NameCensus.

UK surname

Finan

An Irish surname derived from the Gaelic word "finnán," meaning "fair-haired" or "little fair one."

In the 1881 census there were 206 people recorded with the Finan surname, ranking it #12,596 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 823, ranked #6,749, up from #12,596 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Chorley, Liverpool and Bradford. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Wakefield, Tameside and Gallowgate North and Bellgrove.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Finan is 823 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 299.5%.

1881 census count

206

Ranked #12,596

Modern count

823

2016, ranked #6,749

Peak year

2016

823 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Finan had 206 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #12,596 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 823 in 2016, ranked #6,749.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 379 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Communities.

Finan surname distribution map

The map shows where the Finan surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.

Distribution map

Finan surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Finan over time

The table below tracks recorded surname counts and rank from the 19th-century census years through the modern adult-register period.

Year Period Count Rank
1851 historical 135 #13,964
1861 historical 141 #16,072
1881 historical 206 #12,596
1891 historical 224 #13,760
1901 historical 349 #10,457
1911 historical 379 #9,672
1997 modern 739 #6,960
1998 modern 785 #6,864
1999 modern 804 #6,759
2000 modern 767 #6,981
2001 modern 731 #7,111
2002 modern 763 #7,020
2003 modern 742 #7,075
2004 modern 736 #7,119
2005 modern 725 #7,131
2006 modern 726 #7,164
2007 modern 752 #7,044
2008 modern 753 #7,087
2009 modern 750 #7,248
2010 modern 781 #7,160
2011 modern 772 #7,149
2012 modern 794 #6,874
2013 modern 806 #6,909
2014 modern 811 #6,906
2015 modern 819 #6,799
2016 modern 823 #6,749

Geography

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Where Finans are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Chorley, Liverpool, Bradford, Glasgow and Birmingham Town: Birmingham. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Wakefield, Tameside, Gallowgate North and Bellgrove and East Lindsey. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Some modern areas include a three-digit suffix, such as Leeds 110. The suffix is a small-area code, so it stays in the table while the prose uses the plain place name.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 Chorley Lancashire
2 Liverpool Lancashire
3 Bradford Yorkshire, West Riding
4 Glasgow Lanark
5 Birmingham Town: Birmingham Warwickshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Wakefield 022 Wakefield
2 Tameside 008 Tameside
3 Wakefield 019 Wakefield
4 Gallowgate North and Bellgrove Glasgow City
5 East Lindsey 003 East Lindsey

Forenames

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First names often paired with Finan

These lists show first names that appear often with the Finan surname in historical and recent records.

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Finan

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Finan, this points to the kinds of places where the surname is most concentrated today.

These neighbourhood labels describe areas, not individual people. They are useful because surnames often cluster through family history, migration, housing patterns and local work. A surname can be strongest in one type of neighbourhood even when people with that name live across the country.

The UK classification gives the national picture. The London classification is more specific to the capital, where housing, age profile, tenure and population mix can look quite different from the rest of the UK.

UK neighbourhood type

UK Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Baseline UK

Group

Challenged Communities

Nationally, the Finan surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Challenged Communities, within Baseline UK. This does not mean every Finan household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

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Group profile

Residents of these neighbourhoods typically live in households with dependent children, and there are fewer-than-average residents of normal retirement age or over. Identification with ethnic minorities, particularly Black, or Mixed or Multiple ethnicities is common. The rate of Christian religious affiliation is low. Housing predominantly consists of semi-detached houses, along with a significant number of terraced properties and flats. Overcrowded social housing is common, and private renting occurs at average UK levels. Those in employment work mainly in caring leisure and other services; process, plant and machine operation; or elementary occupations. Unemployment is high, and few individuals have degree level qualifications. Many of these neighbourhoods occur in commuter towns or less accessible areas of larger towns and cities.

Wider pattern

This Supergroup exemplifies the broad base to the UK’s social structure, encompassing as it does the average or modal levels of many neighbourhood characteristics, including all housing tenures, a range of levels of educational attainment and religious affiliations, and a variety of pre-retirement age structures. Yet, in combination, these mixes are each distinctive of the parts of the UK. Overall, terraced houses and flats are the most prevalent, as is employment in intermediate or low-skilled occupations. However, this Supergroup is also characterised by above average levels of unemployment and lower levels of use of English as the main language. Many neighbourhoods occur in south London and the UK’s other major urban centres.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Finan is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Pockets, part of Social Rented Sector Families with Children. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Found in pockets across London, residents are less likely to live in private sector rentals and fewer adults are students. Fewer individuals work in transport and communications occupations relative to the Supergroup average. More individuals identify as Black and were born in Africa.

Wider London pattern

Residents of these neighbourhoods include sizable numbers identifying with ethnicities originating outside Europe, particularly in Africa or Bangladesh. The proportion of residents identifying as White, Indian or Pakistani is well below the London average. Neighbourhood age profiles are skewed towards younger adults, and above average numbers of families have children. Rates of use of English at home are below average. Marriage rates are low, and levels of separation or divorce are above average. Housing is predominantly in flats, and renting in the social rented sector the norm - few residents are owner occupiers. Housing is often overcrowded, and neighbourhoods are amongst the most densely populated in London. Disability rates are above average, although levels of unpaid care provision are about average. Employment is in caring, leisure, other service occupations, sales and customer service, or process, plant, and machine operation. Part time working and full-time student study are common. Levels of unemployment are slightly above average. Most residents have only Level 1 or 2 educational qualifications or have completed apprenticeships.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Finan is most concentrated in decile 10 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier end of the index.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Finan falls in decile 1 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Finan is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - Irish

This describes the area pattern most associated with Finan, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Finan

The surname Finan is believed to have originated in Ireland, with its roots dating back to the medieval period. It is derived from the Irish Gaelic "Fionnán," which means "fair-haired" or "white." This name was likely given to individuals with fair complexions or light-colored hair, a common practice in many cultures.

