jälgi

Jälgi is an Estonian surname. It is derived from the Estonian root jälg, meaning "trace" or "track," and is typically understood as an occupational or toponymic surname linked to skills in tracking or hunting in rural communities. The final -i is a common element in Estonian surnames and often indicates a derivation from a noun.

The surname is relatively uncommon in Estonia and among people of Estonian descent. It appears in genealogical and civil records dating from the late 19th and early 20th centuries, and today it is encountered mainly within Estonia and in small diaspora communities. There are no widely documented figures with this surname in major reference works.

In Estonian vocabulary, jälg means "trace" or "mark," illustrating how many Estonian surnames originate from everyday nouns reflecting occupations, natural features, or personal traits. As a proper noun, Jälgi is treated as a distinct family name rather than a common word in ordinary usage.

Examples of related forms include other surnames derived from the same root, though Jälgi itself remains relatively rare.