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Virtanen Family History

Virtanen Surname Meaning

Finnish: ornamental name from virta ‘stream’ + the surname suffix -nen adopted in the late 19th and early 20th centuries in southern southwestern and central Finland primarily by Finns who had no surnames.

It is the prototype of the popular nature-related surnames that were coined during the national awakening and it remained the most common surname in Finland until Korhonen overtook it in 201.

This standard Finnish variant is rare in the US where the surname is mostly spelled Wirtanen.

Source: Dictionary of American Family Names 2nd edition, 2022


Similar surnames: 

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Where is the Virtanen family from?

You can see how Virtanen families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Virtanen family name was found in the USA in 1920. In 1920 there were 2 Virtanen families living in Massachusetts. This was about 33% of all the recorded Virtanen's in USA. Massachusetts had the highest population of Virtanen families in 1920.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Virtanen surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.
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What did your Virtanen ancestors do for a living?

In 1940, Miner was the top reported job for people in the USA named Virtanen. 50% of Virtanen men worked as a Miner.

View Census Data for Virtanen | Data not to scale

*We display top occupations by gender to maintain their historical accuracy during times when men and women often performed different jobs.

United States shown, England data unavailable

Top Male Occupations In 1940

  • Miner
    50%
  • Laborer
    50%

What Virtanen family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 340 census records available for the last name Virtanen. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Virtanen census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Virtanen

Passenger Lists

There are 1,000 immigration records available for the last name Virtanen. Passenger lists are your ticket to knowing when your ancestors arrived in the UK, and how they made the journey - from the ship name to ports of arrival and departure.

View all Virtanen immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 78 military records available for the last name Virtanen. For the veterans among your Virtanen ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Virtanen military records

You've only scratched the surface of Virtanen family history

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What is the average Virtanen lifespan?

Between 1962 and 2002, in the United States, Virtanen life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1992, and highest in 1990. The average life expectancy for Virtanen in 1962 was 72, and 68 in 2002.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Virtanen

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Virtanen ancestors lived in harsh conditions. A short lifespan might also indicate health problems that were once prevalent in your family. The SSDI is a searchable database of more than 70 million names. You can find birthdates, death dates, addresses and more.

Discover the unique achievements of ancestors in the Virtanen family tree

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