet, and novelist, Zachris Topelius (b. 1818, d. 1898), of Helsingfors, Finland.

Source: Upham 1969.

Source: Kaups 1979, p. 40.

At times the county commissioners had to decide which of several names proposed by the inhabitants should be recognized. After the name River had been rejected because a township by that name already existed in Minnesota, the inhabitants of what is now Waasa Township, all of whom were Finns, could not agree whether to name the new township Waasa, Oulu, or Joki. They asked the county commissioners to arbitrate, and these decided in favor of Waasa.

Source: Kaups 1966, p. 386.

Was named for the province of Vasa (or Waasa) in western Finland.

Source: Upham 1969 & Upham 2001.

A village in section 29 of Kugler Township, which had a Duluth, Missabe and Iron Range Railroad station, named for August Wahlsten, a Swedish lumberman and homesteader in this township.

Source: Upham 2001.

Source: Kaups 1966, p. 388 & 390.

Named after John Waxlax, one of the first settlers in the area. The surname Waxlax is derived from the name of a farm (Waxlax - Vakslaks) in Korsholm (Mustasaari) parish, Finland.

Source: Kaups 1979, p. 29.

Wolf Lake is the only Finnish descriptive place name translated into English. The original name was Susijärvi. In 1896 the township in which Wolf Lake is situated was organized and was named after the lake. Before the arrival of Finnish settlers the body of the water now known as Wolf Lake had appeared on an 1888 Becker County map by Warren Upham as Lake Nuttall.

Source: Kaups 1966, p. 391.

Wolf Lake Township was first settled in 1888 by immigrants from Finland, was organized April 4, 1896, receiving this name from its large lake, which was so named by the settlers on account of its form. Many wolves, bears, and deer were killed here during the first years of settlement. The city of Wolf Lake, in section 33, was incorporated as a village on May 12, 1949; had a country post office, 1909-11, under the name Wolf, and was reestablished as Wolf Lake in 1947.

Source: Upham 2001.

Wolf Lake Township was first settled in 1888 by immigrants from Finland, was organized April 4, 1896, receiving this name from its large lake, which was so named by the settlers on account of its form. Many wolves, bears, and deer were killed here during the first years of settlement.

Source: Upham 1969.

Wolf Lake is the only Finnish descriptive place name translated into English. The original name was Susijärvi. In 1896 the township in which Wolf Lake is situated was organized and was named after the lake. Before the arrival of Finnish settlers the body of the water now known as Wolf Lake had appeared on an 1888 Becker County map by Warren Upham as Lake Nuttall.

Source: Kaups 1966, p. 391.

Source: USGS Geographic Names Information System

The township officials are all Finns.

Source: Ilmonen 1926, p. 175.

Wouri is an incorrect spelling of the Finnish vuori, meaning "mountain". Wuori was first changed to Wuorri, and later to present Wouri.

Source: Kaups 1966, p. 384, 389 & 391.

Spelled "Wuori".

Source: USGS Geographic Names Information System.

Has a Finnish name, meaning "a mountain". The southwest part of this township has an exceptionally high and massive hill of the Mesabi Range, culminating in sections 25, 28, and 29, with its top about 2,150 feet above the sea, being the highest land in this county.

Source: Upham 2001.