reväinen

Reväinen is a rare Finnish surname and a variant of the surname Reva or Revainen. It is most commonly found in the Oulu region of Finland.

The origin of the surname is likely related to the Finnish word "revä" or "revainenokki", which refers to a type of spotted fly or a gnate. This etymology suggests that the original bearer of the surname may have been a person with a small or insignificant stature, or someone who was nicknamed for their supposed resemblance to the insect.

There are limited historical records of the surname Reväinen, and it is considered to be relatively rare even in the context of Finnish surnames. As with many surnames of Finnish origin, Reväinen may have undergone changes in spelling and pronunciation over the course of time, leading to the various variants that exist today.

Reväinen is traditionally a patrilineal surname, meaning it is passed down from father to child. This practice has contributed to the low number of individuals with the surname Reväinen, as it follows a matrilineal inheritance pattern in which a child's surname is determined by their mother's ancestry.

In modern times, the surname Reväinen is not as common as it may have been in the past. However, it remains an interesting example of the complexities and variations of Finnish surnames.