Savonians (Finnish: Savolaiset, Savonian: Savolaaset, Savolaeset) are a subgroup (heimo) of the Finnish people who live in the areas of the historical province of Savonia.
 Coat of arms of the historical province of Savonia | |
| Regions with significant populations | |
|---|---|
| North and South Savo | |
| Languages | |
| Finnish (Savonian dialects) | |
| Religion | |
| Lutheranism | |
| Related ethnic groups | |
| Other regional subgroups |
History
Savonians are descendants of Tavastian and Karelian peasants who, during the Middle Ages, had settled in the areas that would later become known as Savonia in order to find new lands suitable for slash-and-burn agriculture.[1] During 16th and 17th centuries, many Savonians emigrated to Eastern Norway and Central Sweden were they became known as the Forest Finns. In the 17th century, there was also a migration to Swedish Ingria (now part of Russia), where they became known as Savakot and collectively known as the Ingrian Finns together with the Äyrämöiset (Finnish Karelians).
Description and stereotypes
The stereotypical Savonian is talkative, easy-going,[2] jolly and humorous, occasionally even to an offensive degree. Traditionally, the Savonians have often been considered to be "sneaky" and "mendacious." However, recent research has shown that this infamy is largely due to misunderstandings caused by the traditional Savonian social indirectness.[3]
Savonians and Karelians were the first people in Finland to use surnames, beginning during the Middle Ages. These surnames are known for containing the "nen" diminutive.
Famous Savonians
- Juhani Aho
- Hannu Aravirta
- Juhan af Grann
- Harri Hakkarainen
- Pekka Halonen
- Teemu Hartikainen
- Jukka Hentunen
- Marko Hietala
- Kari Hietalahti
- Pekka Janhunen
- Olli Jokinen
- Jussi Jääskeläinen
- Juha Kankkunen
- Kasperi Kapanen
- Sami Kapanen
- Klaus Karppinen
- Urho Kekkonen
- Kalle Kerman
- Harri Kirvesniemi
- Hannes Kolehmainen
- Mikko Kolehmainen
- Sakari Kuosmanen
- Kaapo Kähkönen
- Esapekka Lappi
- Kari Laukkanen
- Juice Leskinen
- Otto Leskinen
- Erkki Liikanen
- Paavo Lipponen
- Eetu Luostarinen
- Paavo Lötjönen
- Otto Manninen
- Sanna Marin
- Jarmo Myllys
- Ari-Pekka Nikkola
- Spede Pasanen
- Joonas Rask
- Tuukka Rask
- Timo Rautiainen
- Olli Rehn
- Rasmus Rissanen
- Antti Ruuskanen
- Eero Saarinen
- Eliel Saarinen
- Arja Saijonmaa
- Heikki Silvennoinen
- Kari Tapio
- Ilpo Tiihonen
- Jussi Timonen
- Kimmo Timonen
- Erkki Toivanen
- Marko Tuomainen
- Allu Tuppurainen
- Kari Ukkonen
- Jenni Vartiainen
- Iiro Viinanen
- Jukka Voutilainen
- Ismo Leikola