I am looking into my families history and found this picture of my great grandfather. He came to the U.S from Finland and I am so proud to know this. What's funny is my that my favorite hockey player growing up was Teemu Selànne. Now I know why! (Last name- Styf)

by Hairy_Garage4308

5 comments

  3. If you check the Ellis Island website, you might be able to get some information about his arrival here. I was able to buy a copy of the passenger manifest from the ship on which my great-grandmother and her two older children sailed in 1912. My great-grandfather and his brother had already arrived, but not through Ellis Island.

    My grandmother was the first member of her family to be born in the US. Her mother and older siblings sailed from Jyväskylä via Liverpool.

  4. Styf is a soldier’s name. Many people didn’t have a last name, or if they had, it might be something long and Finnish, which was difficult to shout out for the (often Swedish speaking) higher ranks. So when they became soldiers they were given a last name in Swedish, often something short and warlike, or something that was a positive trait.

    Styf is the older written form of the modern “styv”, which means stiff or unbendable. It’s probably one of those trait based names.

    Styf has been in use in many parts of the country, by people who’re probably not related to each other, as is common with soldier’s names. It seems to be especially usual at the coast and some of the islands around Åland, where it was used by soldiers and boatsmen.

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