The surname Finn has several origins. In some cases it is derived from the

Irish Irish may refer to: Common meanings * Someone or something of, from, or related to: ** Ireland, an island situated off the north-western coast of continental Europe ***Éire, Irish language name for the isle ** Northern Ireland, a constituent unit ...

''Ó Finn'', meaning "descendant of '' Fionn''"; the

byname An epithet (, ), also byname, is a descriptive term (word or phrase) known for accompanying or occurring in place of a name and having entered common usage. It has various shades of meaning when applied to seemingly real or fictitious people, di ...

means "white" or "fair-haired". In other cases it is derived from the

Old Norse Old Norse, Old Nordic, or Old Scandinavian, is a stage of development of North Germanic languages, North Germanic dialects before their final divergence into separate Nordic languages. Old Norse was spoken by inhabitants of Scandinavia and t ...

''Finnr'', a

personal name A personal name, or full name, in onomastic terminology also known as prosoponym (from Ancient Greek πρόσωπον / ''prósōpon'' - person, and ὄνομα / ''onoma'' - name), is the set of names by which an individual person is known ...

sometimes derived from a byname, or else from compound names beginning with this word element. In other cases ''Finn'' is a

German German(s) may refer to: * Germany (of or related to) **Germania (historical use) * Germans, citizens of Germany, people of German ancestry, or native speakers of the German language ** For citizens of Germany, see also German nationality law **Ger ...

surname derived from an ethnic name referring to

people A person (plural, : people) is a being that has certain capacities or attributes such as reason, morality, consciousness or self-consciousness, and being a part of a culturally established form of social relations such as kinship, ownership of pr ...

from

Finland Finland ( fi, Suomi ; sv, Finland ), officially the Republic of Finland (; ), is a Nordic country in Northern Europe. It shares land borders with Sweden to the northwest, Norway to the north, and Russia to the east, with the Gulf of B ...

. Notable people sharing the surname are listed below.

Academics

* Chester E. Finn Jr. (born 1944) American professor of education, policy analyst and US Assistant Secretary of Education *

Frank Finn Frank Finn FZS, MBOU (1868 – 1 October 1932) was an English ornithologist. Finn was born in Maidstone and educated at Maidstone Grammar School and Brasenose College, Oxford. He went on a collecting expedition to East Africa in 1892, and ...

(1868–1932), English ornithologist * Jeremy Finn, American psychologist * Robert Finn (mathematician) (1922–2022), American mathematician *

Ronald Finn Ronald Finn (12 June 1930 – 21 May 2004) was a medical researcher born in Liverpool, England. His research work contributed to advancing knowledge on the Rhesus factor. He died of cancer of the stomach. Career and awards 1954 - Qualified a ...

(1930–2004), English medical researcher

Arts and entertainment

Alec Finn Alexander J. Phinn (4 June 1944 – 16 November 2018), known professionally as Alec Finn, was a British-born traditional musician who is famous for his unique style of accompaniment on the bouzouki. He was best known for founding De Dannan in 1974 ...

(1944–2018), British-born musician *

Charlie Finn Charlie Finn (born September 18, 1975) is an American film, television, and voice actor. Finn is best known for his role as the voice of Spud in '' American Dragon: Jake Long''. Early life and education Finn was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, an ...

(born 1981), American actor and voice actor *

Chris Finn Chris Finn is a Canadian stand-up comedian and comedy writer. Finn was raised in Ottawa, Ontario. He has written for several television shows, including MAD TV''This Hour Has 22 Minutes'', ''Talking to Americans'', ''The Rick Mercer Report'' and ...

, Canadian stand-up comedian and writer *

Christine Finn Christine L. T. Finn (1929 – 5 December 2007) was an English actress, known primarily for her role in the 1950s TV serial ''Quatermass and the Pit'', and, after that, her voice work for the 1960s '' Thunderbirds'' television series. She also ...

(1929/30–2007), English actress *

Craig Finn Craig Finn (born August 22, 1971) is an American singer-songwriter and musician. He is best known as the frontman of the American indie rock band The Hold Steady, with whom he has recorded eight studio albums. Prior to forming The Hold Steady, Fi ...

(born 1971), American musician * Henry J. Finn (1787–1840), American actor and writer *

Jason Finn (musician) Jason Finn (born October 27, 1967) is an American musician, best known as the former drummer and singer for The Presidents of the United States of America. He was previously the drummer of Love Battery until 1995 (and also played drums for the ...

