This time in Streets & Squares we go to Tallinn, the capital of Estonia. Lots of eponymous streets here! You might also see the name Reval in lots of places - that’s the old name for Tallinn.
A short vocabulary to assist you in orienting in this lovely Hanseatic city: maantee (road), park (park), plats (square), torn (tower), tänav (street). Most street names in Tallinn lack the word street though, and are solely identified by the short form or the bearer of the street in question.
A. ADAMSONI (Kassisaba) - Amandus Adamson (1855-1929) Estonian sculptor and painter born in Uuga-Rätsepa near Paldiski.
A. LAIKMAA (Südalinn) - Ants Laikmaa (b Laipman) (1866-1942) Estonian painter born in Paiba farm, Märjamaa. He brought impressionism to Estonia. Known for his pastel painting, he often painted landscapes, mostly with sharp colors.
A. WEIZENBERGI - August Weizenberg (1837-1921) was an Estonian sculptor born in Ritsik, Erastvere-
BROOKUSPLATS (Old Town) - Wolmar Brockhusen (15xx-1548) was a landlord of various properties here, near Pikk (the long street in Old Town), and the place was called after him (Brookusmägi) even in his time.
C. R. JAKOBSONI - Carl Robert Jakobson (1841-1882) Estonian writer, teacher and politician and one of the most important persons of the Estonian national awakening in the second half of the 19th century.
EPPINGI TORN (Old Town) - Tideman Eppynck (13xx-1378) whose name has been spelled in many ways, was a wealthy burgher of Tallinn, in charge of one of the Tallinn towers - although not necessarily this one.
F. R. KREUTZWALDI (Raua) - Friedrich Reinhold Kreutzwald (1803-1882) is considered to be the father of the national literature for Estonia. Author of the Estonian national epic Kalevipoeg.
FR. R FAEHLMANNI (Raua) - Friedrich Robert Faehlmann (1798-1850) Estonian writer, physician and philologist who brought attention to Kalevipoeg.
G. OTSA (Südalinn) - Georg Ots (1920-1975) Estonian singer and actor born in Petrograd, known especially for singing operas. Therefore the proximity to the Opera House.
GONSIORI - Jakob Johann Gonsior (1794-1865) was a Tallinn alderman and lawyer, and a founder and sponsor of an orphanage.
J. POSKA (Kadriorg) - Jaan Poska (1866-1920) Estonian barrister and politician, active in the Estonian quest for independence.
J. SMUULI TEE (Ülemiste) - Juhan Smuul (1922-1971) Estonian writer born on the island Muhu.
J. V. JANNSENI - Johann Voldemar Jannsen (1819-1890) Estonian journalist and poet active in Livonia.
K. A. HERMANNI (Torupilli) - Karl August Hermann (1851-1909) was a linguist, journalist and composer from Võhma.
KOTZEBUE - Otto von Kotzebue (1787-1846) Baltic German officer and navigator known for his explorations of Oceania. He was born in Reval.
KRISTJAN RAUA (Nõmme) - Kristjan Raud (1865-1943) painter and illustrator who was one of the founders of the Estonian National Museum.
L. KOIDULA (Kadriorg) - Lydia Koidula (b Jannsen) (1843-1886) was an Estonian poet who was born in Fennern, Livonia. She was a major literary figure, the founder of Estonian theatre, and closely allied to both Jakobson and Kreutzwald.
LUISE (Kassisaba) - Louise von Steinheil (17xx), the owner in 1791 of the summer estate Luisenthal which used to be here nearby. Formerly this street was called Luisenthali tänav.
MIINA HÄRMA (Laagna) - Miina Härma (1864-1941) was a composer and conductor born in Kõrveküla, Estonia, Russian Empire.
NIKOLAI VON GLEHNI TÄNAV (Nõmme) - Nikolai von Glehn (1841-1923) Baltic-German landowner/founder of the town of Nõmme - now part of Tallinn.
P. KERESE - Paul Keres (1916-1975) was an Estonian chess grandmaster born in Narva.
TAMMSAARE PARK (Südalinn) - Anton Hansen Tammsaare (1878-1940) was an Estonian writer whose work Truth and Justice is considered one of the major works of Estonian literature and “The Estonian Novel”.
A to Z FROM TALLINN
i.e. a list of people born in Tallinn. Just another fun way to know something more about the city. We pick a couple of people for each alphabet, if possible. The numbers you see at the end of each line indicate the year of birth. This list is updated from time to time. And last but not least: the flag, logo or coat of arms of the city (see below)!
K - Krista Kilvet* (b Kanter) radio journalist/politician/diplomat (1946) - Gerd Kanter* discus thrower (1979)
M - Lennart Meri* writer/film maker/politician/P (1929)
N - Mati Nuude* weightlifter/singer (1941)
R - Alfred Rosenberg* Baltic German theorist/Nazi war criminal (1892)
S - Thomas Johann Seebeck* German physicist (1770)
U - Johann Urb* Estonian-American model/actor/film producer (1977)
Z - Jürgen Zopp* tennis player (1988)
Updated 23.1.2023
PS. Thank you Tallinn Tourist Information Centre for the detailed information you so kindly provided.
Sources:
https://www.tallinn.ee/ehitus/List-of-street-names
https://www.visittallinn.ee/eng/visitor/discover/articles-guides/epic-streets-in-tallinn
http://www.tallinnstreets.com/
https://www.visitestonia.com/en/tallinn-tourist-information-centre
Flag of Tallinn