merkkinen

Merkkinen is a Finnish surname. It is primarily found in Finland and is relatively uncommon. The name is thought to derive from the Finnish word merkki, meaning sign or mark, combined with the common surname suffix -nen. In Finnish onomastics, such formations often indicate a characteristic, a place attribute, or an emblem associated with a family, though the precise origins can vary between lineages.

Geographically, most bearers live in Finland, with smaller communities in Sweden and North America due to migration and diaspora. The surname appears in historical records dating from the 19th century, during a period of widespread standardization and expansion of Finnish surnames.

Notable people with the surname Merkkinen have not produced widely known biographical entries in major reference works. The name can nevertheless appear in regional histories, parish records, and genealogical sources.

See also: Finnish surnames formed with the -nen suffix; merkki.