NameCensus.

UK surname

Finnigan

A surname of Irish origin, derived from the Gaelic name "Fionnagán," meaning "fair-haired."

In the 1881 census there were 1,175 people recorded with the Finnigan surname, ranking it #3,425 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 2,707, ranked #2,480, up from #3,425 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, Stockport and Gateshead. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include West Neilston and Uplawmoor, Burnley and Dunterlie, East Arthurlie and Dovecothall.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Finnigan is 2,725 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 130.4%.

1881 census count

1,175

Ranked #3,425

Modern count

2,707

2016, ranked #2,480

Peak year

2010

2,725 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Finnigan had 1,175 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #3,425 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 2,707 in 2016, ranked #2,480.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,510 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Finnigan surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Finnigan surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Finnigan 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 293 #7,783
1861 historical 500 #5,234
1881 historical 1,175 #3,425
1891 historical 1,181 #3,627
1901 historical 1,510 #3,398
1911 historical 1,087 #4,266
1997 modern 2,512 #2,506
1998 modern 2,563 #2,549
1999 modern 2,606 #2,530
2000 modern 2,583 #2,540
2001 modern 2,522 #2,540
2002 modern 2,528 #2,592
2003 modern 2,496 #2,569
2004 modern 2,509 #2,564
2005 modern 2,504 #2,534
2006 modern 2,523 #2,528
2007 modern 2,533 #2,535
2008 modern 2,563 #2,531
2009 modern 2,613 #2,547
2010 modern 2,725 #2,502
2011 modern 2,675 #2,513
2012 modern 2,625 #2,512
2013 modern 2,639 #2,545
2014 modern 2,689 #2,518
2015 modern 2,682 #2,505
2016 modern 2,707 #2,480

Geography

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Where Finnigans are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, Stockport, Gateshead, Edinburgh and Manchester. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to West Neilston and Uplawmoor, Burnley, Dunterlie, East Arthurlie and Dovecothall, Irvine East and Sunderland. 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 Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside Durham
2 Stockport Cheshire
3 Gateshead Durham
4 Edinburgh Edinburgh
5 Manchester Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 West Neilston and Uplawmoor East Renfrewshire
2 Burnley 004 Burnley
3 Dunterlie, East Arthurlie and Dovecothall East Renfrewshire
4 Irvine East North Ayrshire
5 Sunderland 034 Sunderland

Forenames

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First names often paired with Finnigan

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Finnigan

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Finnigan, 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

Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce

Group

Established but Challenged

Nationally, the Finnigan surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established but Challenged, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Finnigan household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many households in these neighbourhoods comprise separated or divorced single parents with dependent children. Residents are typically born in the UK, and these neighbourhoods have relatively few members of ethnic minorities. The prevalence of children, their parents and those at or above normal retirement age, suggests neighbourhood structures may be long-established. Levels of unpaid care are high, and long-term disability is more common than in the Supergroup as a whole. Use of the social rented sector is common, often in terraced houses. Levels of overcrowding are above the Supergroup average. Unemployment is high, while those in work are employed in elementary occupations such as caring, leisure and customer services. Many residents have low level qualifications. Neighbourhood concentrations of this Group are found in the South Wales Valleys, Belfast, Londonderry and the Central Lowlands of Scotland.

Wider pattern

Living in terraced or semi-detached houses, residents of these neighbourhoods typically lack high levels of education and work in elementary or routine service occupations. Unemployment is above average. Residents are predominantly born in the UK, and residents are also predominantly from ethnic minorities. Social (but not private sector) rented sector housing is common. This Supergroup is found throughout the UK’s conurbations and industrial regions but is also an integral part of smaller towns.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Finnigan 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

Finnigan is most concentrated in decile 1 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy 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.

1
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Finnigan 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 Finnigan 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 Finnigan, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Finnigan

The surname Finnigan has its origins in Ireland, emerging during the Middle Ages. It is derived from the Gaelic personal name Fionnagán, which translates to "fair-born" or "white offspring." This name likely originated from the combination of the Gaelic elements "fionn," meaning fair or white, and "óg," meaning young or offspring.

