Articles
Articles and studies on Finnish genealogy and history.
2026
2024
4 March 2024
Uusimaa Cavalry Regiment 1641–1809
A collection of 27 transcribed general muster rolls from the Uusimaa Cavalry Regiment, spanning 1641 to 1809 — essential genealogical sources for families from the regiment's recruitment area in southern Finland.
4 March 2024
Viipuri County Accounts 1635–1724
A collection of 22 transcribed Viipuri county account records listing people paid from crown funds — essential genealogical sources for Karelian families across nine decades.
2023
2021
20 June 2021
The Great Wrath in Finland 1714–1721
An account of the Russian occupation of Finland during the Great Northern War — the period known in Finnish history as the Great Wrath — and its consequences for the Finnish people.
10 May 2021
Ancestors and Descendants — Two Sides of a Coin
A reflection on the distinction between researching one's ancestry (backwards) and tracing one's descendants (forwards), and what each direction reveals.
30 April 2021
Genealogy: Theory and Practice
An article on the significance and methodology of Finnish genealogy research, distinguishing applied research from basic research, discussing the role of the Finnish Genealogical Society, and arguing for a university post in genealogical theory. Published in Sukutieto 2/1995.
15 April 2021
Does Genealogy Have Its Own Methodology?
A methodological study on genealogical research methods: the basic method, multi-source research, the criterion of proximity, and a worked example tracing Jaakko Markunpoika in Ilmajoki. Published in Eteläpohjalaiset Juuret 3/2005.
31 March 2021
Who Was That Soini? The Origin of the Name of Soini Parish
An article on the origin of the name of Soini municipality — tracing it to a Savonian settler, Suni (Sven) Leppäinen, who founded a farm in Ähtäri village in 1567. Published in Genos 2/2002.
15 March 2021
Karl Frosterus's Daughter Vappu
A research note published in Genos 1/2003 proving that Vappu (Walborg), daughter of Chaplain Karl Frosterus of Ähtäri, married into the Sipilä farm in Virrat.
28 February 2021
The Free Company of the Turku and Pori County Cavalry Regiment
A previously unpublished article (2004–2005) on the Free Company of the Turku and Pori County Cavalry Regiment during the Great Northern War — an obscure unit that appears in muster rolls for January–May 1712.
15 February 2021
Vilhunen, Vilhuinen: On the Origin of a Karelian Surname
An academic article disputing the derivation of the surname Vilhunen from Wilhelm, arguing instead for a native Finnish origin ("vilha" = agile/quick) and tracing the family from Jääski district through Pieksämäki to Multia. Published in Genos 2/2013.
15 January 2021
The Definition of Genealogy
A theoretical article proposing an atomic model of genealogical data: each fact answers who–what–where–when. From single data "atoms" (birth, marriage, death) the discipline builds up to biography, family, lineage and genealogy as a historical science. Published in Genos 1999.
2020
28 December 2020
Ala-Honkajoki Militia Soldiers
A study of the allotment soldiers from Ala-Honkajoki village in the Pori Regiment during the Great Northern War 1700–1721 and afterwards.
28 December 2020
Karelian Cavalry Regiment — General Muster Rolls 1643–1809
A collection of transcribed general muster rolls from the Karelian Cavalry Regiment, spanning from its formation in 1643 to the dissolution of the Swedish-era Finnish military in 1809.
15 August 2020
The Ostrobothnian Cavalry Company in the 1620s and 1630s
The history of the Ostrobothnian cavalry company during the reign of Gustav II Adolf — from its formation under Mickel Jordan in 1628, through service in Prussia and the Thirty Years' War under Johan Printz, to its dissolution around 1641. Published in Eteläpohjalaiset Juuret 2/2016.
21 July 2020
The Battle of Lund 1676 and the Finnish Cavalry
An examination of the Battle of Lund (4 December 1676) from a Finnish perspective, debunking myths about Finnish cavalry losses and highlighting the role of the Karelian Cavalry Regiment under Colonel Bernhard Mellin.
