Find out how popular the last name Finnan is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Finnan.

Finnan, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Finnan surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Finnan in America

Finnan is the 46487th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Finnan surname appeared 458 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Finnan.

We can also compare 2010 data for Finnan to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name Finnan

The surname Finnan is of Scottish origin, with roots tracing back to the 16th century. It is believed to have derived from the Gaelic word "fionn," meaning "white" or "fair," suggesting that the name was initially a descriptive nickname referring to someone with fair hair or complexion.

The earliest recorded instances of the Finnan surname can be found in the Highlands of Scotland, particularly in the regions of Argyll and the Western Isles. The name is thought to have originated in these areas due to their strong Gaelic heritage and cultural traditions.

One of the earliest known bearers of the Finnan surname was John Finnan, who was documented in the records of the Isle of Islay in the late 16th century. Another notable figure was Donnchadh Finnan, a Scottish poet and bard who lived in the 17th century and was renowned for his works in the Gaelic language.

In the 18th century, the Finnan surname appeared in various Scottish records and historical documents, such as parish registers and land deeds. One notable individual from this period was Alasdair Finnan, a landowner and farmer who lived in the Highlands in the late 1700s.

The name Finnan has also been linked to certain place names in Scotland, such as Finnon Loch and Finnon Burn, both located in the Highlands region. These place names likely derived from the same Gaelic root as the surname, further emphasizing its ties to the Scottish landscape.

Among other notable individuals bearing the Finnan surname throughout history are:

1. Robert Finnan (1761-1837), a Scottish merchant and trader who established a successful business in the West Indies.
2. Elizabeth Finnan (1825-1892), a Scottish author and poet known for her works depicting life in the Highlands.
3. Iain Finnan (1879-1952), a prominent Scottish politician and advocate for Gaelic language and culture.
4. David Finnan (1912-1998), a Scottish engineer and inventor who held several patents for innovative manufacturing processes.
5. Catriona Finnan (born 1968), a contemporary Scottish artist and sculptor whose works have been exhibited internationally.

While the Finnan surname has its origins in Scotland, it has since spread to various parts of the world due to migration and the diaspora of Scottish communities. However, its ties to the Gaelic language and the rugged landscapes of the Scottish Highlands remain an enduring part of its heritage and history.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Finnan

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Finnan.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Finnan was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Finnan has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

The history and meaning of the name Finnan was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Finnan, please contact us.

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