Savonians (; ), or Savo Finns, are a

subgroup In group theory, a branch of mathematics, a subset of a group G is a subgroup of G if the members of that subset form a group with respect to the group operation in G. Formally, given a group (mathematics), group under a binary operation ...

(''heimo'') of

Finns Finns or Finnish people (, ) are a Baltic Finns, Baltic Finnic ethnic group native to Finland. Finns are traditionally divided into smaller regional groups that span several countries adjacent to Finland, both those who are native to these cou ...

who live in the areas of the historical province of Savonia.

History

Savonians are descendants of Tavastian and Karelian peasants who, during the

Middle Ages In the history of Europe, the Middle Ages or medieval period lasted approximately from the 5th to the late 15th centuries, similarly to the post-classical period of global history. It began with the fall of the Western Roman Empire and ...

, had settled in the areas that would later become known as ''Savonia'' in order to find new lands suitable for

slash-and-burn Slash-and-burn agriculture is a form of shifting cultivation that involves the cutting and burning of plants in a forest or woodland to create a Field (agriculture), field called a swidden. The method begins by cutting down the trees and woody p ...

agriculture. The

Treaty of Nöteborg The Treaty of Nöteborg, also known as the Treaty of Orehovsk (; ; ), is a conventional name for the peace treaty signed at Shlisselburg Fortress, Oreshek (; ) on 12 August 1323. It was the first agreement between Sweden and the Novgorod Republic ...

split the area between

Sweden Sweden, formally the Kingdom of Sweden, is a Nordic countries, Nordic country located on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. It borders Norway to the west and north, and Finland to the east. At , Sweden is the largest Nordic count ...

and

Novgorod Republic The Novgorod Republic () was a medieval state that existed from the 12th to 15th centuries in northern Russia, stretching from the Gulf of Finland in the west to the northern Ural Mountains in the east. Its capital was the city of Novgorod. The ...

, Savonia going to Sweden and Karelia to Novgorod. This tied Savonia to the Finnish language and Lutheran religion. While Savonia as a region was first mentioned in writing in 1323 in the treaty, Savonians as a separate group emerged around the year 1700 as a result of the mixing of Karelians and Tavastians. During 16th and 17th centuries, many Savonians emigrated to Eastern Norway and Central Sweden where they became known as the

Forest Finns Forest Finns (, Bokmål, Norwegian bokmål: ''skogfinner'', Nynorsk, Norwegian nynorsk: ''skogfinnar'', ) were Finns, Finnish migrants from Savonia (historical province), Savonia and Northern Tavastia (historical province), Tavastia in Finland w ...

. In the 17th century, there was also a migration to

Swedish Ingria Swedish Ingria (, ‘land of Ingrians’) was a dominion of the Swedish Empire from 1583 to 1595 and then again from 1617 to 1721 in what is now the territory of Russia. At the latter date, it was ceded to the Russian Empire in the Treaty of Ny ...

(now part of Russia), where they became known as

Savakot Savakot (plural; singular: Savakko; ) were one of the two main subgroups of Ingrian Finns, the other being the Äyrämöiset. The Savakot descended from Finnish ( Savonian) peasants who had migrated to Swedish Ingria (now part of Russia) from Sa ...

and collectively known as the

Ingrian Finns Ingrian Finns (, ; ) are the Finnish people, Finnish population of Ingria (now the central part of Leningrad Oblast in Russia), descending from Lutheranism, Lutheran Finnish immigrants introduced into the area in the 17th century, when Finland ...

together with the

Äyrämöiset The Äyrämöiset or, as the Russians call them, Evrimeiset (Russian: Эвремейсы), were a Finnish language-speaking people who lived in the Saint Petersburg Oblast and earlier also on the Finnish part of the Karelian Isthmus. Äyrämöis ...

(Finnish Karelians).

Description and stereotypes

The stereotypical Savonian is talkative, easy-going, 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.Yle News Savolainen kierous onkin vaarinymmarrys : http://yle.fi/uutiset/3-5338205 Savonians and Karelians were the first people in Finland to use

surname In many societies, a surname, family name, or last name is the mostly hereditary portion of one's personal name that indicates one's family. It is typically combined with a given name to form the full name of a person, although several give ...

s, beginning during the Middle Ages. These surnames are known for containing the "nen" diminutive.

