Flynn is an Irish surname or first name, an

anglicised Anglicisation or anglicization is a form of cultural assimilation whereby something non-English becomes assimilated into or influenced by the culture of England. It can be sociocultural, in which a non-English place adopts the English language ...

form of the Irish Ó Floinn or possibly Mac Floinn, meaning "descendant or son of Flann" (a

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 ...

meaning "reddish (complexion)" or "ruddy"). The name is more commonly used as a surname than a first name. According to John O'Donovan's 1849 works, the modern descendants of Lugaid mac Con include the O'Driscolls,

O'Leary O'Leary is an Irish surname derived from the Gaelic Ó Laoghaire, meaning "descendant of Laoghaire"—a personal name often interpreted as "keeper of the calves" or "calf herder." The name is historically associated with a prominent family lineage ...

s, Coffeys, Hennessys and Flynns of

County Cork County Cork () is the largest and the southernmost Counties of Ireland, county of Republic of Ireland, Ireland, named after the city of Cork (city), Cork, the state's second-largest city. It is in the Provinces of Ireland, province of Munster ...

. According to historian C. Thomas Cairney, the O'Flynns, along with the O'Coffeys, O'Dinneens, O'Driscolls, O'Heas, O'Hennessys and O'Learys, were chiefly families of the Corca Laoghdne tribe, who in turn came from the Erainn tribe who were the second wave of

Celts The Celts ( , see Names of the Celts#Pronunciation, pronunciation for different usages) or Celtic peoples ( ) were a collection of Indo-European languages, Indo-European peoples. "The Celts, an ancient Indo-European people, reached the apoge ...

to settle in Ireland from 500 to 100 BC.

People

Acting

* Barbara Flynn (born 1948), English actress * Brandon Flynn (born 1993), American actor *

Daniel Flynn (actor) Daniel Flynn (born 1961) is an English actor. His credits include '' Biggles: Adventures in Time'' (1986), '' The Detectives'' (1994), ''Soldier Soldier'' (1994), '' Peak Practice'' (1998), '' Murder in Mind'' (2003), '' William and Mary'' (200 ...

(born 1961), English actor *

Errol Flynn Errol Leslie Thomson Flynn (20 June 1909 – 14 October 1959) was an Australian and American actor who achieved worldwide fame during the Golden Age of Hollywood. He was known for his romantic swashbuckler roles, frequent partnerships with Oliv ...

(1909–1959), Australian-American movie actor * Jerome Flynn (born 1963), English actor and singer * Jimmy Flynn (1934–2022), American actor * Joe Flynn (American actor) (1924–1974), American actor *

Lara Flynn Boyle Lara Flynn Boyle (born March 24, 1970) is an American actress. She is known for playing Donna Hayward in the television series ''Twin Peaks'' (1990–1991). After appearing in Penelope Spheeris's comedy ''Wayne's World (film), Wayne's World'' (1 ...

(born 1970), American actress *

Miriam Flynn Miriam Flynn is an American Voice acting, voice and character actor, character actress. She is best known as Cousin Catherine in the ''National Lampoon's Vacation (film series), National Lampoon's Vacation'' films and Grandma Longneck in ''The ...

(born 1952), American character and voice actress *

Neil Flynn Neil Richard Flynn (born November 13, 1960) is an American actor and comedian. After performing with numerous comedy troupes in the Chicago area during the 1980s, he made his film debut in ''Major League (film), Major League'' (1989). During the ...

(born 1960), American actor *

Quinton Flynn Quinton Flynn (born October 10, 1964) is an American voice actor and comedian, who has provided the English voices of video game characters such as Raiden in the ''Metal Gear'' series, Marcus Damon in ''Digimon Data Squad'', and Axel and his o ...

(born 1964), American voice actor

Law

* Dennis J. Flynn (born 1942), American lawyer and judge * Edmund James Flynn (1847–1927), Canadian lawyer and politician * Edward A. Flynn (born c. 1948), American law enforcement officer * William J. Flynn (1867–1928), American investigator, director of the Bureau of Investigation from 1919 to 1921

Music

* Billy Flynn (musician) (born 1956), American blues guitarist, singer and songwriter * David Flynn (composer) (born 1977), Irish composer and musician * Jim Flynn (songwriter) (1938–2019), American country music songwriter * Johnny Flynn (born 1983), British actor and singer-songwriter *

Matt Flynn (musician) Matthew Flynn (born May 23, 1970) is an American musician and record producer. He is the drummer for the pop band Maroon 5. In 2006, after being the band's touring drummer for two years, Flynn officially replaced the original drummer of Maroon ...