Finnigan is a widespread surname found primarily in counties such as Galway, Mayo, and Sligo in the western regions of Ireland. It is an anglicized version of the original Gaelic name, with variations in spelling including Finegan, Finnegan, and Fenelon.

One of the earliest recorded mentions of the name Finnigan can be found in the Annals of the Four Masters, a chronicle of medieval Irish history. In the year 1352, it mentions a entry referring to "Fineen O'Finnigan," suggesting the surname's existence at that time.

The Finnigan surname has been associated with several notable individuals throughout history. One of the earliest recorded bearers of the name was Seán Ó Finagáin, a 16th-century Irish poet and historian from County Sligo. Another prominent figure was Seamus Finnigan, an Irish rebel and leader during the 1798 Irish Rebellion against British rule.

In the 19th century, Cornelius Finnigan (1824-1904) was an Irish-born American politician who served as a member of the Massachusetts State Senate. John Finnigan (1866-1942), born in County Mayo, was a successful businessman and philanthropist in the United States, known for his contributions to Catholic charities.

Another notable bearer of the Finnigan surname was Kathleen Finnigan (1902-1987), an Irish actress and comedian who enjoyed a successful career on stage and screen in the mid-20th century. She is particularly remembered for her portrayal of the character "Mrs. Doyle" in the popular Irish sitcom "Father Ted."

The Finnigan surname has also been linked to various place names throughout Ireland, such as Finnigan's Cross in County Mayo and Finnigan's Bridge in County Sligo, further emphasizing its deep roots in the Irish tradition and geography.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Finnigan families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Finnigan 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. Lancashire leads with 361 Finnigans recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.67x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 361 2.67x
Durham 169 4.98x
Lanarkshire 157 4.25x
Yorkshire 109 0.96x
Midlothian 59 3.86x
Northumberland 41 2.41x
Middlesex 33 0.29x
Cheshire 30 1.19x
Angus 23 2.18x
Renfrewshire 23 2.60x
Surrey 22 0.40x
Dunbartonshire 16 5.22x
Wigtownshire 13 8.58x
Ayrshire 11 1.29x
Cumberland 10 1.02x
Devon 8 0.34x
Shropshire 8 0.81x
Hampshire 7 0.30x
Staffordshire 7 0.18x
Sussex 7 0.36x
Derbyshire 6 0.34x
Kent 5 0.13x
Essex 4 0.18x
Gloucestershire 4 0.18x
Northamptonshire 4 0.37x
Denbighshire 3 0.70x
Hertfordshire 3 0.38x
Stirlingshire 3 0.71x
Warwickshire 3 0.10x
Nottinghamshire 2 0.13x
Perthshire 2 0.39x
West Lothian 2 1.16x
Worcestershire 2 0.13x
Aberdeenshire 1 0.09x
Argyllshire 1 0.31x
Buckinghamshire 1 0.14x
Clackmannanshire 1 1.06x
Dorset 1 0.13x
East Lothian 1 0.66x
Fife 1 0.15x
Glamorgan 1 0.05x
Kirkcudbrightshire 1 0.61x
Leicestershire 1 0.08x
Norfolk 1 0.06x
Pembrokeshire 1 0.28x
Royal Navy 1 0.74x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Glasgow in Lanarkshire leads with 52 Finnigans recorded in 1881 and an index of 7.93x.