(born 1967), American musician *

Jeffrey Finn Jeffrey Finn is a Tony Awards, Tony award-winning theatrical producer. He is the Vice President of Theater Producing and Programming at The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts and the Artistic Director of Broadway Center Stage. He recei ...

(born 1970), American theatrical producer *

Jerry Finn Jermone Gregory Finn (March 31, 1969 – August 21, 2008), sometimes credited as "Huckle" Jerry Finn, was an American record producer and mix engineer. He worked with numerous punk rock and pop-punk artists such as Blink-182, AFI, Sum 41, Alkal ...

(1969–2008), American record producer *

John Finn John Joseph Finn (born September 30, 1952) is an American character actor known as one of the leads of the television programs ''Cold Case'' and ''EZ Streets''. Finn has also had supporting roles in the films '' The Hunted'' (2003), ''Analyze Th ...

(born 1952), American actor *

Jon Finn Jonathan M. Finn (born 1958) is an American rock musician and guitarist. He is the founder and leader of the Jon Finn Group, and is a professor at the Berklee College of Music; he joined the guitar faculty there in 1988. He is also the author o ...

(born 1958), American musician and guitarist *

Liam Finn Liam Mullane Finn (born 24 September 1983) is a New Zealand singer and musician. Born in Melbourne, Australia, he moved to New Zealand as a child. He is the son of musicians Sharon and Neil Finn. In 2020, he joined his father's band, Crowded ...

(born 1983), Australian-New Zealand musician *

Mali Finn Mali Finn (March 8, 1938 – November 28, 2007), born Mary Alice Mann, was an American casting director and former English and drama teacher. She cast numerous actors in successful films, including Edward Furlong, Brad Renfro, Leonardo DiCaprio, ...

(1938–2007), American Hollywood casting director and drama teacher *

Mark Finn Mark Finn (born October 1969) is the pseudonym of Mark Farr-Nash, an American science fiction and fantasy writer, essayist, and playwright. In 2007 he was nominated for World Fantasy Special Award: Professional. Biography Finn's earliest publish ...

(born 1969), American fantasy and science fiction writer *

Mickey Finn (drummer) Michael Norman Finn (3 June 1947 – 11 January 2003) was the percussionist and sideman to Marc Bolan in his band Tyrannosaurus Rex (on one album, ''A Beard of Stars'') and later the 1970s glam rock group T. Rex. After Bolan's death and T. Re ...

(1947–2003), English percussionist *

Mickey Finn (guitarist) Mickey Waller (3 March 1947 – 1 February 2013), also known by the stage name Mickey Finn, was an English guitarist. Biography Waller started out with instrumental band the Strangers in Bethnal Green, East London, in the summer of 1961. In 1 ...

(1947–2013), British rock guitarist *

Mickey Finn (Irish fiddler) Mickey Finn (31 December 1951 – 15 April 1987Neil Finn Neil Mullane Finn (born 27 May 1958) is a New Zealand singer-songwriter and musician who is known for being a member of Crowded House, Split Enz (which he co-fronted with brother Tim), and Fleetwood Mac. Finn rose to prominence in the late ...

(born 1958), New Zealand singer-songwriter *

Pat Finn (game show host) Patrick "Pat" Finn (born July 24, 1956) is an American television presenter and game show host. He is the owner of the production company Rubicon Entertainment. Finn's first national gig was hosting the 1990 remake of the classic Jack Barry show ...

(born 1956), American television presenter, game show host and entrepreneur *

Pat Finn (actor) Patrick Cassidy Finn (born July 31, 1965) is an American film and television actor. Early life and career Finn, one of six children, was born in Evanston, Illinois, and grew up in Wilmette, where he attended Loyola Academy High School. He gradu ...

(born 1965), American actor * Paul Anthony Finn, Irish singer-songwriter, member of the 2000s indie rock quartet The Flaws * Sean Finn (DJ) (), German DJ and electronic musician *

Simon Finn (musician) Simon Finn is an English psychedelic folk musician. Finn was born 4 March 1951 in Godalming, Surrey. He moved to London in 1967, where his first performance was opening for Al Stewart at the Marquee Club in Soho. He released his ''Pass the Di ...