(born 1970), American musician and record producer * Patrick Flynn (composer) (1936–2008), composer and conductor * Patti Flynn (1937–2020), jazz singer, author, radio actress, model and social activist * Robb Flynn, American musician

Politics and government

* Dan Flynn (politician) (1943–2022), Texas politician * Dennis Flynn (1923–2003), Canadian politician * Edward J. Flynn (1891–1953), American politician * Elizabeth Gurley Flynn (1890–1964), political activist * Gerald T. Flynn (1910–1990), U.S. representative from Wisconsin * John Flynn (Irish politician) (died 1968), Fianna Fáil politician from Kerry * John Flynn (New Brunswick politician) (1954–2021), Canadian bank manager and politician * John Gerrard Flynn (born 1937), former British Ambassador to Venezuela, the Dominican Republic and Haiti, and Angola * Marty Flynn (born 1975), American politician * Noriko Sawada Bridges Flynn (1923–2003), civil rights activist *

Pádraig Flynn Pádraig Flynn (born 9 May 1939) is an Irish former Fianna Fáil politician who served as European Commissioner for Social Affairs from 1993 to 1999, Minister for Industry and Commerce and Minister for Justice from 1992 to 1993, Minister for ...

(born 1939), Irish politician between 1977 and 1999 * Patrick Flynn (Canadian politician) (1921–1996), Canadian Liberal Party politician of Irish extraction * Paul Flynn (politician) (1935–2019), British Labour Party MP for Newport West * Raymond Flynn (born 1939), former mayor of Boston, Massachusetts

Science, medicine and academe

* Colin P. Flynn, professor at the University of Illinois * Ida M. Flynn (1942–2004), American computer scientist, textbook author, and professor *

James Flynn (academic) James Robert Flynn (28 April 193411 December 2020) was an American-born New Zealand moral philosopher and intelligence researcher. Originally from Washington, D.C., and educated at the University of Chicago, Flynn emigrated to Dunedin in 1963, ...

(1934–2020), intelligence researcher in New Zealand known for discovering the

Flynn effect The Flynn effect is the substantial and long-sustained increase in both fluid and crystallized intelligence test scores that were measured in many parts of the world over the 20th century, named after researcher James Flynn (academic), James Flyn ...

John Flynn (minister) John Flynn (25 November 18805 May 1951) was an Australian Presbyterian minister who founded the Australian Inland Mission (AIM) which later separated into Frontier Services and the Presbyterian Inland Mission, as well as founding what bec ...

(1880–1951), Minister; founder of the Royal Flying Doctor Service of Australia * Michael J. Flynn (born 1934), American computer scientist and inventor of Flynn's taxonomy

Sports

* Alex Flynn (born 2003), American Paralympic rower * Ann Marie Flynn (1938–2021), American high jumper * Brian Flynn (baseball) (born 1990), American baseball player *

Brian Flynn (footballer) Brian Flynn (born 12 October 1955) is a Welsh former association football, footballer and Manager (association football), manager. As a player, he was a Wales national football team, Welsh international, who played as a midfielder. Flynn manag ...

(born 1955), Welsh footballer * Brian Flynn (ice hockey) (born 1988), hockey player * Charlie Flynn (born 1993), Scottish boxer * Christopher Flynn (born 1987), Welsh footballer * Daniel Flynn (cricketer) (born 1985), New Zealand cricketer * Don Flynn (1934–2010), football player * Doug Flynn (born 1951), American baseball player * Edward Flynn (boxer) (1909–1976), American boxer, gold medalist at the 1932 Olympic Games * Eddie Flynn (1919–2002), Irish soccer player * Furlong Flynn (1901–1977), American football player and aviation pioneer * George Flynn (baseball) (1871–1901), American baseball player * John Flynn (baseball) (1883–1935), American baseball player * John Flynn (footballer, born 1948), English footballer * John Flynn (rugby league), English rugby player * Jonny Flynn (born 1989), American basketball player * JP Flynn (born 1993), American football player * Lefty Satan Flynn (1917–?), British Honduran boxer, Jamaican dual-weight titleholder * Malachi Flynn (born 1998), American basketball player *

Matt Flynn (American football) Matthew Clayton Flynn (born June 20, 1985) is an American former professional American football, football player who was a quarterback in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the LSU Tigers football, LSU Tigers an ...

(born 1985), American football player *

Michael Flynn (footballer) Michael John Samuel Flynn (born 17 October 1980) is a Welsh professional Manager (association football), football manager and former Association football, player who played as a midfielder. He is currently the manager of EFL League Two side Ch ...

(born 1980), Welsh soccer player * Mike Flynn (American football) (born 1974), American football player * Mike Flynn (baseball) (1872–1941), American baseball player * Mike Flynn (basketball) (born 1953), American basketball player *

Mike Flynn (footballer) Michael Anthony Flynn (born 23 February 1969) is an English association football, footballer who made more than 650 appearances in the Football League playing for Oldham Athletic A.F.C., Oldham Athletic, Preston North End F.C., Preston North ...

