Korhonen is a surname originating in
Finland, where it is the most common surname. The most common surname in Finland was
Virtanen before 2009, when the number of people with the surname Korhonen exceeded the number of people with the surname Virtanen for the first time.
The word ''korho'' is not used in standard
Finnish, but it and words derived from it are used in some dialects, and there are also related words both in standard Finnish and in closely related languages. In
Karelian ''korhottoa'' means 'to be or move upright', 'to have one's head up high', 'to raise', 'to shake threateningly', 'to brandish', and 'to perk up one's ears', and ''korhota'' means 'to rise', 'to move up or upwards', 'to get up', 'to go up', 'to become wealthy', and 'to become rich'. ''
Kohottaa'', ''
korottaa'', and ''
kohota'' are the most similar words in standard Finnish.
''Korho'' has meant 'proud', 'rich', and 'boastful' in the
southern parts of Finnish Lapland, and in
Satakunta and
Pirkanmaa it has meant 'large man'. In some dialects it has meant 'hearing-impaired', and it seems that this meaning was most likely derived from the 'to perk up one's ears' sense of ''korhottaa''. In some places it has meant 'slightly stupid', 'inattentive', and 'clumsy': it appears likely that these meanings were derived from the 'hearing-impaired' sense. Dialectal nouns derived from ''korho'' are, for example, ''korhopää'' from
Pöytyä
Pöytyä (; sv, Pöytyä, also ) is a municipality of Finland located in the Southwest Finland region.
The municipality has a population of () and covers an area of of which is water. The population density is . The municipality is unilingua ...
meaning roughly 'one with a head of upright hair', and ''korholaiho'' from
Ylistaro
Ylistaro is a former municipality of Finland. It was consolidated, together with Nurmo to Seinäjoki on 1 January 2009.
It is located in the province of Western Finland and is part of the Southern Ostrobothnia region. The municipality had a pop ...
meaning 'a crop of cereal growing upright'.
[ (in Finnish)]
The name originates from eastern Finland and is much older than its closest competitor for the title of the most common Finnish surname,
Virtanen.
People with the surname
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Aku Korhonen
August ”Aku” Aleksander Korhonen (29 December 1892 in Käkisalmi − 5 September 1960 in Helsinki) was a Finnish theatre and film actor. During his career, he appeared in 76 films and received three Jussi Awards.
He is buried in the Hietanie ...
(1892−1960), Finnish actor
*
Erkki Korhonen (born 1956), Finnish director of opera, pianist
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Gunnar Korhonen
Gunnar Aleksander Korhonen (22 April 1918 – 9 June 2001) was a Finnish politician and the CEO of Finnair from 1960–1987.
Career
Korhonen had a degree in economics and worked as a civil servant. He became the CEO of Finnair in 1960. He was t ...
(1918–2001), Finnish economist, government minister
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Janne Korhonen (taekwondo) (born 1970), Finnish taekwondoin
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Janne Korhonen (football) (born 1979), Finnish footballer
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Kalle Korhonen (1878–1938), Finnish politician
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Kari Korhonen
Kari Korhonen (born 1973) is a Finnish cartoonist known for his stories about Donald Duck.
Korhonen has been drawing Disney comics for the Danish publisher Egmont Group since 1993, where he is most known for his work on Donald Duck stories ...
(born 1973), Finnish cartoonist
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Keijo Korhonen (politician)
Keijo Tero Korhonen (23 February 1934 – 6 June 2022) was a Finnish politician, ambassador, and professor. During his political career, he served as the Finnish foreign minister and Permanent Representative of Finland to the United Nations. H ...
(1934–2022), Finnish politician (foreign minister) and professor
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Keijo Korhonen (ski jumper) (born 1956), Finnish ski jumper
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Markus Korhonen
Markus Korhonen (born 29 April 1975) is a Finnish former professional ice hockey goaltender and the current goaltending coach of Ilves.
Korhonen's son Rasmus Korhonen is a goaltender for Porin Ässät.
Playing career
Korhonen began his career ...
(born 1975), Finnish ice hockey player
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Martti Korhonen
Martti Korhonen (born 27 February 1953 in Oulu) is a Finnish politician and member of Finnish Parliament
The Parliament of Finland ( ; ) is the unicameral and supreme legislature of Finland, founded on 9 May 1906. In accordance with t ...
(born 1953), Finnish member of parliament
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Paavo Korhonen (1928–2019), Finnish Nordic combined skier
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Pekka Korhonen
Pekka Korhonen (born 21 August 1955 in Suonenjoki) is a Finnish political scientist. He is a professor of world politics at the University of Jyväskylä, Finland
Finland ( fi, Suomi ; sv, Finland ), officially the Republic of Finland (; ...
(born 1955), Finnish political scientist and professor
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Pentti Korhonen (born 1951), Finnish motorcycle racer
* (born 1977), Finnish fashion designer
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Urpo Korhonen
Urpo Pentti Korhonen (8 February 1923, Rautalampi – 10 August 2009) was a Finnish cross-country skier who competed in the 1940s and 1950s.
He was born in Rautalampi.
He won a gold medal at the 1952 Winter Olympics in Oslo
Oslo ...
(1923–2009), Finnish cross-country skier
See also
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References
{{surname
Finnish-language surnames