Moomin Family Tree

The Moomin family tree created by Tove Jansson is small and simple – a family of three.

The novel Moominpappa’s memoirs (1950) tells the story of how Moominpappa was found in a shopping bag at the doorstep of the Moomin Foundling Home. His parents remain a mystery throughout the Moomin stories. Moominmamma’s parents or possible siblings are also not introduced at any point.

The comics, however, introduce Moominpappa’s mother’s sister—the rich and cranky Aunt Jane. She appears in the comic #2 Moomin and Family Life (1955) and the Moomin TV series. She is bossy and a little mean, which makes Moominpappa quite scared of her.

The first encounter between Moominmamma and Moominpappa is included in the book Moominpappa’s memoirs: the couple meets when Moominpappa bravely saves his future spouse from the stormy sea. In his memoirs, Moominpappa writes that he was walking on the beach on a stormy night when he saw someone in the water. With supernatural strength, he managed to save this Moomin woman.

Moomintroll is the only biological child of Moominmamma and Moominpappa. From his father, he has inherited an adventurous and romantic nature. On the other hand, Moominmamma and Moomintroll share a special relationship and Moomintroll trusts his mother more than anyone else.

The first-ever Moomin book, The Moomins and the Great Flood (1945), also shines light on Moomin ancestry and tells of the ancient moomintrolls who used to live behind tile stoves in people’s homes. Interestingly, the Moominhouse doesn’t look too different from the stove pictured in the book!