Surname Laitinen - Meaning and Origin
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Laitinen: What does the surname Laitinen mean?
The last name Laitinen is of Finnish origin and is derived from the Finnish word for a sheath or scabbard. The earliest known bearer of this surname was a certain Jöns Jacobsson Laitinen, who was recorded in 1625 in Tyrvää, Finland.
This surname is most commonly found in the southern areas of Finland and near the cities of Helsinki and Turku. There are some variants of the spelling, such as Laitinen, Läitinen, Laittinen, and Laitiainen.
This name has likely been held by members of the same family line for generations. It is possible that the name was chosen based on the occupation of the original bearer. It may have been a family of skilled sword makers or warriors who proudly represented their art through their surname.
One popular interpretation of the name is that it is derived from the old Finnish word for a sheath, meaning that the holder of this name may have been a swordsmith or a warrior. This is likely the most common interpretation of this name.
Overall, the surname Laitinen has a long and unique history in Finland. Its meaning is quite interesting and may reflect the family’s long history in the country. The variations of the spelling simply show the family’s heritage and differences in culture and language over the generations.
Order DNA origin analysisLaitinen: Where does the name Laitinen come from?
The last name Laitinen is most commonly found in Finland. According to geni.com, the name is believed to have been used in Finland since at least the 12th century. It is thought to be derived from the word "laittinen," meaning either beekeeper or farmer. In 1920, 12,914 people in Finland had the last name Laitinen.
Today, Laitinen remains a popular last name in Finland. According to the website Finland Genealogy, there are currently 17,329 people in Finland with the surname Laitinen. It is most common in Central Finland, with the highest concentration of Laitinen's found in the region of Pirkanmaa.
The surname Laitinen is also found outside of Finland. The United States Census Bureau reports that there are over 1,539 people in the country with the last name Laitinen. It is most commonly found in the Midwest, with the highest numbers in Michigan, where the surname was first brought to the US in the nineteenth century.
For people of Finnish or Scandinavian descent, the last name of Laitinen may be more easily recognizable. Since Finland is a part of Scandinavia, the surname has traveled throughout the region over the centuries, popping up in places like Sweden, Norway, and Estonia. However, its frequency is far lower than in Finland.
Overall, the surname Laitinen remains most common in Finland, while also still existing in certain concentrations in the United States.
Variations of the surname Laitinen
The variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin for the surname Laittinen can be broken down into four different categories: Variants, Finnish, German, and Swedish.
Variants:
The most common variant for Laittinen is Laitinen, although it can also be found spelled as Lättinen, Leitinen, and Leittinen.
Finnish:
In Finland, there are several surnames that are related to the name Laittinen, including Laitinen, Lättinen, Laakkonen, Lahtinen, Lähteenmäki, and Kiuttu.
German:
In German, the surname is commonly written as Leitinen, Leittinen, Lehtonen, and Lütten.
Swedish:
In Swedish, the surname Laittinen is also sometimes found spelled as Lätten and Leitin.
In all, there are several variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin for the Laittinen surname. Regardless of the spelling, the name is of Finnish origin and is derived from the word laita, which means “clearing” or “meadow”. It is likely that people who had this surname originally lived in a meadow or a clearing near a farm. The variants are primarily located in northwest Europe, such as Finland, Sweden, and Germany.
Famous people with the name Laitinen
- Sirpa Laitinen: Finnish actress
- Oskari Laitinen: Finnish actor
- Eero Laitinen: Finnish pop singer
- Janne Laitinen: Finnish artist, songwriter, and piano player
- Katja Laitinen: Finnish film director and editor
- Henrik Laitinen: Finnish actor
- Teemu Laitinen: Finnish actor
- Laura Laitinen: Finnish actress
- Ville Laitinen: Finnish professional football player
- Pauli Laitinen: Finnish author and poet.
- Manu Laitinen: Finnish video artist, animator, and filmmaker
- Kim Laitinen: Finnish singer and songwriter
- Tony Laitinen: Finnish professional ice hockey player
- Mikko Laitinen: Finnish Olympic equestrian athlete