Sukupuuta

Sukupuuta is a Finnish term referring to a family tree or genealogical lineage. The word combines suku (family, kin) and puu (tree) and is used to describe diagrams or lists that show how people are related across generations. In Finnish-language sources, sukupuuta typically denotes a diagram that connects ancestors and descendants, illustrating kinship networks within a family or community.

Construction and sources: A sukupuuta is usually built from historical records such as church books, civil registers, and census data. Modern genealogical work may also incorporate documents, graves, oral histories, and, where available, DNA evidence to confirm connections or clarify uncertain lines. A typical sukupuuta can be arranged with generations as horizontal levels or vertical branches, starting from a common ancestor or from a living person.

Linguistic note: The base form of the noun is sukupuu; sukupuuta is the partitive singular form used in running text. In English translations, sukupuuta is commonly rendered as "family tree" or "pedigree."

Cultural context: Genealogy has a prominent presence in Finland, with amateur and professional genealogists maintaining family trees for historical and cultural reasons. Digital databases and public archives have expanded access to records that support sukupuuta construction.

See also: Genealogy, family tree, kinship, genealogical records.