Meaning & History
Turunen is a Finnish surname derived from the word turku, meaning "marketplace." It is also associated with the city of Turku, southwestern Finland, whose name comes from the same root. The surname originated as a habitational name for people from Turku or as a topographic name for someone living near a marketplace.
As is typical for Finnish surnames ending in -nen, Turunen is a relatively modern surname (mostly adopted in the 19th and early 20th centuries), often taken by families living in or near Turku. In Karelia, a variant Turuzinen is also attested.
In music, Kari Turunen (born 1962) is a Finnish musician. In politics, Aukusti Turunen (1888–1967) was a smallholder and politician; Kaj Turunen (born 1960) is a politician; and Emilie Turunen (born 1984) became the youngest member of the European Parliament in 2009. Antti Turunen (born 1954) heads the Finnish Foreign Ministry's Eastern European department. Hannu Turunen (born 1956) was a Finnish footballer, as were Jukka Turunen (born 1964) and others. Heikki Turunen (born 1945) is an author from Joensuu. Eeva Turunen (1933–2015) was a teacher and politician. Joni Turunen (born 1976) is a boxer. Juha Turunen (born 1964) is a lawyer who confessed to a kidnapping. Erika Turunen is a costume designer. Marjut Turunen (born 1992) is a ski orienteer. Mari Turunen is an actress.
Etymology and Origins
The Finnish word turku is related to the Estonian word turg (marketplace) and ultimately traces back to the Indo-European root *t(h)erkwh- or a Baltic source. The city of Turku, founded in the 13th century, was an important trading hub in medieval Finland, which explains the spread of the surname.As is typical for Finnish surnames ending in -nen, Turunen is a relatively modern surname (mostly adopted in the 19th and early 20th centuries), often taken by families living in or near Turku. In Karelia, a variant Turuzinen is also attested.
Notable Bearers
Several notable individuals carry the surname Turunen in various fields:In music, Kari Turunen (born 1962) is a Finnish musician. In politics, Aukusti Turunen (1888–1967) was a smallholder and politician; Kaj Turunen (born 1960) is a politician; and Emilie Turunen (born 1984) became the youngest member of the European Parliament in 2009. Antti Turunen (born 1954) heads the Finnish Foreign Ministry's Eastern European department. Hannu Turunen (born 1956) was a Finnish footballer, as were Jukka Turunen (born 1964) and others. Heikki Turunen (born 1945) is an author from Joensuu. Eeva Turunen (1933–2015) was a teacher and politician. Joni Turunen (born 1976) is a boxer. Juha Turunen (born 1964) is a lawyer who confessed to a kidnapping. Erika Turunen is a costume designer. Marjut Turunen (born 1992) is a ski orienteer. Mari Turunen is an actress.
Distribution and Variants
Turunen is one of the most common surnames in Finland, ranking among the top five in frequency. Variants include Turuzinen (in Karelia). The name has spread to other countries via Finnish emigration, but remains strongly associated with Finnish heritage.- Meaning: "marketplace" or habitational from Turku city
- Origin: Finland
- Type: Habitational or topographic surname
- Usage: Finnish
Sources: Wikipedia — Turunen