Hi Gary, I don't have an answer for you but I suggest you join and post your message to the finngen mailing list. Finngen mailing list [email protected] http://mail2.genealogia.fi/mailman/listinfo/finngen Rosie researching: KAIPONEN and MOILANEN surnames *************************************** Date: Thu, 15 Feb 2007 07:53:26 -0600 From: "Olds-Wills-Anderson-Simonson Hodges-Harris-Liikala-Jukkara" Subject: [MIHOUGHT] Finnish naming nuances For those with more understanding of the Finnish language and naming nuances than I, I am curious if Finnish last names with an ending 'ala' may have particular geographic significance. I note several Finnish names ending in 'ala'. For some the entire last name is 'Ala'. I understand 'ala' is a Finnish noun meaning "range, branch, field". Presumably then the prefixes 'Rep' (Repala), 'Tak' (Takala), 'Liik' (Liikala), and so forth could perhaps have some geographic or occupational rooting. Would anyone care to comment? Thanks Gary