15 April 2020
Toiset Aijat I
The 1978 book Toiset Aijat I — a collection of writings on Virrat covering local history, biographies, trades and family histories — is now available as an e-book.
2019
25 September 2019
Poll Tax Register of Viipuri and Savonlinna Counties, 1701
An e-book in two parts presenting the poll tax register (henkikirja) of Viipuri and Savonlinna counties from 1701 — an important source for East Finnish genealogy, capturing the region just before the Great Northern War.
20 September 2019
The Oldest Parish Registers of Tyrvää 1693–1722
The book Tyrvään vanhimmat rippikirjat 1693–1722 has long been sold out and is now available as an e-book — an unusually rich early source for genealogists researching families from Tyrvää, Kiikka and Kiikoinen.
15 September 2019
Court Records of Ruovesi and Keuruu 1683–1711
A transcription of the court records of Ruovesi and Keuruu from 1683 to 1711 — companion to the 1722–1746 volume. Covers Upper Satakunta (now Pirkanmaa) and is available as an e-book.
22 July 2019
The Oldest Parish Registers of Greater Ruovesi
A transcription of the oldest surviving parish registers from Kuru (1745–56), Ruovesi (1725–58), Virrat (1749–55) and Ähtäri (1752–58) — with farm maps, abbreviation guide and index.
17 April 2019
Court Records of Ruovesi and Keuruu 1722–1746
A transcription of the court records of Ruovesi and Keuruu from 1722 to 1746 — covering the period after the Great Wrath. Companion to the 1683–1711 volume. Available as an e-book.
2018
22 July 2018
Toiset Aijat II
The companion volume to Toiset Aijat I, focusing on the Herraskylä village and its traditions — the coach house at Perinnekylä, the families of Rajalahti farm, and B. A. Paldan's collection of old runes.
13 July 2018
The Men of the Ruovesi Company in the Finnish War
A book about the ordinary soldiers of the Pori County Infantry Regiment's Ruovesi company area during the Finnish War 1808–09 — who they were, what happened to them, and why only about half came home.
2 July 2018
Karjalainen — Karilainen: Name and Family Through Five Centuries
A book about the Karilainen family and its five-hundred-year entanglement with the tribal name Karjalainen — and a new perspective on the origin of the name Karjala itself.
1 July 2018
From Shimmering Waters — Virrat in Pictures and Words 1867–2018
A co-authored illustrated history of the town of Virrat, commissioned by the City of Virrat for the municipality's 150th anniversary.
2017
11 December 2017
Matti J. Kankaanpää Has Passed Away
An obituary for author and genealogist Matti Juhani Kankaanpää (6 November 1943 – 7 December 2017), written by his nephew Jarle M. Alvheim.
9 September 2017
Who Was V. J. Heino?
A mystery photograph: a man in military uniform on horseback, spring 1918, who signed the back "V.J. Heino". Who was he? A request for information from anyone who might know.
14 August 2017
Finnish Cavalry in the Swedish Era
An 800-page history of Finnish cavalry from 1550 to 1809 — Matti J. Kankaanpää's major work and the first comprehensive treatment of the subject in Finnish.
15 June 2017
Virrat 150 Years 1867–2017 — in Pictures and Words
The story of how the Virrat 150th anniversary book came to be — the contract, the research plan, and the three-level structure of the book covering chronology, village-by-village survey and the town's many activities.
6 April 2017
Books on the History of Old Ruovesi
A note about boxes of Vanhan Ruoveden historia (History of Old Ruovesi) found during renovation at the Virrat parish house — parts I, I:2 and III:1 available.
7 March 2017
At Otaniemi During Genealogy Week, 18–19 March
Toiminimi Toiset Aijat will be present at the Finnish Genealogical Society's centenary celebrations in Otaniemi, Espoo on 18–19 March 2017.
31 January 2017
At Sampola and the House of Estates
A post-event report from the Genealogy Day at Tampere Sampola on 28 January and the Finnish Genealogical Society's 100th anniversary celebration at the House of Estates in Helsinki on 30 January 2017.
