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Irish surname

Finn: Irish Surname History & Coat of Arms

Ó Finn · 'descendant of Fionn' (fair)

Woulfe (1923) gives Finn as Ó Finn, 'descendant of Fionn' (fair), the name of three separate families in Sligo, Monaghan and Galway. He says all three were still well represented in their native districts and that the name is also found in various other parts of Ireland. In 1890 Finn births were found chiefly in Cork, Mayo, Dublin and Roscommon.

Shop Finn crest giftsRead the history
Coat of arms associated with the Finn surname
Irish formÓ Finn
Meaning'descendant of Fionn' (fair)
CountiesSligo, Monaghan, Galway, Cork
Other spellings3

Origin of the Finn name

Three Ó Finn families (Woulfe): (1) a Breifney family, chiefs of Calraighe of Lough Gill, now the parish of Calry near Sligo town; (2) a Monaghan family, lords of Feara Rois near Carrickmacross; (3) a Galway family, formerly erenaghs of Kilcolgan.[1]

  1. 1890111 Finn births registered in Ireland, chiefly Cork, Mayo, Dublin and Roscommon.[2]

Where in Ireland

Co. SligoBreifney Ó Finns were chiefs of Calraighe of Lough Gill, now Calry parish near Sligo town.[1]
Co. MonaghanA Monaghan Ó Finn family were lords of Feara Rois, near Carrickmacross.[1]
Co. GalwayA Galway Ó Finn family were formerly erenaghs of Kilcolgan.[1]
Co. CorkFirst of the counties where Finn was principally found in 1890.[2]
Co. MayoAmong the counties where Finn was principally found in 1890.[2]
Co. DublinAmong the counties where Finn was principally found in 1890.[2]
Co. RoscommonAmong the counties where Finn was principally found in 1890.[2]

Other spellings

O Finn · Fynn · Finne[1]

The Finn coat of arms

The design shown is a coat of arms associated with the Finn surname. In Irish and British heraldry a coat of arms is granted to one person and passes to their heirs; it does not belong to everyone who shares the surname. Many families still use the arms of their name as a symbol of their heritage.

Finn crest gifts

Clan Ofinn Coat Of Arms - Irish Family Crest St Patrick's Day Classic CapTT19 Classic Cap - Ofinn Coat Of Arms St Patrick's Day Classic Cap Irish Cap Ofinn Coat Of Arms - Irish Family Crest St Patrick's Day Classic Cap$42.45Clan Ofinn Coat Of Arms II Irisharms - Irish Family Crest St Patrick's Day Classic CapBM34 Classic Cap - Ofinn Coat Of Arms II Irisharms St Patrick's Day Classic Cap Irish Cap Ofinn Coat Of Arms II Irisharms - Irish Family Crest St Patrick's Day Classic Cap$42.45Clan Finn Coat Of Arms - Irish Family Crest St Patrick's Day Classic CapOX79 Classic Cap - Finn Coat Of Arms St Patrick's Day Classic Cap Irish Cap Finn Coat Of Arms - Irish Family Crest St Patrick's Day Classic Cap$42.45Clan Ofinn Coat Of Arms II Irisharms - Irish Family Crest Classic Cap QL74 Ofinn Coat Of Arms II Irisharms Irish Cap Ofinn Coat Of Arms II Irisharms - Irish Family Crest Classic Cap$33.45Clan Finn Coat Of Arms - Irish Family Crest Classic Cap RA47 Finn Coat Of Arms Irish Cap Finn Coat Of Arms - Irish Family Crest Classic Cap$33.45Clan Ofinn Coat Of Arms - Irish Family Crest Classic Cap RN77 Ofinn Coat Of Arms Irish Cap Ofinn Coat Of Arms - Irish Family Crest Classic Cap$33.45

Finn surname: questions

What does the surname Finn mean?

Woulfe gives Finn as Ó Finn, 'descendant of Fionn', a name meaning fair.[1]

Is Finn an Irish surname?

Yes. Woulfe gives Finn, Fynn and Finne as anglicised forms of the Irish Ó Finn, the name of three separate families in Sligo, Monaghan and Galway.[1]

Where in Ireland is the Finn surname from?

Woulfe names Ó Finn families near Sligo town, near Carrickmacross in Co. Monaghan, and at Kilcolgan in Co. Galway. In 1890 Finn births were chiefly in Cork, Mayo, Dublin and Roscommon.[1][2]

Sources

  1. Ó Finn — Irish Names and Surnames (Rev. Patrick Woulfe, 1923), transcribed, LibraryIreland.com. libraryireland.com/names/of/o-finn.php
  2. Finn — Birth Indexes of 1890 — Special Report on Surnames in Ireland (Robert E. Matheson, 1909), transcribed, LibraryIreland.com. libraryireland.com/matheson/report/births/finn.php

Note: Matheson's 1890 figures for a surname include its spelling varieties (Matheson, Table Explanation).