(born 1951), English musician *

Terry Finn Teresa Jo Ann Bernadette "Terry" Finn (born August 6, 1955) is an American actress best known for creating the role of Gussie Carnegie in the original Broadway cast of the Stephen Sondheim/Hal Prince/George Furth musical comedy '' Merrily We Ro ...

(born 1955), American actor *

Tim Finn Brian Timothy Finn (born 25 June 1952) is a New Zealand singer and musician. His musical career includes forming 1970s and 1980s New Zealand rock group Split Enz, a number of solo albums, temporary membership in his brother Neil's band Crowde ...

(born 1952), New Zealand singer-songwriter * Tom Finn (), American musician, a founding member of the 1960s pop group The Left Banke * Veronica Finn (born 1981), American singer *

Will Finn William Snelgrove Finn (born November 1, 1958) is an American animator, voice actor, storyboard artist, and director. Career His work in animation includes characters from Disney, Warner Bros., DreamWorks, and Don Bluth films such as ''The Secre ...

(born 1958), American animator, voice actor and director *

William Finn William Alan Finn (born February 28, 1952) is an American composer and lyricist. He is best known for his musicals, which include ''Falsettos'', for which he won the 1992 Tony Awards for Best Original Score and Best Book of a Musical, ''A New Br ...

(born 1952), American composer and lyricist

Business and politics

Bernie Finn Bernard Thomas Christopher Finn (born 14 April 1961) is a former Australian politician who was a member of the Victorian Legislative Council representing the Western Metropolitan Region from the election of November 2006 until he lost in the ...

(born 1961), Australian politician * Daniel E. Finn Sr. (1845–1910), American politician, lawyer and judge *

David Finn David Finn (August 30, 1921 – October 18, 2021) was an American public relations executive, photographer, and historian of sculpture. He is known in public relations as a co-founder of the Ruder Finn firm. In addition to his career in public r ...

(1921–2021), American public relations executive, photographer, and historian of sculpture. *

Gilbert Finn Gilbert Finn (September 3, 1920 – January 7, 2015) was a Canadian businessman and was the 26th Lieutenant Governor of New Brunswick from 1987 to 1994. Born in Inkerman, New Brunswick, he received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Laval Universi ...

(born 1920), Canadian businessman and politician *

Howard Finn Howard Arthur Finn (September 20, 1917 – August 12, 1986) was an expert in city planning, a builder and a land-use consultant who represented part of the San Fernando Valley on the Los Angeles City Council from 1981 until his death in 1986. Bio ...

(1917–1986), American politician *

James Finn James Finn (1806–1872) was a British Consul in Jerusalem, in the then Ottoman Empire (1846–1863). He arrived in 1845 with his wife Elizabeth Anne Finn. Finn was a devout Christian, who belonged to the London Society for Promoting Christia ...

(1806–1872), British Consul in Jerusalem *

Elizabeth Anne Finn Elizabeth Anne Finn (1825–1921) was a British writer and the wife of James Finn, British Consul in Jerusalem, in Ottoman Palestine between 1846 and 1863. She and her daughter co-founded the Distressed Gentlefolk's Aid Association, the predece ...

; wife of the above, James Finn * Robert Finn (diplomat) (born 1945), former American ambassador to Afghanistan *

Robert Emmett Finn Robert Emmett Finn (June 10, 1877 – February 23, 1951) was a lawyer and political figure in Nova Scotia, Canada. He represented Halifax County in the Nova Scotia House of Assembly from 1906 to 1922 and Halifax in the House of Commons of Ca ...

(1877–1951), Canadian lawyer and politician * Simon Finn (politician) (born 1965), Australian politician *

Skip Finn Harold Raymond "Skip" Finn (October 27, 1948 – May 17, 2018) was an American politician, who represented Minnesota's 4th district in the state's senate for the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party. Biography Born in Cass Lake, Minnesota, to a Norweg ...

(1948–2018), American politician * Ted Finn (c. 1930–2007), Canadian lawyer and government official; first director of the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) * Walter L. Finn (1875–1936), American physician and politician *

William Francis Finn William Francis Finn (1784 - 8 December 1862) was an Irish politician in the United Kingdom House of Commons. He was elected to the United Kingdom House of Commons as Member of Parliament for County Kilkenny in 1832, and held the seat until 183 ...

(1784–1862),Irish politician

Military

James Fynn James Henry Finn (sometimes Fynn) VC (24 November 1893 – 30 March 1917) was a recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth fo ...

