 The reason for the controversy is the speculated connection between areas known as Kainuu and Kvenland, both historical lands in Fennoscandia.As a part of his theory about the origin of the name "kven", professor of history in Oulu University Jouko Vahtola suggested that also the name "kainuu" would basically have the same origin.To prove his point, Vahtola constructed a hypothetical proto-Germanic word "*χwainō" that would have meant "swampy land".