What is "makarainen"

Mäkäräinen is a surname originating in Finland, derived from the given name Makarios. Although the surname is common in Kainuu, particularly in Puolanka, Ristijärvi and Paltamo, it is relatively rare elsewhere in Finland. All total, 1,060 people, living or dead have had Mäkäräinen as their surname at one point in time.

A variant form of the surname outside of Finland is without diacritics: Makarainen.

In addition, the word mäkäräinen can refer to black flies in some dialects of Finnish. The correct word in the literary language is mäkärä.

Mäkäräinen may refer to the following people:

• Kaisa Mäkäräinen, a Finnish biathlete, who currently competes for Kontiolahden Urheilijat.
• Leo Mäkäräinen, a Finnish perinatologist.
• Matti Mäkäräinen, a Finnish hockey goalie who played for HIFK in the Finnish SM-liiga during the 1980s.
• Heikan Jussi, , a Finnish shoemaker and "village philosopher", whose home is now a museum in Herrala, Hollola, Finland.