Finn (surname)

The surname Finn has several origins. In some cases it is derived from the Irish Ó Finn, meaning "descendant of Fionn"; the byname means "white" or "fair-haired". In other cases it is derived from the Old Norse Finnr, a personal name sometimes derived from a byname, or else from compound names beginning with this word element. In other cases Finn is a German surname derived from an ethnic name referring to people from Finland. Notable people sharing the surname are listed below.

Academics[edit]

Chester E. Finn Jr. (born 1944) American professor of education, policy analyst and US Assistant Secretary of Education
Frank Finn (1868–1932), English ornithologist
Jeremy Finn, American psychologist
Robert Finn (mathematician) (1922–2022), American mathematician
Ronald Finn (1930–2004), English medical researcher

Arts and entertainment[edit]

Alec Finn (1944–2018), British-born musician
Charlie Finn (born 1981), American actor and voice actor
Chris Finn, Canadian stand-up comedian and writer
Christine Finn (1929/30–2007), English actress
Craig Finn (born 1971), American musician
Henry J. Finn (1787–1840), American actor and writer
Jason Finn (musician) (born 1967), American musician
Jeffrey Finn (born 1970), American theatrical producer
Jerry Finn (1969–2008), American record producer
John Finn (born 1952), American actor
Jon Finn (born 1958), American musician and guitarist
Liam Finn (born 1983), Australian-New Zealand musician
Mali Finn (1938–2007), American Hollywood casting director and drama teacher
Mark Finn (born 1969), American fantasy and science fiction writer
Mickey Finn (drummer) (1947–2003), English percussionist
Mickey Finn (guitarist) (1947–2013), British rock guitarist
Mickey Finn (Irish fiddler) (1951–1987), Irish fiddler
Neil Finn (born 1958), New Zealand singer-songwriter
Pat Finn (game show host) (born 1956), American television presenter, game show host and entrepreneur
Pat Finn (actor) (born 1965), American actor
Paul Anthony Finn, Irish singer-songwriter, member of the 2000s indie rock quartet The Flaws
Sean Finn (DJ) (fl. 2015–present), German DJ and electronic musician
Simon Finn (musician) (born 1951), English musician
Terry Finn (born 1955), American actor
Tim Finn (born 1952), New Zealand singer-songwriter
Tom Finn (fl. 1965–present), American musician, a founding member of the 1960s pop group The Left Banke
Veronica Finn (born 1981), American singer
Will Finn (born 1958), American animator, voice actor and director
William Finn (born 1952), American composer and lyricist
James Finn Garner (born 1960), American author and satirist; "Finn" was his mother's maiden name, added to avoid confusion with James Garner.

Business and politics[edit]

Bernie Finn (born 1961), Australian politician
Daniel E. Finn Sr. (1845–1910), American politician, lawyer and judge
David Finn (1921–2021), American public relations executive, photographer, and historian of sculpture.
Gilbert Finn (1920–2015), Canadian businessman and politician
Howard Finn (1917–1986), American politician
James Finn (1806–1872), British Consul in Jerusalem
Elizabeth Anne Finn; wife of the above, James Finn
Robert Finn (diplomat) (born 1945), former American ambassador to Afghanistan
Robert Emmett Finn (1877–1951), Canadian lawyer and politician
Simon Finn (politician) (born 1965), Australian politician
Skip Finn (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 (1784–1862),Irish politician

Military[edit]

James Fynn (1893–1917), English recipient of the Victoria Cross
John William Finn (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 (1889–1921), Irish Republican Army commander

Religion[edit]

Francis J. Finn (1859–1928), American Catholic priest and author
Richard Finn (born 1963), English priest, academic and theologian
Robert Finn (bishop) (born 1953), American Roman Catholic prelate, former bishop of Kansas City, Missouri

Sports[edit]

Charles Finn (water polo) (1899–1974), American Olympic water polo player
Danny Finn (born 1987), Candlepin Bowler
Hubert Finn (1900-1952), Australian rugby league footballer and physician
Jim Finn (born 1976), American professional football player
Jimmy Finn (born 1931), Irish hurler
Kate Belinda Finn (1864–1932), British chess player
Kenny Finn (fl. 1950s and '60s), Irish-American soccer and Gaelic football player
Micky Finn (footballer) (born 1954), English footballer
Mike Finn (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 (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[edit]

Alfred C. Finn (1883–1964), American architect
Camila Finn (born 1991), Brazilian fashion model
Edmund Finn (1819–1898), Australian journalist and author
Shirley Finn (1941–1975), Australian brothel owner who was murdered