One of the earliest known records of the name Finan can be found in the Annals of Ulster, a chronicle of medieval Irish history. The annals mention "Fínan Ua Dróna," who was the abbot of Iona, an important monastic center in Scotland, in the late 7th century. This indicates that the name was in use during this time period.

In the 12th century, the name appears in the Book of Leinster, a medieval Irish manuscript containing a compilation of various works. The text mentions "Fínan of Rath-Inbhir," who was a renowned scholar and poet from County Donegal.

During the 16th century, the surname Finan was particularly prevalent in Counties Donegal, Tyrone, and Armagh in Ulster. It was often anglicized as "Finian" or "Fynyn" in official records and documents.

One notable figure with the surname Finan was John Finan (1809-1876), an Irish-born prelate of the Roman Catholic Church who served as the first Bishop of Kansas City, Missouri. Another remarkable individual was Patrick Finan (1856-1939), an Irish-American labor leader who played a significant role in the establishment of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters union.

In the literary world, the name Finan was borne by John Joseph Finan (1875-1960), an Irish-American writer and educator who authored several books on Irish history and literature. Additionally, Michael Finan (1858-1939) was an Irish-born American prelate who served as the Bishop of Salt Lake City.

The name Finan has also been associated with various place names in Ireland, such as Finanterin (Fíonán Teirinne) in County Donegal and Finavon (Fionn Abhainn) in County Tipperary, further demonstrating its deep roots in the country's history and geography.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Finan families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Finan surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.

Top counties

Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Yorkshire leads with 66 Finans recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.31x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 66 3.31x
Lancashire 62 2.60x
Warwickshire 19 3.75x
Derbyshire 10 3.18x
Lanarkshire 10 1.54x
Staffordshire 10 1.47x
Argyllshire 7 12.52x
Durham 6 1.00x
Middlesex 4 0.20x
Midlothian 4 1.49x
Dumfriesshire 3 6.76x
Cheshire 2 0.45x
Essex 1 0.25x
Kent 1 0.15x
Nottinghamshire 1 0.37x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Birmingham in Warwickshire leads with 19 Finans recorded in 1881 and an index of 11.25x.

Place Total Index
Birmingham 19 11.25x
Hulme 15 30.13x
Bradford 10 20.75x
Ince In Makerfield 10 90.17x
New Malton 10 420.17x
Elland Cum Greetland 9 100.33x
Ashton Under Lyne 8 15.35x
Brightside Bierlow 7 17.93x
Lismore Appin 7 376.34x
Sheffield 7 11.04x
Wolstanton 7 33.98x
Brampton 6 136.36x
Gorton 6 26.77x
Sutton Stoneferry 6 105.26x
Wingate 6 146.34x
Govan 5 3.11x
Carrington 4 952.38x
Cheetham 4 22.50x
Little Bolton 4 13.05x
Oldham 4 5.20x
Barony 3 1.82x
Eckington 3 39.27x
Halifax 3 10.26x
Hambleton 3 810.81x
Middlebie 3 225.56x
Worsley 3 20.41x
Doncaster 2 13.75x
Glasgow 2 1.73x
Hunslet 2 6.44x
Newton 2 10.88x
Tamworth 2 55.10x
Ashborne 1 46.73x
Barton Upon Irwell 1 5.57x
Birkenhead 1 2.83x
Burslem 1 5.15x
Chorley 1 7.47x
Great Bolton 1 3.17x
Hipperholme Cum 1 11.43x
Horton In Bradford 1 3.22x
Huddersfield 1 3.45x
Islington London 1 0.51x
Kirkdale 1 2.49x
Leeds 1 0.89x
Liverpool 1 0.69x
Nottingham St Mary 1 1.43x
Salford 1 1.43x
Selby 1 24.04x
Shadwell London 1 17.79x
Sherburn 1 60.98x
Spitalfields London 1 6.62x
St Pancras London 1 0.62x
Stockport 1 4.38x
Walthamstow 1 7.00x
Whitwood 1 35.34x
Willesborough 1 54.35x

Top female names

These are the female first names most often recorded with the Finan surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
Mary 23
Margaret 6
Bridget 5
Ann 4
Catherine 4
Alice 3
Ellen 3
Maria 3
Sarah 3
Annie 2
Elizabeth 2
Kate 2
Lucy 2
Margret 2
Ada 1
Anne 1
Anney 1
Cathrine 1
Ce. 1
E. 1
Elinor 1
Emma 1
Jane 1
Katy 1
Laura 1
Margarett 1
Rose 1
Ruth 1
Teresa 1

Top male names

These are the male first names most often recorded with the Finan surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
John 26
Thomas 18
James 7
Michael 6
Patrick 6
William 6
George 4
Martin 4
Peter 3
Richard 3
Jas. 2
Joseph 2
Alexander 1
Barnard 1
Charles 1
Dan 1
Edward 1
Francis 1
Henry 1
Jno. 1
Robert 1
Roger 1
Samuel 1
T. 1
Thos. 1
Walter 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Finan surname: questions and answers

How common was the Finan surname in 1881?

In 1881, 206 people were recorded with the Finan surname. That placed it at #12,596 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Finan surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 823 in 2016. That gives Finan a modern rank of #6,749.

What does the Finan surname mean?

An Irish surname derived from the Gaelic word "finnán," meaning "fair-haired" or "little fair one."

What does the Finan map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Finan bearers relative to the surrounding population.

What records is this surname page based on?

The historical counts come from census surname records. The modern counts and neighbourhood summaries come from later surname distribution records. Counts are recorded bearers in those records, not a live estimate of everyone with the name today.