Surname O'Finan - Meaning and Origin
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O'Finan: What does the surname O'Finan mean?
The surname O'Finan originated in County Roscommon, Ireland. It is derived from the personal name 'Finan'. The most likely meaning of this name is 'fair', from the Gaelic 'fionn' or 'white'.
The O'Finan surname is held in high esteem due to its noble origins. The family is believed to have descended from Finan, an ancestor of the celebrated 5th century warlord Niall of the Nine Hostages. The O'Finan family were prominent in Connacht, Ireland, over many centuries and were prominent in both religious and secular fields.
The O'Finan name can be found throughout Ireland, with many of the family still living there today. The name is also very common in the United States and Canada, due to the Irish diaspora in the 19th century.
The O'Finan surname means 'fair' and is associated with a proud heritage of Irish faith and nobility. The family's legacy has been maintained in their current countries of residence, proudly bearing the honour of this ancient name.
Order DNA origin analysisO'Finan: Where does the name O'Finan come from?
The last name O'Finan is of Irish origin and is most commonly found in Ireland and the United Kingdom. It's also found in countries with large Irish populations, such as the United States, Australia, New Zealand, and Canada.
The exact origin of the surname O'Finan is uncertain. It could be rooted in the Irish word 'fionn', which means 'fair'. O'Finan could thus signify 'descendant of one who was fair or blond'. This notion is supported by the fact that O'Finan is most commonly found in the midlands and west of Ireland, where fair hair is relatively prevalent.
In records, the McFinans (or Mac an Fhionnáin, which means 'Son of the Fair-Haired One') are found in after the 1260s in County Sligo. The O'Finan name is also found in Counties Wexford and Waterford from at least the 14th century.
In modern times, the surname O'Finan is still widespread in Ireland, especially in the Leinster province. It's also found across most of the United Kingdom, though relatively rarer than in Ireland. In other parts of the world, this name is found largely as a result of Irish immigration, especially in the USA, Australia, and Canada.
Variations of the surname O'Finan
The surname O'Finan is a Gaelic patronymic surname derived from the chiefly Irish name ‘O Fionnain,’ the shortened version of ‘O Fionnain na’ or ‘grandson of Fionnain.’ It is an ancient Gaelic surname originating in County Mayo, Ireland.
The variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin for the name O'Finan include: O'Fiannain, O'Finnain, O'Fionain, and O'Fionan. These all possess the same meaning, which is ‘grandson of Fionnain’.
The alternative surnames of O’Finan include Finan, Finnan, Finnon, and Finnin which also come from the Gaelic ‘O Fionnain’. Although the spelling of the variation may differ slightly, they still possess the same origin and meaning as O’Finan.
The anglicised spellings of O’Finan can also differ in different areas even though the origin appears to be the same. These include Finnane, Fingnan, Finane, and Finnan.
The spelling of O’Finan in America may also differ, where the surnames Finnone and Finoone are also seen, as well as spelling variants such as Finnohn, Finoohn and Finohn, and Finon.
In some cases, the ‘O’ has been dropped from ‘O’Finan’ and the surnames become Finan, Finane and Fiannain.
Overall, O’Finan is an ancient Gaelic surname with a variety of spelling and variants with a common origin in County Mayo, Ireland.
Famous people with the name O'Finan
- Jessica O'Finan: An American cyclist
- Chris O'Finan: An American actor
- Stephen O'Finan- A Canadian actor
- Alex O'Finan: An Australian actress
- Danny O'Finan: An Irish folk singer
- Gary O'Finan: An American voice actor
- Luke O'Finan: An Irish writer
- Caitlin O'Finan: An American musician
- Emmanuel O'Finan: An American actor
- Tim O'Finan: An Australian writer and director