Estonianization is the changing of one's personal names from other languages into Estonian, or the development of Estonian language

Estonian language

Estonian is the official language of Estonia, spoken by about 1.1 million people in Estonia and tens of thousands in various émigré communities...

, culture and identity within educational and other state institutions through various programs.

Family names

Before 1920, some fifty percent of Estonian surnames were of foreign origin.
In the beginning of the1930s, president

President of Estonia

The President of the Republic is the head of state of the Republic of Estonia.Estonia is a parliamentary republic, therefore President is mainly a symbolic figure and holds no executive power. The President has to suspend his membership in any political party for his term in office...

 Konstantin Päts

Konstantin Päts

Konstantin Päts VR I/1 and III/1 was the most influential politician of interwar Estonia. He was one of the first Estonians to become active in politics and started an almost 40-year political rivalry with Jaan Tõnisson, first through journalism with his newspaper Teataja, later through politics...

 introduced a nationwide Estonianization program for family names. During this campaign thousands of Estonian citizens living in Estonia

Estonia

Estonia , officially the Republic of Estonia , is a state in the Baltic region of Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by the Gulf of Finland, to the west by the Baltic Sea, to the south by Latvia , and to the east by Lake Peipsi and the Russian Federation . Across the Baltic Sea lies...

 voluntarily changed their original family names.

Notable estonianized names

• Karl August Einbund → Kaarel Eenpalu
  Kaarel Eenpalu
  Kaarel Eenpalu was an Estonian journalist, politician and head of state.- Education :...
  
  
• Hans Laipman → Ants Laikmaa
  Ants Laikmaa
  Ants Laikmaa was an Estonian painter.-Life:...
  
  
• Kristjan Trossmann → Kristjan Palusalu
  Kristjan Palusalu
  Kristjan Palusalu was an Estonian heavyweight wrestler and Olympic winner....
  
  

Integration

The integration policy is aimed at strengthening of Estonian identity among the nation's populace, to develop shared values, identity and, pride in being a citizen of Estonia; with respect and acceptance of cultural differences among Estonian residents.

Education

On 14 March 2000 the Government of Estonia adopted “State Programme “Integration in Estonian society 2000-2007". Main areas and aims of the integration established by the program are linguistic-communicative, legal-political and socio-economical. The Program has four sub programs: education, the education and culture of national minorities, the teaching of Estonian to adults and social competence. The aim of the sub-programs is to be achieved via the learning of the Estonian language by children and adults.

See also