kirjurit

Kirjurit is a Finnish term that translates roughly to scribes or clerks. The singular form is kirjuri. Historically, kirjurit were professionals who performed writing, copying, and record-keeping for religious and secular authorities. The word derives from kirja (book) with the agent suffix -uri, indicating a person who writes or copies texts.

Historically, in medieval and early modern Finland, kirjurit were employed by churches, courts, and administrative offices. They copied manuscripts and registers, drafted legal acts and correspondence, and maintained archives. They were among the literate administrators who supported the functioning of the state and church. Latin was often used for official documents, though vernacular Finnish and Swedish appeared in records over time.

Today, the term kirjurit survives mainly as a general designation for clerks or record-keepers within public administration. In contemporary Finnish offices and courts, kirjurit perform document management, minute-taking, archiving, and other clerical duties. The role reflects a long tradition of administrative writing and record-keeping, adapted to modern technology and organizational needs while retaining its core function of creating and maintaining written records.