Finlason History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Scotland

In ancient Scotland, the ancestors of the Finlason family were part of a tribe called the Picts. The name Finlason is derived from the Gaelic MacFhionnlaigh which means 'son of Finlay' or which is often Anglicized to fair hero.

Early Origins of the Finlason family

The surname Finlason 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 Finlason family

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

Finlason Spelling Variations

The appearance of the printing press and the first dictionaries in the last few hundred years did much to standardize spelling. Prior to that time scribes spelled according to sound, a practice that resulted in many spelling variations. Finlason 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 Finlason family

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

Finlason migration to the United States +

The expense of the crossing to the North American colonies seemed small beside the difficulties of remaining in Scotland. It was a long and hard trip, but at its end lay the reward of freedom. Some Scots remained faithful to England and called themselves United Empire Loyalists, while others fought in the American War of Independence. Much of this lost Scottish heritage has been recovered in the last century through Clan societies and other patriotic Scottish organizations. A search of immigration and passenger lists revealed many important, early immigrants to North America bearing the name of Finlason:

Finlason Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

John Finlason, who landed in Virginia in 1735 1

Finlason migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Finlason Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century

Ann Finlason, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1750

The Finlason 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 +

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)