The Fenni were a people described by Tacitus in his Germania. Fennia is a modern latinized term for Finland.

The Fenni should not be confused with Fenians of our times.

In Old Icelandic, the noun fenni means "hard snow", while the verb, fenna, means "to cover with snow."

An interpretation of the term, suggested in 1896 by Hultam, is "wanderer" — for the way the people lived, i.e. without permanent dwelling places. Similar descriptive terms were used in titles for Finnic fishermen (Livonians). It is believed that "Fenni" referred also to other Finnics.

Whether or not this tribe can be identified with the Sami peoples is disputed. On Carta marina it's entiting Inuits. However, Finn is today used in Norwegian for the Sami[1].

See also

• Finnic