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Virtanen (also written as Wirtanen)[1] is a surname originating in Finland (in Finnish, virta, meaning "river", and -nen is a surname-generating suffix), where it is the second most common surname.[2] The surname is the namesake of the "Virtanen type" of Finnish surnames.
Origin | |
---|---|
Language(s) | Finnish |
Meaning | Derived from virta ("river, stream") |
Region of origin | Finland |
Other names | |
Variant form(s) | Virta |
The name quickly became popular in 19th century, in the era of Finnish national awakening, however rare occasions of it were documented in 1684 at the latest.[3]
Notable people with the surname include:
- Antti Virtanen (born 1977), Finnish ice hockey player
- Artturi Ilmari Virtanen (1895–1973), Finnish chemist and Nobel laureate
- Aulis Virtanen (1926–2006), Finnish sports journalist
- Eino Virtanen (1908–1980), Finnish wrestler and Olympic medal winner
- Fredrik Virtanen (born 1971), Swedish journalist
- Jake Virtanen (born 1996), Canadian ice hockey winger
- Jani Virtanen (born 1988), Finnish footballer
- Janne Virtanen (born 1969), Finnish strongman
- Kalle Virtanen (born 1975), singer and guitarist of the band Viikate
- Kari Virtanen (born 1958), Finnish footballer
- Keijo Virtanen (born 1945), Finnish historian
- Otto Virtanen (born 2001), Finnish tennis player
- Rauha S. Virtanen (1931-2019), Finnish author
- Reima Virtanen (born 1947), Finnish boxer and Olympic medal winner
- Tommi Virtanen (born 1989), Finnish ice hockey goaltender
- Veltto Virtanen (born 1951), psychologist, rock musician, member of parliament, presidential candidate
- Ville Virtanen (actor) (born 1961), Finnish actor
- Ville Virtanen, aka Darude (born 1973), Finnish DJ and music producer
People with the surname Wirtanen
edit- Atos Wirtanen (1906–79), Ålandic-born Finnish politician
- Carl A. Wirtanen (1910–1990), American astronomer
- Petteri Wirtanen, Finnish ice hockey player
- Tommy Wirtanen (born 1983), Finnish footballer
- Toni Wirtanen (born 1975), singer of the band Apulanta
Fictional characters
edit- B. Virtanen, lead character of the Ilkka Heilä comic strip of the same name
- Virtanen (no first name), hero of Tango is my passion by M.A. Numminen
- Lukas Virtanen, main character of Mark of the Vasirian and subsequent books from the Blackthorn Saga by author Stephanie Denne.
See also
edit- Virta, the "Laine type" variant
References
edit- ^ "Wirtanen" is an antiquated variant spelling listed at V in Finland (in the Finnish alphabet, the letter W is an archaic variant of V, kept for spelling ancient names). It is mostly found abroad for the descendants of ancient Finnish emigrants (as of March 2010[update], the Finnish Population Register Center Archived 2010-05-23 at the Wayback Machine's "Surname search" reported 23600 Virtanen and 254 Wirtanen).
- ^ As of November 2011[update], "Most common surnames"[dead link ], Finnish Population Register Center Archived 2010-05-23 at the Wayback Machine (English version), verkkopalvelut.vrk.fi/Nimipalvelu
- ^ Pirjo Mikkonen , Sirkka Paikkala , Sukunimet ["Surnames"], article "Virtanen".