KVENLAND

This page highlights the importance of placenames, or linguistically called toponyms. The revitalization of a minority language isn't solely dependent on the revival of the language itself, but the land in which the language and the people inhabit. This is the reason why placenames hold significant meanings. The existence of toponyms in Kven; however, can actually stir up some controversy with regards to the use of certain words within and outside of the Kven community.

While local placenames have existed since Kven settlers migrated to Northern Norway, there is one word that remains disputed to this day, and that is the word Kvenland.

Based on various sources, "Kvenland" is referred to by the following names in Kven:
1. Kvääninmaa or Kväänimaa

2. Kainhuunmaa, Kainunmaa or Kainumaa

3. Pohjan maa

As mentioned on the FAQ page, the word "Kvenland" can be traced back to the Old English travel account by a Norwegian seafarer named Ohthere of Hålogaland. The text below is the excerpt from his account and its translation:

Þonne is tōemnes þǣm lande sūðeweardum, on ōðre healfe þæs mōres, Swēoland, oþ þæt land norðeweard; and tōemnes þǣm lande norðeweardum Cwēna land. Þā Cwēnas hergiað hwīlum on ðā Norðmen ofer ðone mōr, hwīlum þā Norðmen on hȳ. And þǣr sint swīðe miċle meras fersce ġeond þā mōras, and berað þā Cwēnas hyra scypu ofer land on ðā meras and þanon hergiað on ðā Norðmen; hȳ habbað swȳðe lȳtle scypa and swȳðe lēohte.

Along the southern part of the country, on the other side of the mountain, lies Sweden, which extends as far as northern Norway. Just outside the northern part of the country lies Kvenland. The Kvens sometimes ravage the Norwegians over the mountain, and sometimes the Norwegians attack them. There are very large freshwater lakes between the mountains. The Kvens carry their ships overland into the seas, from where they then ravage the Norwegians. They have very small and very light ships.

Ohthere's account merely paints a broad image of Kvenland's geography, and to this day, the exact location of Kvenland remains contested. Instead of fixating on this ongoing discourse, we will choose to use the word "Kvenland" to refer to the region where Kvens live and where Kven is spoken. This is not to completely disregard the possible interpretations of this name, but to provide in a new perspective on rebuilding a minority language in the 21st century. We believe having a placename, regardless of its origin, can help promote the presence of Kven placenames in Kvenland, as villages and cities where Kvens were/are active bear the names in the Kven language.

Scroll down to read more about placenames in Kven.

Tromsø - Tromssa

Tromsø/Tromssa is one of the largest and most populated cities in Northern Norway. It was home to a small number of Kvens in the past and despite the decline over the past century, Tromsø remains one of the most important cities for Kven related arrangements and events. In 2019, the city received its triligual sign, featuring Norwegian, Northern Sami and Kven.

Lakselv - Lemmijoki

Lakselv/Lemmijoki is the administrative center and the largest village in the Porsanger Municipality. The name was possibly derived from Northern Sami "Leavdnja", which was possibly derived from the verb "leavdnit", meaning "to pour". The suffix "-joki", meaning lake in Kven, Finnish and other Uralic languages, refers to the lake on which the village rests.

Børselv - Pyssyjoki

Børselv/Pyssyjoki is a village in Porsanger municipality and is the place where the Kven Institute is located. The name was probably derived from the Northern Sami verb "boršut," which means "to cascade." A possible explanation proposed by Mikkel Rasmus Logje is that "Borsejohka," the original name in Northern Sami, was lent to Norwegian as "Børselv." The same word "Børselv" was then lent to Kven as "Pyssyjoki" and back to Northern Sami as "Bissojohka.

Bugøynes - Pykeijä

Bugøynes/Pykeijä is a fishing village in Finnmark with a little under 200 inhabitants. The center of the village is mesmerising. It remained mostly unscathed during the Second World War when the Germans retreated from Finnmark. Due to its proximity to Finland and the large proportion of Kven-speaking population, the village is often referred to as 'Little Finland' (Pikku Suomi).

You can learn more about Bugøynes/Pykeijä here.

Skibotn - Yykeänperä

Skibotn/Yykeänperä is a village in Storfjord municipality. The name "Yykeänperä" consists of the stems "yykeä" and "perä". According to the internet database of placenames in Kven, the stem "yykeä" is of unknown origin, while "perä" corresponds to "bottom" in Norwegian. "Yykeä" is also used to refer to the nearby fjord - Lyngenfjorden, which translates to "Yykeänvuono".

Skibotn has been an important hub for the Kvens, Sámi, and Norwegians. In the city center lies one of the best-preserved markets in northern Norway, which was established as early as the 19th century.

Alta - Alattio

Alta/Alattio is the most populated municipality in Finnmark county. The name Alta is of unknown origin. One theory suggests the Old Norse word "alpt" meaning a swan as the possible origin of the name. Another theory points out the similarity between the name Alta and the Kven word "ala-attia" meaning lowland. (possibly related to the word "laattii", meaning floor in Kven)

Most residents of Alta are descendants of Finns, Swedes and Norwegians who got a mining job in Kåfjord. The town was severly damaged during the Second World War when the Germans withdrew from Finnmark and burnt everything to the ground.

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