(born 1969), English footballer * Patrick Flynn (athlete) (1894–1969), American Olympic medalist * Patrick J. Flynn, Irish race horse trainer * Paul Flynn (Gaelic footballer) (born 1986), Dublin Gaelic footballer * Paul Flynn (Waterford hurler) (born 1974), Irish hurler * Ray Flynn (athlete) (born 1957), Irish middle-distance runner * Ryan Flynn (footballer) (born 1988), Sheffield United and Scottish footballer * Ted Flynn (1880–1965), Australian rules footballer * Tom Flynn (American football) (born 1962), NFL athlete

Writing

* Bess Flynn (1886–1976), American actress and writer of radio soap operas * Daniel J. Flynn, American conservative writer *

Gillian Flynn Gillian Schieber Flynn (; born February 24, 1971) is an American author, screenwriter, and producer, best known for her Thriller (genre), thriller and Mystery fiction, mystery novels ''Sharp Objects'' (2006), ''Dark Places (Flynn novel), Dark Plac ...

(born 1971), American writer * Greg Flynn, Australian novelist *

Ian Flynn James Ian Flynn (born May 31, 1982), also known by his Internet pen name Ian Potto, is an American-Canadian comic book writer. He was chief writer for Archie Comics's ''Sonic the Hedgehog'' since issue #160, after the departure of the previous chi ...

(born 1982), American comic book writer *

John T. Flynn John Thomas Flynn (October 25, 1882 – April 13, 1964) was an American journalist best known for his opposition to President Franklin D. Roosevelt and to American entry into World War II. In September 1940, Flynn helped establish the America Fi ...

(1882–1964), American journalist and writer * Kitty Flynn (1926–2025), Irish historian and author * Michael Flynn (writer) (1947–2023), American science fiction writer * Nick Flynn (born 1960), poet and writer * Tom Flynn (author) (1955–2021), American writer and journalist *

Vince Flynn Vincent Joseph Flynn (April 6, 1966 – June 19, 2013) was an American author of political thriller novels featuring the fictional assassin Mitch Rapp. He was a story consultant for the fifth season of the television series ''24 (television), 24'' ...

(1966–2013), American writer

Other

* Harry Joseph Flynn (1933–2019), American Roman Catholic Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis * John Flynn (director) (1932–2007), American film director *

Michael Flynn Michael Thomas Flynn (born 24 December 1958) is a retired United States Army lieutenant general who served as the 24th U.S. national security advisor for the first 22 days of the first Trump administration. He resigned in light of reports tha ...

(born 1958), retired United States Army officer, 24th National Security Advisor of the United States * Mike Flynn (radio host), American radio host

Fictional characters

* Billy Flynn (''Chicago''), from the musical ''Chicago'' * Father Brendan Flynn, from the play ''

Doubt Doubt is a mental state in which the mind remains suspended between two or more contradictory propositions, and is certainty, uncertain about them. Doubt on an emotional level is indecision between belief and wikt:disbelief, disbelief. It may i ...

'' * Inspector Francis Xavier Flynn, the main character in a series of detective novels by Gregory Mcdonald * Harry Flynn (character), a villain in the video game '' Uncharted 2: Among Thieves'' * Helen Flynn, from the TV series '' Spooks'' * Kevin Flynn (character), a main character in the 1982 Walt Disney Pictures film ''

Tron ''Tron'' (stylized as ''TRON'') is a 1982 American science fiction action adventure film written and directed by Steven Lisberger from a story by Lisberger and Bonnie MacBird. The film stars Jeff Bridges as Kevin Flynn, a computer programmer ...

'' *

Mickey Flynn Michael Thomas Flynn (born 24 December 1958) is a retired United States Army Lieutenant general (United States), lieutenant general who served as the 24th National Security Advisor (United States), U.S. national security advisor for the first ...

, in the novel ''Homeward Bound'' * Phineas, Linda, and Candace Flynn, from the Disney Channel animated series ''

Phineas and Ferb ''Phineas and Ferb'' is an American animated series, animated Musical film, musical-television comedy, comedy television series created by Dan Povenmire and Jeff "Swampy" Marsh for Disney Channel and Disney XD. The series originally aired on t ...

'' * Sam Flynn, in the 2010 film '' Tron: Legacy'' * The Flynn family in the sitcom '' In with the Flynns'' * '' Flynn Rider,'' in Walt Disney Animation Studios' animated film ''Tangled'', short 2012 film ''Tangled Ever After'', and the 2017 television series ''Rapunzel's Tangled Adventure''

References

{{surname Surnames of Irish origin English-language surnames English masculine given names Masculine given names English unisex given names Given names originating from a surname