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Toivonen Family History

Toivonen Surname Meaning

Finnish: ornamental name from toivo ‘hope’ + the surname suffix -nen adopted in the 19th century primarily by Finns without surnames in western (especially southwestern) Finland.

It is important to note that this practice was relatively common during that time, as many individuals sought to establish their identities through the adoption of surnames.

The combination of toivo and the suffix -nen reflects a cultural significance, as hope is a valued concept in Finnish society.

This surname formation method can also be seen in other Finnish surnames, such as Virtanen, which demonstrates a pattern of creating ornamental names.

Overall, understanding the origin of names like this one offers insight into historical naming practices and cultural values in Finland.

Source: Dictionary of American Family Names 2nd edition, 2022


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Where is the Toivonen family from?

You can see how Toivonen families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Toivonen family name was found in the USA, the UK, and Canada between 1891 and 1920. The most Toivonen families were found in USA in 1920. In 1911 there were 3 Toivonen families living in Ontario. This was 100% of all the recorded Toivonen's in Canada. Ontario had the highest population of Toivonen families in 1911.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Toivonen surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.
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What did your Toivonen ancestors do for a living?

In 1921, Tailor was the top reported job for people in the Canada named Toivonen. 50% of Toivonen men worked as a Tailor.

View Census Data for Toivonen | Data not to scale

*We display top occupations by gender to maintain their historical accuracy during times when men and women often performed different jobs.

Top Male Occupations In 1921

  • Tailor
    50%
  • Farmer
    50%

What Toivonen family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 1,000 census records available for the last name Toivonen. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Toivonen census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search Canadian census records for Toivonen

Passenger Lists

There are 1,000 immigration records available for the last name Toivonen. Passenger lists are your ticket to knowing when your ancestors arrived in Canada, and how they made the journey - from the ship name to ports of arrival and departure.

View all Toivonen immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 216 military records available for the last name Toivonen. For the veterans among your Toivonen ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Toivonen military records

You've only scratched the surface of Toivonen family history

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What is the average Toivonen lifespan?

Between 1957 and 2004, in the United States, Toivonen life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1973, and highest in 1983. The average life expectancy for Toivonen in 1957 was 43, and 79 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Toivonen

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Toivonen ancestors lived in harsh conditions. A short lifespan might also indicate health problems that were once prevalent in your family. The SSDI is a searchable database of more than 70 million names. You can find birthdates, death dates, addresses and more.

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