The
Picts were the ancient Scottish tribe where the ancestors of the Finnell family lived. The name Finnell comes from the Gaelic
Fionnlagh which is often Anglicized to
fair hero.Early Origins of the Finnell family
The surname Finnell 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 Finnell family
This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Finnell research.
Another 427 words (30 lines of text) covering the years 1480, 1547, 1629, 1755, 1797 and are included under the topic Early Finnell History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Finnell Spelling Variations
Before the first dictionaries appeared in the last few
hundred years, scribes spelled according to sound.
spelling variations are common among Scottish names. Finnell has been spelled Findlay, Findlow, Findlaw, Finley, Finlay and others.
Early Notables of the Finnell family (pre 1700)
More information is included under the topic Early Finnell Notables in all our
PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Migration of the Finnell family to Ireland
Some of the Finnell family moved to
Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 163 words (12 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Migration of the Finnell family to the New World and Oceana
In those unstable times, many had no choice but to leave their beloved homelands. Sickness and poverty hounded travelers to North America, but those who made it were welcomed with land and opportunity. These settlers gave the young nations of Canada and the United States a strong backbone as they stood up for their beliefs as United Empire Loyalists and in the American
War of Independence. In this century, the ancestors of these brave Scots have begun to recover their illustrious heritage through
Clan societies and other heritage organizations. Early passenger and immigration lists reveal many Scottish settlers bearing the name Finnell:
Finnell Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
- Thomas Finnell, who arrived in New York in 1853 [1]CITATION[CLOSE]
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) - Daniel Finnell, aged 33, who arrived in New York, NY in 1854 [1]CITATION[CLOSE]
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)
Contemporary Notables of the name Finnell (post 1700)
- John W. Finnell, American politician, Secretary of State of Kentucky, 1848-51 [2]CITATION[CLOSE]
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, October 7) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html - Charles Finnell, American Democrat politician, Candidate for Texas State House of Representatives 68th District, 1998 [2]CITATION[CLOSE]
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, October 7) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
The Finnell 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.