Finn (surname)

The surname Finn has several origins. In some cases it is derived from the Irish Ó Finn, meaning "descendant of Fionn"; the byname means "white" or "fair-haired". In other cases it is derived from the Old Norse Finnr, a personal name sometimes derived from a byname, or else from compound names beginning with this word element. In other cases Finn is a German surname derived from an ethnic name referring to people from Finland. 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 (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 (1944–2018), British-born musician
 * Charlie Finn (born 1981), American actor and voice actor
 * Chris Finn, Canadian stand-up comedian and writer
 * Christine Finn (1929/30–2007), English actress
 * Craig Finn (born 1971), American musician
 * Henry J. Finn (1787–1840), American actor and writer
 * Jason Finn (musician) (born 1967), American musician
 * Jeffrey Finn (born 1970), American theatrical producer
 * Jerry Finn (1969–2008), American record producer
 * John Finn (born 1952), American actor
 * Jon Finn (born 1958), American musician and guitarist
 * Liam Finn (born 1983), Australian-New Zealand musician
 * Mali Finn (1938–2007), American Hollywood casting director and drama teacher
 * Mark Finn (born 1969), American fantasy and science fiction writer
 * Mickey Finn (drummer) (1947–2003), English percussionist
 * Mickey Finn (guitarist) (1947–2013), British rock guitarist
 * Mickey Finn (Irish fiddler) (1951–1987), Irish fiddler
 * Neil Finn (born 1958), New Zealand singer-songwriter
 * Pat Finn (game show host) (born 1956), American television presenter, game show host and entrepreneur
 * Pat Finn (actor) (born 1965), American actor
 * Paul Anthony Finn, Irish singer-songwriter, member of the 2000s indie rock quartet The Flaws
 * Sean Finn (DJ) (fl. 2015–present), German DJ and electronic musician
 * Simon Finn (musician) (born 1951), English musician
 * Terry Finn (born 1955), American actor
 * Tim Finn (born 1952), New Zealand singer-songwriter
 * Tom Finn (fl. 1965–present), American musician, a founding member of the 1960s pop group The Left Banke
 * Veronica Finn (born 1981), American singer
 * Will Finn (born 1958), American animator, voice actor and director
 * William Finn (born 1952), American composer and lyricist
 * James Finn Garner (born 1960), American author and satirist; "Finn" was his mother's maiden name, added to avoid confusion with James Garner.

Business and politics

 * Bernie Finn (born 1961), Australian politician
 * Daniel E. Finn Sr. (1845–1910), American politician, lawyer and judge
 * David Finn (1921–2021), American public relations executive, photographer, and historian of sculpture.
 * Gilbert Finn (1920–2015), Canadian businessman and politician
 * Howard Finn (1917–1986), American politician
 * James Finn (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 (1877–1951), Canadian lawyer and politician
 * Simon Finn (politician) (born 1965), Australian politician
 * Skip Finn (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 (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 (born 1963), English priest, academic and theologian
 * Robert Finn (bishop) (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 (born 1931), Irish hurler
 * Kate Belinda Finn (1864–1932), British chess player
 * Kenny Finn (fl. 1950s and '60s), 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 (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

 * Alfred C. Finn (1883–1964), American architect
 * Camila Finn (born 1991), Brazilian fashion model
 * Edmund Finn (1819–1898), Australian journalist and author
 * Shirley Finn (1941–1975), Australian brothel owner who was murdered