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| Origin | |
|---|---|
| Language(s) | Finnish |
| Meaning | Derived from virta ("river, stream") |
| Region of origin | Finland |
| Other names | |
| Variant form(s) | Virta |
Virtanen (also written as Wirtanen)[1] is a surname originating in Finland (in Finnish, virta, meaning "river", and -nen is a surname-generating suffix), where it is the second most common surname.[2] The surname is the namesake of the "Virtanen type" of Finnish surnames.
The name quickly became popular in 19th century, in the era of Finnish national awakening, however rare occasions of it were documented in 1684 at the latest.[3]
Notable people with the surname include:
- Antti Virtanen (born 1977), Finnish ice hockey player
- Artturi Ilmari Virtanen (1895–1973), Finnish chemist and Nobel laureate
- Aulis Virtanen (1926–2006), Finnish sports journalist
- Eino Virtanen (1908–1980), Finnish wrestler and Olympic medal winner
- Fredrik Virtanen (born 1971), Swedish journalist
- Jake Virtanen (born 1996), Canadian ice hockey winger
- Jani Virtanen (born 1988), Finnish footballer
- Janne Virtanen (born 1969), Finnish strongman
- Kalle Virtanen (born 1975), singer and guitarist of the band Viikate
- Kari Virtanen (born 1958), Finnish footballer
- Keijo Virtanen (born 1945), Finnish historian
- Otto Virtanen (born 2001), Finnish tennis player
- Rauha S. Virtanen (1931-2019), Finnish author
- Reima Virtanen (born 1947), Finnish boxer and Olympic medal winner
- Tommi Virtanen (born 1989), Finnish ice hockey goaltender
- Veltto Virtanen (born 1951), psychologist, rock musician, member of parliament, presidential candidate
- Ville Virtanen (actor) (born 1961), Finnish actor
- Ville Virtanen, aka Darude (born 1973), Finnish DJ and music producer
- ^ "Wirtanen" is an antiquated variant spelling listed at V in Finland (in the Finnish alphabet, the letter W is an archaic variant of V, kept for spelling ancient names). It is mostly found abroad for the descendants of ancient Finnish emigrants (as of March 2010[update], the Finnish Population Register Center Archived 2010-05-23 at the Wayback Machine's "Surname search" reported 23600 Virtanen and 254 Wirtanen).
- ^ As of November 2011[update], "Most common surnames"[dead link], Finnish Population Register Center Archived 2010-05-23 at the Wayback Machine (English version), verkkopalvelut.vrk.fi/Nimipalvelu
- ^ Pirjo Mikkonen, Sirkka Paikkala, Sukunimet ["Surnames"], article "Virtanen".