Place Total Index
Glasgow 52 7.93x
Liverpool 51 6.20x
Manchester 46 7.55x
Barony 44 4.71x
Chorlton On Medlock 29 13.48x
Salford 25 6.28x
Old Monkland 21 14.34x
Govan 20 2.19x
Selby 19 80.37x
Stockport 17 13.11x
Oldham 16 3.66x
Islington London 14 1.27x
West Derby 14 3.53x
Westoe 14 7.27x
Birtley 13 93.80x
Gateshead 13 5.11x
Elswick 12 8.85x
Hulme 12 4.24x
Liff Benvie 12 7.48x
Sheffield 12 3.33x
Warrington 12 7.47x
Wigtown 12 138.73x
Conside Knitsley 11 41.67x
Darlington 11 8.39x
Great Crosby 11 29.79x
Westhoughton 11 30.44x
Bradford 10 3.65x
Dundee 10 2.53x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 10 1.63x
Kilwinning 10 36.26x
Saddleworth 10 11.46x
Wingate 10 42.96x
Benfieldside 9 40.30x
Beswick 9 25.99x
Blackburn 9 2.50x
Camberwell 9 1.23x
Castleton 9 6.65x
Edinburgh Lady Yesters 9 84.99x
Nether Hallam 9 5.88x
Ellenborough Ewanrigg 8 117.47x
Heworth 8 11.96x
Leeds 8 1.25x
New Kilpatrick 8 27.42x
Tynemouth 8 8.80x
Wellington 8 14.44x
Whitwood 8 49.81x
Abbey 7 5.19x
Cumbernauld 7 41.64x
Ecclesall Bierlow 7 3.04x
Edinburgh St Johns 7 72.54x
Huyton With Roby 7 44.11x
Newcastle On Tyne St 7 7.95x
Openshaw 7 11.04x
Radcliffe 7 10.72x
Rutherglen 7 12.93x
Toxteth Park 7 1.53x
Ulverston 7 17.74x
Withington 7 16.04x
Witton Gilbert 7 52.24x
Croydon 6 1.94x
Edinburgh Old 6 64.66x
Edinburgh Tolbooth 6 67.42x
Hedworth Monkton Jarrow 6 4.08x
Houghton Le Spring 6 25.56x
Newbottle 6 32.36x
Pendleton In Salford 6 3.72x
Preston 6 1.66x
Spotland 6 3.98x
Stoke Damerel 6 3.61x
Stow 6 76.34x
Sunderland 6 10.01x
Willington 6 30.58x
Bishopwearmouth 5 1.72x
Great Bolton 5 2.79x
Lochwinnoch 5 37.94x
Moss Side 5 7.02x
North Leith 5 7.07x
Skircoat 5 11.21x
Southwick 5 15.55x
St Marylebone London 5 0.82x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 98
Ann 31
Catherine 27
Margaret 27
Ellen 23
Sarah 22
Elizabeth 18
Bridget 12
Annie 11
Jane 10
Hannah 8
Anne 7
Kate 7
Eliza 6
Maria 6
Rose 6
Cathrine 5
Emma 5
Fanny 5
Martha 5
Agnes 4
Alice 4
Emily 4
Bridgett 2
Isabella 2
Julia 2
M.A. 2
Margt. 2
Rosanna 2
Susan 2
Susannah 2
Bella 1
Catherne 1
Dinah 1
Eleshia 1
Elizth. 1
Ellin 1
Esther 1
F. 1
H.J. 1
Harriet 1
Judith 1
Katherine 1
Leah 1
Louisa 1
M. 1
Maggie 1
Maggy 1
Nancy 1
Winnifred 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 82
James 53
Patrick 45
Thomas 44
William 25
Michael 19
Joseph 17
Peter 17
Edward 14
Bernard 10
Henry 10
George 8
Owen 7
Thos. 6
Martin 5
Daniel 4
Herbert 4
Robert 4
Dennis 3
Francis 3
Wm. 3
Arthur 2
Charles 2
Edwd. 2
Frederick 2
Hugh 2
Hy. 2
Jeremiah 2
Jos. 2
Matthew 2
Philip 2
Richard 2
Timothy 2
Barnabas 1
Benjamin 1
Corinac 1
Dan 1
David 1
Denis 1
Hank 1
Harry 1
Henery 1
Isiah 1
Michel 1
Nichol 1
Nicholas 1
P. 1
Paddy 1
Pat 1
Wm.James 1

FAQ

Finnigan surname: questions and answers

How common was the Finnigan surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,175 people were recorded with the Finnigan surname. That placed it at #3,425 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Finnigan surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 2,707 in 2016. That gives Finnigan a modern rank of #2,480.

What does the Finnigan surname mean?

A surname of Irish origin, derived from the Gaelic name "Fionnagán," meaning "fair-haired."

What does the Finnigan map show?

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