Kuusela

Kuusela is a Finnish surname and place-name element. In Finnish toponymy, it is believed to derive from the word kuusi meaning spruce, combined with the locative suffix -la or -lä, indicating a place associated with spruce trees, such as a grove or stand. As a surname, Kuusela most likely originated as a toponymic name given to families living on or near a farm or homestead named for a spruce-dominated landscape.

The name is most common in Finland, where it occurs across Finnish-speaking regions. It has also spread to Finnish diaspora communities in Sweden, the United States, Canada, and other countries through migration and family ties.

Notable people with the surname Kuusela come from various fields, including sports, academia, and the arts. The surname is seen as a representative example of Finnish toponymic naming practices and reflects the country’s rural and landscape-based naming traditions.