Notable Savonians

Juhani Aho Juhani Aho, originally Johannes Brofeldt (11 September 1861 – 8 August 1921), was a Finnish author and journalist. He was nominated for the Nobel Prize in Literature sixteen times. Early life Juhani Aho was born at Lapinlahti in 1861. His ...

Hannu Aravirta Hannu Aravirta (born 26 March 1953) is a former Finnish ice hockey player and an ice hockey coach for the Finnish national men's team, SM-liiga and Elitserien. Career as player Aravirta was born in Savonlinna, and made his first professional ...

Juhan af Grann Juhan af Grann (3 December 1944 – 14 January 2023) was a Finnish film director and producer known for his UFO documentaries. His most notable documentary is ''Mankind's Last Exodus'', released in 1998 and sold in over 120 countries. Grann is n ...

Harri Hakkarainen Harri Tapio Hakkarainen (born 16 October 1969 in Kaavi) is a retired male javelin thrower from Finland. He set his personal best (87.82 metres) on 24 June 1995 in Kuortane Kuortane is a municipality of Finland. It is located in the South Ostrob ...

Pekka Halonen Pekka Halonen (23 September 1865 – 1 December 1933) was a Finnish painter of landscapes and people in the national romantic and Realist styles.Aimo Reitala. "Halonen, Pekka." Grove Art Online. Oxford Art Online. Oxford University Press. Web. ...

* Teemu Hartikainen *

Jukka Hentunen Jukka Mika Petteri Hentunen (born May 3, 1974) is a Finnish former professional ice hockey forward, who last played with KalPa of the SM-liiga in the 2012–13 season. Playing career Hentunen played with HPK of the SM-liiga when he was drafted ...

Marko Hietala Marko Tapani "Marco" Hietala (born 14 January 1966) is a Finnish Heavy metal music, heavy metal vocalist, bassist and songwriter. Internationally, he is best known as the former bassist, male vocalist and secondary composer to Tuomas Holopainen, ...

Kari Hietalahti Kari-Jukka Hietalahti (born 13 September 1964) is a Finnish actor and screenwriter. Career Kari Hietalahti is best known for having appeared in several popular Finnish television series, such as '' Vintiöt'', '' Ihmisten puolue'', and '' Roba ...

* Pekka Janhunen *

Olli Jokinen Olli Veli Pekka Jokinen (born December 5, 1978) is a Finnish former professional ice hockey player. He was selected by the Los Angeles Kings third overall in the 1997 NHL Entry Draft, with whom he made his NHL debut. He has also played for the Ne ...

Jussi Jääskeläinen Jussi Albert Jääskeläinen (; born 19 April 1975) is a Finnish professional football coach and a former Association football, footballer who played as a Goalkeeper (association football), goalkeeper. He is currently working as a goalkeeping c ...

Juha Kankkunen Juha Matti Pellervo Kankkunen (; born 2 April 1959) is a Finnish former rally driver. His factory team career in the World Rally Championship lasted from 1983 to 2002. He won 23 world rallies and four drivers' world championship titles, which we ...

Kasperi Kapanen Samu Kasperi Kapanen (born 23 July 1996) is a Finnish professional ice hockey right wing for the Edmonton Oilers of the National Hockey League (NHL). He made his Liiga debut playing with KalPa during the 2012–13 SM-liiga season. Kapanen was se ...

Sami Kapanen Sami Hannu Antero Kapanen (born 14 June 1973) is a Finnish professional ice hockey coach and former player. He played 12 NHL seasons for the Hartford Whalers, Carolina Hurricanes and Philadelphia Flyers. He is the majority owner of ...

Klaus Karppinen Klaes Karppinen (also spelled Klaus; 9 October 1907 – 24 January 1992) was a Finnish cross-country skier who competed in the 1930s. He won a gold medal at the 1936 Winter Olympics in Garmisch-Partenkirchen in the 4 × 10 km relay. Karppin ...

Urho Kekkonen Urho Kaleva Kekkonen (; 3 September 1900 – 31 August 1986), often referred to by his initials UKK, was a Finnish politician who served as the eighth and longest-serving president of Finland from 1956 to 1982. He also served as Prime Minister ...

Kalle Kerman Kalle Kerman (born February 10, 1979, in Kuopio) is a Finnish professional ice hockey forward. He is currently an unrestricted free agent who most recently played with KalPa in the Finnish Liiga. Kerman first played with KalPa in his junior year ...

Topi Keskinen Topi Keskinen (born 7 March 2003) is a Finnish professional footballer who plays as a winger for Scottish Premiership club Aberdeen and for the Finland national team. Keskinen is known for his pace, dribbling and agility with the ball. Early ...

