Estonia - Paradise of the North

Ilus Eesti, beautiful Estonia. My family's homeland. Estonia's countryside and people have an endearing gentleness about them which you fall in love with slowly and imperceptibly. I have nothing but respect and admiration for Estonians' courage and determination to survive despite centuries of repression, tyranny and foreign occupation. This blog aims to promote Estonian news, history and culture and seeks to enlighten readers about everything this unique country has to offer.

Tuesday 26 March 2019

Today marks 200 years since Tzar Alexander I signed the Livonian Peasant Law, which released Estonians from serfdom and enabled them to have surnames

Fred Puss from the Estonian Biographical Centre speaks with ETV about the history behind Estonian surnames. He discusses the common names found in Estonia and also some of the strange ones.

To watch the interview (in Estonian) please click here:
200 aastat perenimede panekust: nime võis saada kurjalt mõisnikult, aga ka atlasest