Koskinen

Koskinen is a Finnish surname. It is one of the most common surnames in Finland. The name is derived from the given name Koska, which is a diminutive of Konstantin. Alternatively, it may be derived from the word koski, meaning rapids. The surname is found throughout Finland, with higher concentrations in the western and northern parts of the country.

Notable individuals with the surname Koskinen include several Finnish athletes, politicians, and cultural figures. For example, there is a Finnish ice hockey player named Ville Koskinen, a Finnish politician named Jari Koskinen, and a Finnish film director named Aki Kaurismäki, whose birth surname is actually Kaurismäki, but his brother Mika Kaurismäki is often mistakenly referred to as Mika Koskinen.

The prevalence of the surname Koskinen reflects historical patterns of Finnish naming conventions, which often incorporated patronymic elements or geographical features. As with many common surnames, there is no single, distinct origin story for all individuals bearing the name Koskinen. Instead, it likely arose independently in various regions of Finland over time. The surname continues to be widely used in Finland and among the Finnish diaspora.