Surname Kauppinen - Meaning and Origin
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Kauppinen: What does the surname Kauppinen mean?
The last name Kauppinen is an occupational surname derived from the old Finnish word for 'merchant'. It is believed to have been derived during the pre-modern era when most of Finland was still part of the Swedish Empire. Kauppinen was likely a surname given to individuals in the trading profession or business, ennobled by the Swedish King in order to distinguish those individuals from their lower-class neighbors lacking a formal title.
The surname Kauppinen is fairly common in Finland today, as it was historically. According to the Finnish Population Registry Centre, there were over 9,000 individuals with this surname living in Finland as of 2020. There is also evidence of this name scattered throughout other countries in Europe, including Sweden, Norway, and Denmark.
Interestingly, one of the oldest known records of the surname Kauppinen in Finland dates back to 1579, when the King of Sweden granted “Trond Halenius” the right to change his name to “Kauppinen” as a reward for his trading prowess. This legacy has likely been passed down through the generations in the ensuing centuries, forming the large, diverse Kauppinen family we know today.
Order DNA origin analysisKauppinen: Where does the name Kauppinen come from?
The last name Kauppinen is a very common surname in Finland and is also found throughout the Nordic countries. It is particularly common in Finland, with around 1,860 people with the name living there in 2020. The surname is also quite common throughout Sweden and Norway. However, due to the commonality of the name in the Nordic region, it is also found in other parts of Europe, such as the United Kingdom, Germany, Czech Republic and Latvia.
Outside of Europe, the last name Kauppinen is not as widely found, however. There are some who have emigrated with the surname to the United States, but they are few and far between. There are some people who have moved to northern Canada and Alaska with the last name Kauppinen, as well as some that exist in Australia and New Zealand.
The most popular variation of the name in the western world is Kauppinen, whereas Koppinen is more common in Russia. The original language origin of the name is unclear; however, it has been speculated to either come from the Finnish word 'kauppa' meaning business or shop or from the Swedish word 'kappe', meaning a black hood.
Overall, the last name Kauppinen is primarily found in the Nordic countries, as well as in other parts of Europe, the US, Canada, Alaska, Australia, and New Zealand. It is believed to have originated from either the Finnish or Swedish languages, and some variants of the name can be found.
Variations of the surname Kauppinen
Kauppinen is a Finnish surname which is found quite commonly in Finland and other areas where Finnish people have settled like Sweden and North America. The spelling Kauppinen is most common in Finland, while Swedish-speaking areas of Finland spell it Kåppinen. Another variant of the spelling is Kappinen.
Kauppinen is a patronymic name, derived from the given name Kauppi, which is mostly found in Finland and Northern Europe, and is derived from the Old German "kaufan", meaning "to buy". The other variants may be derived from the same origin, but the name may be derived from other given names as well, like "Kappi".
The surname Kauppi may also have derived from the Swedish word "kappa", meaning "coat".
In Finland, the surname Kappinen is also found, and is derived from the Christian name Kappe. This version of the spelling is found in regions like Karelia, where Swedish-speaking Finns resided before the post-war settlements.
In addition, regional variants of the surname Kauppinen are also found, which include Kauhinen (in Kainuu, most notably), Kaupinnen (in Lapland), Kaupponen (in Häme), Kaupin (in Savo-Karelia region) and Kavpponen (in Satakunta, mostly).
All of these surnames, aside from the variant spellings, are derived from the same origin and all originate from either Kauppi, Kappi, Kaufan or Kappe.
Famous people with the name Kauppinen
- Andrei Kauppinen: Former Finnish footballer
- Arto Kauppinen: Former NHL player
- Hanna Kauppinen: Finnish politician
- Iisa Kauppinen: Finnish singer
- Janina Kauppinen: Finnish artist
- Janne Kauppinen: Finnish tenor
- Jonni Kauppinen: Finnish ski jumper
- Jussi Kauppinen: Former NHL player
- Kaisa Kauppinen: Former ski jumper
- Kimmo Kauppinen: Finnish volleyball player
- Laura Kauppinen: Model, Influencer
- Mika Kauppinen: Former Finnish ice hockey player
- Pekka Kauppinen: Flying Finn champion
- Reijo Kauppinen: Finnish artist
- Sami Kauppinen: Professional Finnish Ice Hockey Player
- Teija Kauppinen: Finnish author and journalist