(1893–1917), English recipient of the Victoria Cross *

John William Finn John William Finn (24 July 1909 – 27 May 2010) was a sailor in the United States Navy who, as a chief petty officer, received the United States military's highest decoration, the Medal of Honor, for his actions during the attack on Pearl Harbo ...

(1909–2010), American naval officer and recipient of the Medal of Honor * Mickey Finn (inventor) (1938–2007), American inventor and designer of military weapons systems *

Sean C. Finn Sean C. Finn (born Michael John Finn; 1889, Rathkeale, County Limerick - 30 March 1921, near Foynes, County Limerick) was a commander of multiple units in the Irish Republican Army, IRA's Irish War of Independence in the early 20th century. He ...

(1889–1921), Irish Republican Army commander

Religion

* Francis J. Finn (1859–1928), American Catholic priest and author *

Richard Finn Richard Damian Finn, O.P. (born 27 March 1963) is presently Director of the Las Casas Institute for Social Justice, at Blackfriars, Oxford, and a member of the Theology Faculty and the Classics Faculty at the University of Oxford. He has previo ...

(born 1963), English priest, academic and theologian *

Robert Finn (bishop) Robert William Finn (born April 2, 1953) is an American bishop of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as bishop of the Diocese of Kansas City-Saint Joseph from 2005 until his forced resignation in 2015. Finn is the only American bishop to be ...

(born 1953), American Roman Catholic prelate, former bishop of Kansas City, Missouri

Sports

* Charles Finn (water polo) (1899–1974), American Olympic water polo player * Danny Finn (born 1987), Candlepin Bowler *

Hubert Finn Hubert Clement 'Butt' Finn (1900-1952) was an Australian rugby league footballer who played in the 1920s and was also a physician. Background Finn was born in Canowindra, New South Wales on 21 December 1900, the youngest son of Thomas and Mari ...

(1900-1952), Australian rugby league footballer and physician *

Jim Finn James Finn Jr. (born December 9, 1976) is a former American football fullback. He was drafted by the Chicago Bears as the final pick of the 1999 NFL Draft. He played college football at the University of Pennsylvania. High school career Fi ...

(born 1976), American professional football player *

Jimmy Finn James Finn (born 16 November 1931) is an Irish retired hurler who played as a right wing-back for the Tipperary senior team. Born in Borrisoleigh, County Tipperary, Finn first played competitive hurling during his schooling at Thurles CBS. H ...

(born 1931), Irish hurler * Kenny Finn (), Irish-American soccer and Gaelic football player * Micky Finn (footballer) (born 1954), English footballer *

Mike Finn Michael Finn is an Irish international amateur sportsperson who has represented Ireland in Australian rules football and basketball as well as Kerry GAA and Victoria in Gaelic football. Sporting career Gaelic football He represented Kerry G ...

(born 1981), Irish Australian rules footballer and basketball player * Ron Finn (born 1940), Canadian ice hockey linesman * Sean Finn (footballer) (born 1978), Irish retired footballer *

Steven Finn Steven Thomas Finn (born 4 April 1989) is an English cricketer. He is a right-arm fast bowler, who also bats right-handed. At the age of 16, he became Middlesex County Cricket Club's youngest-ever debutant in first-class cricket. He made his E ...

(born 1989), English cricketer * Steven Finn (ice hockey) (born 1966), Canadian hockey player * Tommy Finn, rugby league footballer who played in the 1950s and 1960s

Other

Alfred C. Finn Alfred Charles Finn (July 2, 1883 – June 26, 1964) was an American architect. He started in the profession with no formal training in 1904 as an apprentice for Sanguinet & Staats. He worked in their offices in Dallas, Fort Worth, and Houston. H ...

(1883–1964), American architect * Camila Finn (born 1991), Brazilian fashion model *

Edmund Finn Edmund 'Garryowen' Finn (13 January 1819 – 4 April 1898) was an Australian journalist and author who wrote many colorful descriptions of the life and people in early Melbourne. Finn was born in Tipperary, Ireland, the son of William Finn and h ...

(1819–1898), Australian journalist and author *

Shirley Finn Shirley June Finn, née Shewring (2 November 1941 – 22 or 23 June 1975), was an Australian brothel keeper, nightclub operator and socialite who was shot dead at about midnight on 22–23 June 1975 in Perth, Western Australia. Her body, dress ...

(1941–1975), Australian brothel owner who was murdered