Finnish Research: Tips for Finnish-American Researchers

Pay extra attention to last names, they could be farm names. Farm names can help you identfy a home parish in Finland.

If you are unable to locate the place of origin in Finland for your ancestor, try finding the place of origin for neighbors from Finland. Emigrants from Finland sometimes would settle in areas with friends and family from their home locality.

Did they belong to a Finnish-American church? Many of these Finnish American churches kept excellent records of their members even recording place of birth and place the member came from in Finland.