23 January 2017
Genealogy Day in Tampere, 28 January 2017
Toiset Aijat will be at Genealogy Day in Tampere's Sampola on 28 January 2017, with books to sell and display.
2016
27 December 2016
Finnish Cavalry in the Swedish Era — 2016 Book
The definitive 790-page account of Finnish cavalry from 1550 to 1809, covering every major campaign and every unit down to company level. Available to order by email.
29 November 2016
Launch of the Cavalry Book — 25 November 2016
A report on the launch event for Finnish Cavalry in the Swedish Era at Virrat city library on 25 November 2016 — the book's origins, its three intended audiences, and the research behind it.
29 November 2016
The Cavalry Book Was Launched on 25 November
A report on the launch event for Suomalainen ratsuväki Ruotsin ajalla at Virrat city library on 25 November 2016 — the book's origins, its sources, and the speech given at the occasion.
24 October 2016
The Book on Finnish Cavalry — Coming Soon
A brief announcement that the book Finnish Cavalry in the Swedish Era is at the printer and will be launched at Virrat city library on 25 November.
6 October 2016
Soldier Nicknames: Heard in Finnish, Written in Swedish
A research note on the problem of soldier additional names in the Pori Regiment muster book during Gustav III's Russian War (1788–1790) — how Finnish spoken names were distorted when written down by Swedish-speaking clerks.
26 September 2016
A Small Find on the Map
A 1650 map of Ylä-Satakunta shows the village name "Meürenen" — confirming that Mäyränen and Meuronen are variant spellings of the same name, both deriving from the word for badger.
26 September 2016
A Small Find on a Map — and News About the Future
The cavalry book is at the printer; launch on 4 November at Virrat library. Also: a 1650 map of Ylä-Satakunta confirms that Mäyränen and Meuronen are the same name.
19 September 2016
The Genealogist's Problem: Was the Common Ancestor Mauri or Mäyrä?
A personal research puzzle: tracing the paternal line back to Juho Laurinpoika Mäyränen (1606) and investigating whether the name Meuronen of Lapee and Mäyränen of Ruovesi are the same — and what the ancestor's first name really was.
27 April 2016
Coming this Autumn: Finnish Cavalry in the Swedish Era
Pre-publication announcement for Matti J. Kankaanpää's forthcoming book on Finnish cavalry — the first comprehensive treatment of the subject, covering 1550–1809 in 790 pages.
16 April 2016
Notes from a Non-Fiction Writing Course
Reflections after a day course for non-fiction authors at Tieteiden talo — an elevator pitch for the cavalry book, advice on blogging, and thoughts on the manuscript's progress.
7 March 2016
Spring Thoughts on the Cavalry Book
A March 2016 progress update on the manuscript of Finnish Cavalry in the Swedish Era — the project is nearing completion, though the scope has grown considerably.
1 January 2016
Happy New Year — and Finnish Cavalry
A New Year reflection on the progress of the book project on Finnish cavalry in the Swedish era and what the coming year has in store.
2015
14 October 2015
Greetings from Vantaa — Now in Virrat, 14 October 2015
A report from the Kuulutko sukuuni fair in Vantaa — good sales, interesting conversations, and thoughts on the theory of the origin of the name Karjala.
26 July 2015
Are You in My Family? — 10–11 October 2015
Toiminimi Toiset Aijat will be present at the Kuulutko sukuuni genealogy fair in Vantaa on 10–11 October 2015, selling books without postage costs.
26 July 2015
War with National Forces
A reflection on the nature of the Thirty Years' War seen from a Finnish perspective: how few Finnish or Swedish soldiers were actually present in the battles where "Swedes" won or lost, and what this means for military history.
24 July 2015
IsoKakkonen I Wins Book of the Year 2014
The genealogical book IsoKakkonen I — about the descendants of Yrjö Kakkonen of Hammaslahti, Pyhäselkä — has been awarded the Finnish Genealogical Society's Book of the Year prize.