NameCensus.

UK surname

Finn

An Irish surname derived from the Old Irish personal name Fionn, meaning "fair" or "white."

In the 1881 census there were 2,719 people recorded with the Finn surname, ranking it #1,637 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 6,301, ranked #1,070, up from #1,637 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Dover St James, Dover St Mary and Manchester. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Dover, Ashford and Shepway.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Finn is 6,488 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 131.7%.

1881 census count

2,719

Ranked #1,637

Modern count

6,301

2016, ranked #1,070

Peak year

2010

6,488 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Finn had 2,719 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #1,637 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 6,301 in 2016, ranked #1,070.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 3,475 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Communities.

Finn surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Finn surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Finn 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 1,367 #2,100
1861 historical 1,383 #2,074
1881 historical 2,719 #1,637
1891 historical 2,574 #1,846
1901 historical 3,332 #1,678
1911 historical 3,475 #1,501
1997 modern 5,998 #1,092
1998 modern 6,278 #1,085
1999 modern 6,235 #1,094
2000 modern 6,248 #1,089
2001 modern 6,079 #1,094
2002 modern 6,260 #1,088
2003 modern 6,121 #1,091
2004 modern 6,100 #1,092
2005 modern 6,035 #1,087
2006 modern 5,972 #1,095
2007 modern 6,036 #1,091
2008 modern 6,118 #1,079
2009 modern 6,302 #1,074
2010 modern 6,488 #1,067
2011 modern 6,425 #1,063
2012 modern 6,181 #1,084
2013 modern 6,312 #1,081
2014 modern 6,339 #1,081
2015 modern 6,317 #1,072
2016 modern 6,301 #1,070

Geography

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Where Finns are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Dover St James, Dover St Mary, Manchester and Hawkinge, Folkestone. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Dover, Ashford, Shepway, North Norfolk and Middlesbrough. 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 London parishes London 1
2 London parishes London 3
3 Dover St James, Dover St Mary Kent
4 Manchester Lancashire
5 Hawkinge, Folkestone Kent

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Dover 011 Dover
2 Ashford 010 Ashford
3 Shepway 011 Shepway
4 North Norfolk 011 North Norfolk
5 Middlesbrough 001 Middlesbrough

Forenames

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First names often paired with Finn

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Finn

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Finn, 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 Finn surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Challenged Communities, within Baseline UK. This does not mean every Finn household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Finn is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. 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

Mainly located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Finn 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

Finn 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 Finn is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

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

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - Irish

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

Meaning and origin of Finn

The surname Finn is believed to have originated in Ireland and parts of Scotland. It is derived from the Gaelic word "Fionn" which means "fair-haired" or "white". This name was initially used as a descriptive nickname for someone with blonde or fair hair.

The name Finn can be traced back to the 10th century in Ireland, where it appeared in ancient Irish manuscripts and records. One of the earliest recorded mentions of the name is in the Annals of Ulster, which chronicles events in medieval Ireland.

In the 12th century, the surname Finn is found in the Domesday Book, a record of landowners in England commissioned by William the Conqueror. This suggests that people with the name had migrated from Ireland to England during that time.

Notable historical figures with the surname Finn include Finn MacCumhail, a legendary Irish warrior and hero from the 3rd century AD. His name is closely associated with the Fenian Cycle of Irish mythology.

Another prominent individual was Henry Finn (1782-1840), an Irish architect who designed several notable buildings in Dublin, including the Royal Hibernian Academy.

In the 19th century, John Finn (1807-1879) was an Irish-born Australian surveyor and explorer who played a significant role in mapping and exploring parts of Western Australia.

Other notable individuals with the surname Finn include Geraldine Finn (1910-1988), an American actress and singer, and James Finn Garner (1808-1863), an American writer and humorist from Tennessee.

The surname Finn has also been associated with several place names in Ireland, such as Fintown in County Donegal and Fintra in County Dublin. These place names likely derived from the surname or vice versa, reflecting the historical presence of people with the name in those areas.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Finn families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Finn 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. Kent leads with 608 Finns recorded in 1881 and an index of 6.68x.

