2000
#13,400
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 2,084
First available Census row
Per 100,000 0.77
Rare Last name
Finan
An Irish surname derived from the Gaelic word "finnán," meaning "fair-haired" or "little fair one."
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 2,212 Americans carry the last name Finan. That puts it at #14,772 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.65 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 154,952 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Finan surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, a multi-census history view, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
For British records, Name Census UK has a British surname profile for Finan with 1881 census detail, origin facts and modern UK distribution where available.
Bearers in the US
2.2K
1 in 154,952
Census rank
#14,772
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.6
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
1.9K
rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 1,929 bearers of the surname Finan in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.65 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 14772nd position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Finan, the largest self-reported group is White at 90.8%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (3.5%) and Hispanic (3.4%).
Origin
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.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Finan
Among Census respondents with the surname Finan, the largest self-reported group is White at 90.8%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (3.5%) and Hispanic (3.4%).
The bar chart below shows how Finan bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2020 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Percentages are shown for every Census year so the breakdown stays comparable over time. When the source file also includes raw headcounts, Name Census shows those alongside the percentages in the legend.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Finan surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White90.8% · 1,752
- Two or more races3.5% · 67
- Hispanic or Latino3.4% · 66
- Black or African American1.1% · 22
- Asian and Pacific Islander1.0% · 20
- American Indian and Alaska Native0.1% · 2
Timeline
Historical Census data for Finan
Finan appears in 3 published Census surname files: 2000, 2010, 2020. The cards below show how the name's rank and bearer count changed across each release.
2010
#13,383
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 2,276
+192 bearers (+9.2%)
Per 100,000 0.77
Rank movement Up 17 places
2020
#14,772
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 1,929
-347 bearers (-15.2%)
Per 100,000 0.65
Rank movement Down 1,389 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | #13,400 | 2,084 | 0.77 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2010 | #13,383 | 2,276 | 0.77 | +192 bearers (+9.2%) | Up 17 places |
| 2020 | #14,772 | 1,929 | 0.65 | -347 bearers (-15.2%) | Down 1,389 places |
For 2020, the Census Bureau published race and Hispanic-origin columns as counts rather than percentages. Name Census converts those counts back into shares so the ancestry section stays comparable with the older surname files.
Year on year
2010 vs 2020 Census
How has the Finan surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
20102020
| Metric | 2010 | 2020 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #13,383 | #14,772 | -10.4% |
| Count | 2,276 | 1,929 | -15.2% |
| Per 100K | 0.77 | 0.65 | -16.2% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Finan bearers went from 2,276 to 1,929 (-15.2% change). The surname moved down 1,389 positions in the national ranking, going from #13,383 to #14,772.
FAQ
Finan surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Finan?
Name Census estimates that about 2,212 living Americans carry the surname Finan. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 154,952 residents.
How common is Finan?
Finan ranks #14,772 in the 2020 Census surname tables and is classified on this site as "Rare." The Census recorded the name at a frequency of 0.65 per 100,000 residents, which is about 1 people out of every 100,000.
How many people with this surname were counted in the Census?
The raw 2020 Census file counted 1,929 people with the surname Finan. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (2,212), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
What does 0.65 per 100,000 actually mean?
It is the Census Bureau's normalized frequency measure. A rate of 0.65 per 100,000 means that if you picked a random group of 100,000 U.S. residents, you would expect about 1 of them to have the surname Finan.
Has Finan become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Finan went from 2,276 recorded bearers to 1,929. That is a decrease of 347 (-15.2%). In the national ranking it fell from #13,383 to #14,772.
What does the Census say about the background of Finan?
Among Census respondents with the surname Finan, the largest self-reported group is White at 90.8%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (3.5%) and Hispanic (3.4%). These figures come from the 2020 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Which group reports this surname most often?
White is the largest self-reported group for the surname Finan in the 2020 Census, accounting for 90.8% (1,752 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Finan appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are White (90.8%), Two or More Races (3.5%), Hispanic (3.4%). For 2020, the source file also published raw headcounts for each group, which is why this page can show both percentages and counts in the ancestry section.
Is this page using the latest Census data?
Yes. This page is using the latest surname file currently loaded on Name Census, which is 2020. The historical section above also keeps any older Census surname entries we have for Finan (2000, 2010, 2020).
Does the Census include every surname?
No. The Census Bureau only publishes surnames that appeared at least 100 times in a given decennial Census. That means very rare surnames are excluded entirely, and a surname can appear in one Census release but disappear from a later one if it falls below the reporting threshold.
Why don't the ancestry percentages always add up to exactly 100%?
There are two main reasons: rounding and suppression. The Census Bureau rounds published values, and it may suppress very small cells to protect privacy. For 2020, the Bureau also published raw group counts rather than direct percentages, so Name Census converts those counts back into shares for comparability across census years.
What does Finan mean?
An Irish surname derived from the Gaelic word "finnán," meaning "fair-haired" or "little fair one." The fuller origin note on this page goes into more detail.
Where does the surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These files list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2020 Census, along with a count, a per-100,000 rate, and a self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.
How does Name Census estimate living bearers?
For surnames, Name Census does not age cohorts the way it does for first names. Instead, it takes the Census Bureau's published frequency for Finan (0.65 per 100,000) and applies that rate to the current U.S. resident population to estimate how many living Americans have the surname today.
How many people have the surname Finan?
For a faster, more casual read, check HowManyOfMe.org — our sister site built around that single question.