Contents [hide]

Findley History Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables Ranking

Ireland United States Canada New Zealand

Contemporary Notables Related Stories Motto Citations

Findley History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Scotland
Ireland

The age-old Pictish-Scottish family name Findley is derived from the Gaelic Fionnlagh which is often Anglicized to fair hero.

Early Origins of the Findley family

The surname Findley was first found in Banffshire (Gaelic: Siorrachd Bhanbh), former Scottish county located in the northeasterly Grampian region of Scotland, now of divided between the Council Areas of Moray and Aberdeenshire, where they were descended from the Chiefs of the Clan Farquharson, one of the great federation of 26 Clans, known as the Clan Chattan.

Early History of the Findley family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Findley research. Another 214 words (15 lines of text) covering the years 1480, 1547, 1629, 1755, 1797 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Findley History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Findley Spelling Variations

In the Middle ages, spelling and translation were not yet regulated by any general rules. spelling variations in names were common even among members of one family unit. Findley has appeared Findlay, Findlow, Findlaw, Finley, Finlay and others.

Early Notables of the Findley family

More information is included under the topic Early Findley Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Findley Ranking

In the United States, the name Findley is the 3,545^th most popular surname with an estimated 7,461 people with that name. [1]

Migration of the Findley family to Ireland

Some of the Findley family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 87 words (6 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Findley migration to the United States +

Faced by this persecution and the generally unstable political climate of those days, many Scots chose to leave their homeland for Ireland, Australia, and North America in search of greater opportunity and freedom. The colonies across the Atlantic were the most popular choice, but a passage there was neither cheap nor easily suffered. Passengers arrived sick and poor, but those who made it intact often found land and more tolerant societies in which to live. These brave settlers formed the backbone of the burgeoning nations of Canada and the United States. It is only this century that the ancestors of these families have begun to recover their collective identity through the patriotic highland games and Clan societies that have sprung up throughout North America. Research into early immigration and passenger lists revealed many immigrants bearing the name Findley:

Findley Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Mary Findley, who settled in Boston Massachusetts in 1820
James Findley, aged 50, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1842 [2]
W Findley, who landed in San Francisco, California in 1851 [2]
J Findley, who landed in San Francisco, California in 1851 [2]
George Findley, aged 24, who immigrated to the United States, in 1892
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Findley Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

Findley, aged 35, who settled in America from Glasgow, in 1905
David Findley, aged 46, who immigrated to the United States from Paisley, Scotland, in 1908
Alexander Findley, aged 31, who immigrated to the United States from Linusslburgh, Scotland, in 1911
Bella Findley, aged 29, who landed in America from London, England, in 1912
Elizabeth Findley, aged 32, who settled in America from Jarrow, England, in 1914
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Findley migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Findley Settlers in Canada in the 20th Century

Allen Findley, aged 10, who immigrated to Toronto, Canada, in 1913

Findley migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Findley Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Thomas Findley, aged 22, a labourer, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Eveline" in 1865 [3]

Contemporary Notables of the name Findley (post 1700) +

Paul Findley (1921-2019), American politician, United States Representative from Illinois (1961-1983)
Cecil Rowe Findley (1925-2003), American journalist
Troy Findley (b. 1964), the 48th Lieutenant Governor of Kansas
William Findley (1741-1821), Irish-born farmer American politician who served in both houses of the state legislature and represented Pennsylvania in the U.S. House (1791 to 1799) and (1803 to 1817)
Robert Findley (b. 1985), American footballer
Chuck Findley (b. 1947), American session and studio musician
Paul Findley (b. 1921), American former Representative from Illinois
Lance Findley, American politician, Candidate for U.S. Representative from Texas 7th District, 2012 [4]
James Findley, American politician, Secretary of the commonwealth of Pennsylvania, 1833-35 [4]
J. Justin Findley, American Democratic Party politician, Candidate for Florida State House of Representatives 83rd District, 1978 [4]
... (Another 11 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

The Findley Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: Fortis in arduis
Motto Translation: Brave in difficulties.

Citations +

"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 4th November 2011). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, October 20) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html