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Family name was Friis until 1905 when it was changed to Pohjanpalo. This name was taken thinking of Finnish northern lights which is the meaning of this poetical word. Part of the family, mostly Swedish speaking, kept the original Friis familyname.
Before the new name could be protected, took another small family in Southern Finland also the family name Pohjanpalo. So everybody under this bold name are not related.
From the early 1800's to the beginning of 1900-tale was Finland under Russian emperor's rules after being centuries before under Swedish king's rules. The thoughts of Finnish independence were growing and many families changed their names from Swedish to Finnish. The independence was proclaimed 1917.