Savonian people
Encyclopedia
Savonians are Finnish people descending from the inhabitants of historical province of Savonia
. Savonians differ from other Finnish tribes by their dialect (see Savonian dialects) and cultural tradition. Originally they are descendants of the historical Finnish Karelians
and the Tavastians
. Nowadays the historical homeland of the Savonians is divided between the provinces of Northern Savonia
and Southern Savonia
. The regional identity of Savonians, like that of the other traditional Finnish tribes, is declining. Savonians and Karelians were the first people in Finland who started to use surname
s during the Middle Ages. These surnames are recognisable for containing the "nen" diminutive.
Savonians traditionally practiced slash-and-burn agriculture.
During 16th and 17th centuries many Savonians emigrated to Eastern Norway and Central Sweden and became known as the Forest Finns
there. In 17th century there was also migration to Swedish Ingria
(now part of Russia), where they are known as Savakot and are collectively known as the Ingrian Finns
with the other migrant group, Äyrämöiset
(Finnish Karelians).
Savonia (historical province)
Savonia is a historical province in the east of Finland. It borders to Uusimaa, Tavastia, Ostrobothnia, and Karelia. Largest cities in Savo by population are Kuopio, Mikkeli, Savonlinna and Varkaus.-Administration:...
. Savonians differ from other Finnish tribes by their dialect (see Savonian dialects) and cultural tradition. Originally they are descendants of the historical Finnish Karelians
Karelians
The Karelians are a Baltic-Finnic ethnic group living mostly in the Republic of Karelia and in other north-western parts of the Russian Federation. The historic homeland of Karelians includes also parts of present-day Eastern Finland and the formerly Finnish territory of Ladoga Karelia...
and the Tavastians
Tavastians
Tavastians are a historic people and a modern subgroup of the Finnish people. They live in areas of the historical province of Tavastia and speak Tavastian dialects....
. Nowadays the historical homeland of the Savonians is divided between the provinces of Northern Savonia
Northern Savonia
Northern Savonia is a region in eastern Finland. Kuopio is the largest city in the region.- Historical provinces :For history, geography and culture see: Savonia- Municipalities :Northern Savonia includes 21 municipalities.Seven of them are cities....
and Southern Savonia
Southern Savonia
Southern Savonia is a region in the south-east of Finland. It borders to the regions Northern Savonia, North Karelia, South Karelia, Kymenlaakso, Päijänne Tavastia, and Central Finland...
. The regional identity of Savonians, like that of the other traditional Finnish tribes, is declining. Savonians and Karelians were the first people in Finland who started to use surname
Surname
A surname is a name added to a given name and is part of a personal name. In many cases, a surname is a family name. Many dictionaries define "surname" as a synonym of "family name"...
s during the Middle Ages. These surnames are recognisable for containing the "nen" diminutive.
Savonians traditionally practiced slash-and-burn agriculture.
During 16th and 17th centuries many Savonians emigrated to Eastern Norway and Central Sweden and became known as the Forest Finns
Forest Finns
Forest Finns are people of Finnish descent in the forest areas of Eastern Norway and Central Sweden...
there. In 17th century there was also migration to Swedish Ingria
Swedish Ingria
Swedish Ingria was a dominion of the Swedish Empire from 1580 to 1595 and then again from 1617 to 1721, when it was ceded to the Russian Empire in the Treaty of Nystad....
(now part of Russia), where they are known as Savakot and are collectively known as the Ingrian Finns
Ingrian Finns
The Ingrian Finns are the Finnish population of Ingria descending from Lutheran Finnish immigrants introduced to the area in the 17th century, when Finland and Ingria were both part of the Swedish Empire...
with the other migrant group, Äyrämöiset
Äyrämöiset
The Äyrämöiset or as the Russians call them Evrimeiset are a Finnish language speaking people who live in the St. Petersburg Oblast and earlier also on the Finnish part ot the Karelian Isthmus. Äyrämöiset are one of the two main Finnish groups in St. Petersburg Oblast, the other being the Savakot....
(Finnish Karelians).