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 (1965–2025), American actor
• Pat Finn (game show host) (born 1956), American television presenter, game show host and entrepreneur
• Paul Anthony Finn, Irish singer-songwriter, member of the 2000s indie rock quartet The Flaws
• Sean Finn (DJ) (), 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 (), 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 (1952–2025), 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 (), 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

• Adharanand Finn (born 1974), British author, journalist and podcaster
• 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

See also

• Henri Fin (born 1950), French cyclist