Contents [hide]

Finlayson History Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables Ranking

United States Canada Australia New Zealand

Contemporary Notables Historic Events Related Stories Motto Citations

Finlayson History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Scotland

The age-old Pictish-Scottish family name Finlayson is derived from the Gaelic MacFhionnlaigh which means 'son of Finlay' or which is often Anglicized to fair hero.

Early Origins of the Finlayson family

The surname Finlayson was first found in Stirlingshire, where traditionally this Clan is descended from Finlay Mor Farquharson, in turn descended from the ancient 11th century Thanes of Fife, through Shaw MacDuff, the first progenitor of the Farquharsons of the Braes of Mar. The descendants of Finlay Mor, a giant of a man, a man of daring and unequalled courage, settled in the lowlands with the name MacIanla, though, strangely, they had previously been called the Clan Eracher. It is claimed that the MacErachers of Perth also are descended from Finlay Mor. In the lowlands they became the Clan MacIanla. This was in turn anglicized to Finlayson, having many spellings, but approximately the same sound. The first Finlay married the heiress of the Garden, 'of that Ilk', and acquired those estates.

Early History of the Finlayson family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Finlayson research. Another 128 words (9 lines of text) covering the years 1296, 1450, 1455, 1478 and 1585 are included under the topic Early Finlayson History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Finlayson Spelling Variations

In medieval Scotland, names were more often spelled according to sound than any regular set of rules. An enormous number of spelling variations were the result. Over the years, the name Finlayson has been spelled Finlayson, Finleyson, Finlaison, Finlawson, Fynlawsone, Findlayson, Findleyson, Finlason, Findlaysoun, Finlaisone, Fynloson, McIanley, MacIanlay, MacKinlay, MacEracher, McEracher and many more.

Early Notables of the Finlayson family

Notable amongst the Clan at this time was

Finlay Mor, ancient progenitor of the clan Finlayson

Finlayson Ranking

In the United States, the name Finlayson is the 18,231^st most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 1 However, in New Zealand, the name Finlayson is ranked the 796^th most popular surname with an estimated 914 people with that name. 2

Finlayson migration to the United States +

In such difficult times, Ireland, Australia, and North America looked like better homes for many Scots. The trips were expensive and grueling, but also rewarding, as the colonies were havens for those unwelcome in the old country. That legacy did not die easily, though, and many were forced to fight for their freedom in the American War of Independence. The Scottish legacy has resurface in more recent times, though, through Clan societies, highland games, and other organizations. Immigration and passenger lists have shown many early immigrants bearing the old Scottish name of Finlayson:

Finlayson Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

George Finlayson, who settled in Maryland in 1774
James Finlayson, who landed in Virginia in 1793 3

Finlayson Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

John, Lewis and Thomas Finlayson all, who arrived in Pennsylvania between 1813 and 1832
Alexander Finlayson, who landed in Charleston, South Carolina in 1850 3

Finlayson Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

Francis Donald Finlayson, who landed in Colorado in 1907 3

Finlayson migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Finlayson Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century

Thomas Finlayson, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1749
Thomas Finlayson, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1750

Finlayson migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Finlayson Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Grame Finlayson, Scottish convict from Stirling, who was transported aboard the "Andromeda" on October 16, 1826, settling in Van Diemen's Land, Australia 4
Mr. Alexander Finlayson, Scottish convict who was convicted in Edinburgh, Scotland for 7 years, transported aboard the "Aurora" on 18th June 1835, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 5
William Finlayson, who arrived in Holdfast Bay, Australia aboard the ship "John Renwick" in 1837 6
Helen Finlayson, who arrived in Holdfast Bay, Australia aboard the ship "John Renwick" in 1837 6
D. Finlayson, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Caroline" in 1849 7
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Finlayson 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:

Finlayson Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Miss Finlayson, British settler travelling from Gravesend, UK aboard the ship "Blundell" arriving in Otago, South Island, New Zealand on 21st September 1848 8
Miss Margaret Finlayson, Canadian settler from Baddeck travelling from Cape Breton aboard the ship "Spray" arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 25th June 1857 9
Mr. Alexander Finlayson, Canadian settler from Baddeck travelling from Cape Breton aboard the ship "Spray" arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 25th June 1857 9
Mr. Archibald Finlayson, Canadian settler from Baddeck travelling from Cape Breton aboard the ship "Spray" arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 25th June 1857 9
Mrs. Christina Finlayson, Canadian settler from Baddeck travelling from Cape Breton aboard the ship "Spray" arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 25th June 1857 9
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Finlayson (post 1700) +

Alex Finlayson, American playwright
Paul Finlayson, American engineer in the Outer Planets Mission Analysis Group at Caltech's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena
Patty Finlayson, American Republican politician, Delegate to Republican National Convention from Delaware, 2004 10
John L. Finlayson, American Republican politician, Candidate for West Virginia State House of Delegates from Harrison County, 1934 10
James R. Finlayson, American politician, Member of California State Assembly 9th District, 1880-81 10
H. A. Finlayson, American Democratic Party politician, Candidate for U.S. Representative from Minnesota 10th District, 1920 10
George P. Finlayson (b. 1886), American politician, U.S. Consular Agent in Arica, 1917-18 10
Frank Graham Finlayson (1864-1947), American Republican politician, Member of California State Assembly, 1893-94; Superior Court Judge in California, 1911-19; Judge, California Court of Appeal, 1919-26 10
James Finlayson (1758-1808), Scottish divine, born on 15 Feb. 1758, at Nether Cambushenie, in the parish of Dunblane, Perthshire, where his ancestors had been settled for several centuries
George Finlayson (1790-1823), Scottish naturalist and traveller, born of humble parents at Thurso in 1790
... (Another 4 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Historic Events for the Finlayson family +

HMAS Sydney II

Mr. Harry Finlayson (1905-1941), Australian Mechanician 1st Class from North Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, who sailed into battle aboard HMAS Sydney II and died in the sinking 11

HMS Hood

Mr. David A Finlayson (b. 1920), Scottish Able Seaman serving for the Royal Navy Volunteer Reserve from Edinburgh, Scotland, who sailed into battle and died in the HMS Hood sinking 12

HMS Repulse

Mr. Wilfred Finlayson, British Canteen Manager NAAFI, who sailed into battle on the HMS Repulse (1941) and died in the sinking 13

HMS Royal Oak

Reginald H. Finlayson, British Leading Seaman with the Royal Navy aboard the HMS Royal Oak (1939) when she was torpedoed by U-47 and sunk; he survived the sinking 14

The Finlayson 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: Coelitus datum
Motto Translation: Given by God.

Citations +

"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
"Most Common Last Names in New Zealand." Forebears, https://forebears.io/new-zealand/surnames
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)
State Library of Queensland. (Retrieved 2016, October 27) Andromeda voyage to Van Diemen's Land, Australia in 1826 with 147 passengers. Retrieved from http://www.convictrecords.com.au/ships/andromeda/1826
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 20th August 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/aurora
State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) JOHN RENWICK 1837. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1837JohnRenwick.htm
State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) The CAROLINE 1849. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1849Caroline.htm
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 26th March 2019). 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
HMAS Sydney II, Finding Sydney Foundation - Roll of Honour. (Retrieved 2014, April 24) . Retrieved from http://www.findingsydney.com/roll.asp
H.M.S. Hood Association-Battle Cruiser Hood: Crew Information - H.M.S. Hood Rolls of Honour, Men Lost in the Sinking of H.M.S. Hood, 24th May 1941. (Retrieved 2016, July 15) . Retrieved from http://www.hmshood.com/crew/memorial/roh_24may41.htm
HMS Repulse Crew members. (Retrieved 2014, April 9) . Retrieved from http://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/biographies/listrepulsecrew.html
Ships hit by U-boats crew list HMS Royal Oak (08) - (Retrieved 2018 February, 9th) - retrieved from https://uboat.net/allies/merchants/crews/ship68.html