Harri Kirvesniemi Harri Tapani Kirvesniemi (born 10 May 1958) is a Finnish former cross-country skier who competed from 1980 to 2001. During his career he won six Olympic medals (all bronzes), and also the 50 km event at the Holmenkollen ski festival in 2000 ...

Hannes Kolehmainen Juho Pietari "Hannes" Kolehmainen (; 9 December 1889 – 11 January 1966) was a Finnish four-time Olympic gold medalist and a world record holder in middle- and long-distance running. He was the first in a generation of great Finnish long-dista ...

Mikko Kolehmainen Mikko Yrjö Ilmari Kolehmainen (born 18 August 1964 in Mikkeli) is a Finnish canoe sprinter who competed from the mid-1980s to the mid-1990s. Competing in four Summer Olympics, he won the gold medal in the K-1 500 m event at Barcelona in ...

Sakari Kuosmanen Sakari Jyrki Kuosmanen (born 6 September 1956) is a Finnish singer and actor, born in Helsinki. He has recorded several solo albums and has also done work with Sleepy Sleepers and Leningrad Cowboys. He appeared as himself on the Finnish televis ...

Kaapo Kähkönen Kaapo Kähkönen (born 16 August 1996) is a Finnish professional ice hockey goaltender for the Charlotte Checkers of the American Hockey League (AHL) while under contract to the Florida Panthers of the National Hockey League (NHL). Kähkönen was ...

Esapekka Lappi Esapekka Lappi (; born 17 January 1991) is a Finnish rally driver. He is the 2012 Finnish Rally Champion, 2014 European Rally Champion and the 2016 WRC-2 Champion. He now drives for Hyundai Motorsport. In 2024, he won his second ever event in ...

* Kari Laukkanen *

Juice Leskinen Juhani Juice Leskinen (born Pauli Matti Juhani Leskinen; 19 February 1950 – 24 November 2006), better known as Juice Leskinen ( as if the word ''juice'' were Finnish) was one of the most important and successful Finnish singer-songwriters of ...

* Otto Leskinen *

Erkki Liikanen Erkki Antero Liikanen (born 19 September 1950) is a Finnish social democratic politician and a former Governor of the Bank of Finland. Early life and education Erkki Antero Liikanen obtained a bachelor’s degree in Political Science (Economic ...

Eetu Luostarinen Eetu Luostarinen (born 2 September 1998) is a Finnish professional ice hockey center for the Florida Panthers of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was drafted in the second round, 42nd overall, by the Carolina Hurricanes in the 2017 NHL entr ...

Paavo Lötjönen Paavo Lötjönen (born 29 July 1968) is a cello player for Finnish band Apocalyptica. Paavo comes from a family where both of his parents were professional musicians. At the age of 6, he took a cello and decided that would be the instrument he ...

Otto Manninen Otto Manninen (13 August 1872 – 6 April 1950) was a Finnish language, Finnish writer, poet, and a celebrated translator of world classics into Finnish language. Along with Eino Leino in the early 20th century, he is considered as a pioneer of Fi ...

Jarmo Myllys Jarmo Pentti Kalevi Myllys (born 29 May 1965) is a Finnish former professional ice hockey goaltender. He was drafted by the Minnesota North Stars as their ninth-round pick, #172 overall, in the 1987 NHL Entry Draft. He is currently the goalkeepi ...

Ari-Pekka Nikkola Ari-Pekka Nikkola (born 16 May 1969) is a Finnish former ski jumper. Career He won two gold medals in the Team large hill competition at the 1988 Winter Olympics in Calgary and the 1992 Winter Olympics in Albertville. His best individual finish ...

Urho Nissilä Urho Nissilä (born 4 April 1996) is a Finnish professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Hungarian club Puskás Akadémia and the Finland national team. Early life Nissilä was born in Kuopio to a Conservative Laestadian family. N ...

Spede Pasanen Pertti Olavi "Spede" Pasanen (10 April 1930 – 7 September 2001) was a Finnish film director and producer, comedian, and inventor, who has been called an "all-around entertainer". During his career he directed, wrote, produced or acted in ...

Petteri Pennanen Petteri Henri Juhana Pennanen (born 19 September 1990) is a Finnish professional footballer who plays as a central midfielder for Veikkausliiga club KuPS. Club career A product of local Kuopion Palloseura (KuPS), Pennanen made his senior début ...