County Total Index
Kent 608 6.68x
Lancashire 561 1.77x
Middlesex 298 1.12x
Durham 187 2.36x
Yorkshire 170 0.64x
Surrey 133 1.02x
Staffordshire 81 0.90x
Cheshire 62 1.05x
Essex 51 0.97x
Northumberland 49 1.24x
Glamorgan 45 0.97x
Warwickshire 44 0.65x
Lanarkshire 39 0.45x
Hampshire 37 0.68x
Monmouthshire 33 1.71x
Cumberland 28 1.22x
Renfrewshire 27 1.31x
Worcestershire 26 0.75x
Dunbartonshire 20 2.79x
Lincolnshire 20 0.47x
Argyllshire 19 2.56x
Sussex 15 0.33x
Norfolk 14 0.34x
Derbyshire 13 0.31x
Leicestershire 13 0.44x
Nottinghamshire 13 0.36x
Shropshire 13 0.56x
Cornwall 12 0.40x
Ayrshire 10 0.50x
Devon 9 0.16x
Northamptonshire 9 0.36x
Midlothian 8 0.22x
Suffolk 8 0.25x
Wiltshire 7 0.30x
Angus 6 0.24x
Isle of Man 6 1.21x
Pembrokeshire 6 0.71x
Royal Navy 6 1.89x
Gloucestershire 3 0.06x
Stirlingshire 3 0.31x
West Lothian 3 0.75x
Aberdeenshire 2 0.08x
Channel Islands 2 0.25x
Denbighshire 2 0.20x
Dorset 2 0.11x
Kincardineshire 2 0.62x
Cambridgeshire 1 0.06x
Carmarthenshire 1 0.09x
East Lothian 1 0.28x
Herefordshire 1 0.09x
Hertfordshire 1 0.05x
Morayshire 1 0.24x
Oxfordshire 1 0.06x
Perthshire 1 0.08x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Manchester in Lancashire leads with 87 Finns recorded in 1881 and an index of 6.12x.

Place Total Index
Manchester 87 6.12x
Liverpool 78 4.06x
Folkestone 47 26.64x
West Derby 43 4.65x
Birmingham 42 1.87x
Leeds 40 2.68x
Salford 40 4.30x
Lydd 38 195.17x
Canterbury St Mary 34 55.70x
Ashford 33 37.25x
Camberwell 30 1.76x
Lenham 30 165.29x
Kensington London 29 1.96x
Hougham 28 51.77x
Lambeth 27 1.16x
Gateshead 26 4.38x
St Pancras London 25 1.17x
Stockton On Tees 25 6.54x
Stoke Upon Trent 22 2.31x
St Marylebone London 21 1.48x
Elswick 20 6.32x
Widnes 20 8.77x
Canterbury St Mildred 19 88.04x
Croydon 19 2.63x
Warrington 19 5.07x
Washington 18 54.14x
West Ham 18 1.55x
Barnard Castle 17 43.37x
Chelsea London 17 2.12x
Hammersmith London 17 2.59x
Holy Trinity 17 2.68x
Preston 17 2.01x
Westoe 17 3.78x
Barony 16 0.73x
Bethnal Green London 16 1.38x
Barham 15 162.16x
Ashton Under Lyne 14 2.02x
Bootle Cum Linacre 14 5.57x
Campbeltown 14 15.64x
Eccleston In Prescot 14 8.82x
Hawkinge 14 1250.00x
Mersham 14 212.44x
Sheffield 14 1.66x
St Giles In Fields London 14 10.70x
Accrington 13 4.52x
Cleator 13 13.61x
Eston 13 22.59x
Glasgow 13 0.85x
Stockport 13 4.29x
Tottenham 13 3.06x
Aberdare 12 3.77x
Darlaston 12 9.65x
Islington London 12 0.46x
Maidstone 12 4.43x
Poplar London 12 2.38x
St George Bloomsbury 12 7.85x
Abergavenny 11 15.24x
Acton 11 7.04x
Camborne 11 8.84x
Canterbury St Paul 11 67.36x
Chorlton On Medlock 11 2.19x
Ford 11 46.30x
Great Chart 11 162.00x
Hulme 11 1.67x
Kingsnorth 11 197.13x
Merthyr Tydfil 11 2.47x
Old Kilpatrick 11 12.99x
St Andrew Holborn London 11 9.53x
Aberystruth 10 5.89x
Bishopwearmouth 10 1.47x
Blackburn 10 1.19x
Bradford 10 1.56x
Bury 10 2.77x
Cardiff St Mary 10 3.91x
East Greenock 10 5.13x
Elton 10 9.15x
Lewisham 10 2.06x
Lyminge 10 128.04x
Oswaldtwistle 10 8.95x
Wallsend 10 7.95x

Top female names

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

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 216
James 123
Thomas 120
William 110
Michael 76
George 65
Patrick 54
Edward 42
Charles 31
Henry 27
Frederick 25
Joseph 21
Albert 16
Alfred 16
Stephen 15
Francis 14
Peter 14
Arthur 13
David 13
Robert 13
Frank 11
Harry 10
Richard 10
Thos. 10
Edwin 9
Herbert 9
Andrew 8
Daniel 8
Dennis 7
Ernest 7
Martin 7
Bernard 5
Cornelius 5
Mark 5
Samuel 5
Walter 5
Jeremiah 4
Owen 4
Percy 4
Austin 3
Benjamin 3
Denis 3
Edmund 3
Edwd. 3
Elijah 3
Frederic 3
Gerald 3
Mathew 3
Maurice 3
Morris 3

FAQ

Finn surname: questions and answers

How common was the Finn surname in 1881?

In 1881, 2,719 people were recorded with the Finn surname. That placed it at #1,637 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Finn surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 6,301 in 2016. That gives Finn a modern rank of #1,070.

What does the Finn surname mean?

An Irish surname derived from the Old Irish personal name Fionn, meaning "fair" or "white."

What does the Finn map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Finn 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.