# 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

* 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