Estonianization: Difference between revisions – Wikipedia

Changing of names from other languages into Estonian

Estonianisation is the changing of one’s personal names from another language into Estonian. Less often, the term has also been applied to various programmes and initiatives by academic and state institutions to promote education in the language, culture, and Estonian national identity.

Before 1918, when Estonia became an independent country, around half^[1] of the country’s ethnic Estonian population carried foreign language (mostly German names) or “foreign-sounding”, i.e. non-Estonian surnames. In the 1920s, and especially in the 1930s, the government promoted a nationwide voluntary campaign for the Estonianisation of personal names [et]. During the campaign about 200.000 of Estonian citizens chose a new surname to replace their original family name. A smaller part of the people also Estonianised their first name(s) at the same time. A similar process (Finnicization) took place in Finland in the early 20th century.

The Estonianisation of names stopped almost completely after the Soviet occupation and annexation of Estonia in 1940.

Some ethnic Russians who Estonianised their names:

After the end of the 1944–1991 Soviet occupation of Estonia, following the restoration of the country’s full independence in 1991, the Estonian government has pursued an “integration policy” (informally referred to as “Estonianisation”) that has been aimed at the strengthening of Estonian identity among the population, to develop shared values and “pride in being a citizen of Estonia”; with respect and acceptance of cultural differences among the residents of Estonia.

On 14 March 2000 the Government of Estonia adopted the “State Programme: Integration in Estonian society 2000-2007”. The main focus areas and aims of integration as defined by the state programme are linguistic-communicative, legal-political and socio-economical. The programme has four sub-programmes: education, the education and culture of national minorities, the teaching of Estonian to adults and social competence. The aims of the sub-programmes are to be achieved via learning of the Estonian language by children and adults.