AboutMona M Olsson Expertise Finland, living in Finland, Finnish culture, language, society, behaviour and manners. I can answer questions in english, swedish, german, french and finnish.
Experience Am a foreigner currently living in Finland. I see what is happening here right now.
Education/Credentials Bachelor of science and Bachelor of economics.
Expert: Mona M Olsson Date: 12/31/2007 Subject: Finnish ancestry
Question I am researching my Finnish roots..I have a great grandfather Johan Seppanen who was born in the Puolanga (Puolanka) area of Finland and I have found most of his U.S. information after he migrated here in the 1880's but would love to know about his Finnish side...about the town and how to find out about his family. How would one go about finding out about one's ancestor?? My other families are Harju's from the Pudasjarvi area, and the Pajari's from the Kemi area. Any thing you could offer in the way of finding out about their lives in Finland before the migrated here to America would be great!! Thanks!!
Answer Here's a couple of links you can try out and ask about your relatives, http://www.vaestorekisterikeskus.fi/vrk/home.nsf/pages/index_eng
http://www.maistraatti.fi/en/index.html
Both Harju and Seppänen being a fairly common names with more than ten thousands carrying the name here making it a bit trickier but as you know where your ancestors left from might help you in finding out more about them. Pajari is less common but there are hundreds of them as well and most of them living in the Kemi area according to the phone directory. If you find out the exact location where they left from, as municipalities have changed names and locations over the decades you can try to contact their respective parishes to find out more from the church records.
Hope you get lucky and find your relatives.
Wishing you a nice day,
Mona