Joonas Rask Joonas Rask (born 24 March 1990) is a Finnish professional ice hockey forward. He is currently playing with HFK Helsinki of the Finnish Elite League (Liiga). He played 2 games in the National Hockey League with the Nashville Predators during t ...

Tuukka Rask Tuukka Mikael Rask (born 10 March 1987) is a Finns, Finnish former professional ice hockey Goaltender (ice hockey), goaltender. Rask was drafted 21st overall in the 2005 NHL Entry Draft by the Toronto Maple Leafs before being traded to the Boston ...

* Timo Rautiainen *

Olli Rehn Olli Ilmari Rehn (; born 31 March 1962) is a Finnish public official who has been serving as governor of the Bank of Finland since 2018. A member of the Centre Party, he previously served as the European Commissioner for Enlargement from 2004 ...

* Rasmus Rissanen * Antti Ruuskanen *

Eero Saarinen Eero Saarinen (, ; August 20, 1910 – September 1, 1961) was a Finnish-American architect and industrial designer who created a wide array of innovative designs for buildings and monuments, including the General Motors Technical Center; the pa ...

Eliel Saarinen Gottlieb Eliel Saarinen (, ; August 20, 1873 – July 1, 1950) was a Finnish and American Architecture, architect known for his work with Art Nouveau buildings in the early years of the 20th century. He was also the father of famed architect Ee ...

Arja Saijonmaa Arja Enni Helena Saijonmaa (born 1 December 1944) is a Finnish singer, political activist and occasional actress. Life and career She studied at the Sibelius Academy and earned a Bachelor of Arts at the Helsinki University. She made her brea ...

* Matias Siltanen *

Heikki Silvennoinen Heikki Johannes Silvennoinen (27 April 1954 – 18 December 2024) was a Finnish musician and an actor. He was a guitarist and a songwriter in several notable Finnish bands of the 1970s and 1980s, and also recorded solo albums. He was best know ...

Kari Tapio Kari Tapani Jalkanen (22 November 1945 – 7 December 2010), better known by his stage name Kari Tapio, was a Finnish schlager and country & western singer. During his career, he was the most popular singer in Finland for decades; having sold es ...

* Ilpo Tiihonen *

Jussi Timonen Jussi Timonen (born June 29, 1983) is a Finnish professional ice hockey defenceman who is currently an unrestricted free agent. He most recently played for the Schwenninger Wild Wings of the Deutsche Eishockey Liga (DEL). He is the younger brother ...

Kimmo Timonen Kimmo Samuel Timonen (born 18 March 1975) is a Finnish former professional ice hockey defenseman who played 16 seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the Nashville Predators, Philadelphia Flyers, and Chicago Blackhawks. Timonen had pla ...

Erkki Toivanen Erkki Matti Toivanen (18 May 1938 – 21 July 2011) was a Finnish journalist and Television presenter, presenter for Yleisradio. Career After gaining a master's degree in political history from the University of Helsinki in 1962, Toivanen ...

* Marko Tuomainen *

Allu Tuppurainen Allan Rauli Kristian "Allu" Tuppurainen (born 1 April 1951) is a Finnish actor and screenwriter residing in Vaasa. He began acting in Finnish film in the early 1970s and has made a number of appearances in Finnish film ever since, appearing in m ...

Kari Ukkonen Kari Ukkonen (born 19 February 1961) is a Finnish former football manager and former football player. As a player, Ukkonen was fielded as defender as well as midfielder. He was inducted to the Finnish Football Hall of Fame in 2022. Club caree ...

Jenni Vartiainen Jenni Mari Vartiainen (born 20 March 1983) is a Finnish pop singer. Before her professional musical endeavours, she was a figure skating, figure skater in her teenage years and attended the Kuopio Senior High of Music and Dance. Vartiainen rose t ...

Iiro Viinanen Iiro Viinanen (born 27 September 1944) is a Finnish politician. Biography Viinanen graduated as an engineer from a Tampere Institute in 1967 and as a Master of Science from the Helsinki University of Technology in 1974. He was a Member of the ...

* Jukka Voutilainen *

Ismo Leikola (born 22 January 1979), sometimes known professionally as ISMO, is a Finnish comedian, musician, author, screenwriter, and YouTuber. Leikola made his United States debut in 2014, when he won the "Funniest Person in the World" competition organ ...

References

Ethnic groups in Finland Savonia (historical province) {{Ethno-stub