The Finnish had been living at least in Tallinn already during the Middle Ages, but the considerable number of them arrived to Estonia after the Livonian War, when several places were thinly populated.
Vähemalt Tallinnas oli soomlasi elanud juba keskajal, kuid märkimist vääriv hulk saabus neid Eestisse pärast Liivi sõda, kui mitmed paigad olid hõredalt asustatud.