The surname Finn has several origins. In some cases it is derived from the Irish ''Ó Finn'', meaning "descendant of '' Fionn''"; the

byname An epithet (, ), also a byname, is a descriptive term (word or phrase) commonly accompanying or occurring in place of the name of a real or fictitious person, place, or thing. It is usually literally descriptive, as in Alfred the Great, Suleima ...

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

Old Norse Old Norse, also referred to as Old Nordic or Old Scandinavian, was 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 ...

''Finnr'', a

personal name A personal name, full name or prosoponym (from Ancient Greek ''prósōpon'' – person, and ''onoma'' –name) is the set of names by which an individual person or animal is known. When taken together as a word-group, they all relate to that on ...

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, the country of the Germans and German things **Germania (Roman era) * Germans, citizens of Germany, people of German ancestry, or native speakers of the German language ** For citizenship in Germany, see also Ge ...

surname derived from an ethnic name referring to

people The term "the people" refers to the public or Common people, common mass of people of a polity. As such it is a concept of human rights law, international law as well as constitutional law, particularly used for claims of popular sovereignty. I ...

from

Finland Finland, officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country in Northern Europe. It borders Sweden to the northwest, Norway to the north, and Russia to the east, with the Gulf of Bothnia to the west and the Gulf of Finland to the south, ...

. 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 (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 197 ...

(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, a ...

(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'' an ...

, Canadian stand-up comedian and writer * Christine Finn (1929/30–2007), English actress *

Craig Finn Craig A. 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 nine studio albums. Prior to forming the Hold Steady, ...

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

Jason Finn (musician) The Presidents of the United States of America (occasionally referred to as PUSA, PotUSA, the Presidents of the USA, or simply the Presidents) were an American rock band formed in Seattle, Washington, in 1993. The three-piece group's initial l ...

(born 1967), American musician * Jeffrey Finn (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, Alka ...

(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 ...

(born 1952), American actor * Jon Finn (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 (Johnson) and Neil Finn. In 2020, he joined his father's band ...

(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. She cast numerous actors in successful films, including Edward Furlong, Brad Renfro, Leonardo DiCaprio, and Russell Crowe. Biography Born ...

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

Mark Finn Mark Finn (born October 1969) is 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 published work was a series of comic bo ...

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

Mickey Finn (drummer) Michael Norman Finn (3 June 1947 – 11 January 2003) was an English musician. He was best known as the percussionist and sideman to Marc Bolan in his band T. Rex (band), Tyrannosaurus Rex (on one album, ''A Beard of Stars'') and later the 197 ...

(1947–2003), English percussionist *

Mickey Finn (guitarist) Michael F. Waller (3 March 1947 – 1 February 2013), also known by the stage name Mickey Finn, was an English guitarist. Biography Michael F. Waller was born in Bethnal Green, East London, in 1947, and started out with instrumental band the ...

(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. He is best known for being a principal member of Split Enz and for being the lead singer of Crowded House. He was also a member of Fleetwood Mac from 2018 ...

(born 1958), New Zealand singer-songwriter *

Pat Finn (game show host) ''Shop 'til You Drop'' is an American game show that was on the air intermittently between 1991 and 2005. Four different series were produced during that time, with the first premiering on Lifetime on July 8, 1991, and the fourth series airing ...

(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 was born in Evanston, Illinois, and grew up in Wilmette, where he attended Loyola Academy. He graduated from Marquette University ...

(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 Dista ...

(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 ...

(born 1955), American actor *

Tim Finn Brian Timothy Finn (born 25 June 1952) is a New Zealand singer, songwriter, musician, and composer. He is best known as a founding member of Split Enz. Finn founded the band in 1972 with Phil Judd and served as lead singer and principal songw ...

(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 Will Finn 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 Secret of NIMH'', '' Oliver & Company'', ...

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

William Finn William Alan Finn (February 28, 1952 – April 7, 2025) was an American composer and lyricist. He was best known for his musicals, which include ''Falsettos'', for which he won the 1992 Tony Awards for Tony Award for Best Original Score, Best O ...

(1952–2025), American composer and lyricist *

James Finn Garner James Finn Garner (born 1960) is an American writer and satirist based in Chicago. He is the author of '' Politically Correct Bedtime Stories'',James Garner James Scott Garner (né Bumgarner; April 7, 1928 – July 19, 2014) was an American actor. He played leading roles in more than 50 theatrical films, which included ''The Great Escape (film), The Great Escape'' (1963) with Steve McQueen; Paddy Ch ...

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 (born Finkelstein, 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 ...

(1921–2021), American public relations executive, photographer, and historian of sculpture. * Gilbert Finn (1920–2015), 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). Biography James Finn arrived in Palestine 1845 with his wife Elizabeth Anne Finn. Finn was a devout Christian who belonged to the London So ...

(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 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 Minnesota Senate as a member of the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party. Biography Born in Cass Lake, Minnesota, ...

(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

* James Fynn (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 and aviation ordnanceman, received the United States military's highest decoration, the Medal of Honor, for his actions during ...

(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

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

Richard Finn Richard Damian Finn, O.P. (born 27 March 1963) is a British historian and Roman Catholic theologian, currently serving as Director of the Las Casas Institute for Social Justice at Blackfriars, Oxford, and a member of the Theology Faculty and ...

(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 (1900–1952), Australian rugby league footballer and physician * Jim Finn (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. ...

(born 1931), Irish hurler * Kate Belinda Finn (1864–1932), British chess player *

Kenny Finn Kenny Finn is an Irish former soccer player and Gaelic footballer. He spent four seasons in the League of Ireland before moving to the United States. He then played in the German American Soccer League as well as with the New York Gaelic footbal ...

(), 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 Steven Thomas Finn (born 4 April 1989) is a former English cricketer. He was 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 mad ...

(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

* Adharanand Finn (born 1974), British author, journalist and podcaster *

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 Camila Caroline Finn (born November 6, 1991) is a Brazilian model. She who won the Ford "Supermodel of the Year" award at the age of 14. Biography Finn became the first Brazilian to win the Ford Models "Supermodel of the World" contest, which to ...

(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. Background Finn was born in County Tipperary, Ireland, the son ...

(1819–1898), Australian journalist and author *

Shirley Finn Shirley June Finn, given name, 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 b ...

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