Kask

Kask is the Estonian-language surname meaning "birch", drawn from the common noun kask designating the birch tree which is widespread across Estonia's forests. As an ornamental surname, it follows a common Baltic-Finnic practice of adopting nature-themed family names, often emerging from farm names or local geography. Historically, Estonian surnames were institutionalized in the early 19th century during the period of serfdom reforms, when native officials often assigned names based on local elements like trees, occupations, or characteristic features. Over time, Kask has remained relatively frequent in Estonia, where many families bear this name across the country. Variants or compound-names may include forms with suffixes such as –son or in other Finnic languages; as an example, the equivalent surname in Finnish is Koivumeaning birch).

• Meaning: birch
• Origin: Estonian nature vocabulary
• Type: ornamental / topographic surname
• Usage: Estonian