Kärsämäki (Finnish pronunciation: [ˈkærsæˌmæki]; literally meaning "snout hill") is a municipality of Finland.

"[7] The subject of the coat of arms refers to the name of the village of Venetpalo, which in turn comes from the tribal battles with the Tavastians.

[8] The coat of arms was designed by Gustaf von Numers and approved by the Kärsämäki Municipal Council at its meeting on June 23, 1964.

[11] Alajoki, Kärsämäki (Kirkonkylä), Miiluranta, Ojalehto, Porkkala, Pyrrönperä, Rannankylä, Saviselkä, Sydänmaankylä and Venetpalo.

The original name of Kärsämäki was Kärsämä, with the word mäki (hill) being added to it later.

This change has happened to other settlement names, as Pieksämäki, Elimäki and Längelmäki were originally known as Pieksämä, Elimä and Längelmä.