Introduction 

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The Ylönen Family Society was founded in 1987 in Hankasalmi, Finland. The purpose of this family society is to explore the roots and history of the Ylönen family as well as to tighten the feeling of togethernes among its members.

The society publishes a family paper once a year and keeps contact with the family society members with family society letters. There are about 253 members in the Ylönen family society, 38 live abroad, mostly in Sweden.

The Ylönen family goes back to Jussi Ylonen, born about 1470. His son Jussi owned the Ylölänmäki farm in Kangasniemi that had about 8000 hectares of land. The area covered reached in the today's counties Kangasniemi, Pieksämäen maalaiskunta and Hankasalmi.

Everyone that is born as Ylönen and is 18 years of age can become a member in Ylonen Family Society. Also, people married to a Ylönen can become members.

Origin of the Family


Our known ancestor Jussi Ylönen was most likely born at what is today known as Ylölänmäki in the village of Kutemajärvi in the county of Kangasniemi. Where and when he or his ancestors came from is not known. People who are interested in their own family history would find this research very interesting.

The location of the original home site of the family Ylonen is half way between Kangasniemi and Pieksämäki on the route 447 in central Finland. If you drive 15 km from Kangasniemi right after the village Kutemajarvi you will see a road sign Ylölänmäki. When you follow this sign you will come to a high hill where you will be able to see the surroundings all the way to the town of Pieksämäki.

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Today the farm owners are the family Hänninen who moved in at 1925. The old main house was just repaired then. Today the Hänninens are planning to demolish the old house.

Mr. Jarmo Ahlstrand, the man doing the family genealogical research, has studied the land property owned by the family Ylönen. He has marked the property owned by the Ylönen family in 1560  on todays basic maps of the area. It is interesting to see that the land property is lined up on the water routes: lakes. In those days there were no other ways to move except on the lakes. Our ancestors used the lakes when they went hunting and when they transported the goods for sale, the furs. This explains the ancient roots of our family in that central Finland wilderness long before the registration of farm land in 1541 during the time of king of Sweden Gustav Vasa.
 
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