Phiny History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

• Origins Available:
• Ireland
• Scotland

Etymology of Phiny

The name Phiny originally appeared in Gaelic as Ó Fiannaidhe. This name, which was Ó Feinneadha in its earlier form, refers to a soldier. 1

Early Origins of the Phiny family

Early History of the Phiny family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Phiny research. Another 98 words (7 lines of text) covering the years 1509, 1541, 1551, 1640 and 1678 are included under the topic Early Phiny History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Phiny Spelling Variations

Individual scribes in the Ireland during the Middle Ages would often record a person's name various ways. How the name was recorded depended on what that particular scribe believed the proper spelling for the name pronounced to him was. Spelling variations revealed in the search for the origin of the Phiny family name include Finney, Feeney, Finnay, Finny, Fynnie, Fynney, Feenay, Feeny, Feaney, Feanay, Feany and many more.

Early Notables of the Phiny family

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

Migration of the Phiny family

Many destitute Irish families in the 18th and 19th centuries decided to leave their homeland, which had in many ways been scarred by English colonial rule. One of the most frequent destinations for these families was North America where it was possible for an Irish family to own their own parcel of land. Many of the early settlers did find land awaiting them in British North America, or even later in America, but for the majority of immigrants that arrived as a result of the Great Potato Famine of the late 1840s the ownership of land was often a long way off. These Irish people were initially put to work on such industrial projects as the building of bridges, canals, and railroads, or they worked at manufacturing positions within factories. Whenever they arrived, the Irish made enormous contributions to the infant nations of Canada and the United States. Some of the earliest immigrants to bearer the name of Phiny were found through extensive research of immigration and passenger lists: Robert Finney, who purchased land in Virginia in 1716; John Finney landed in Maryland in 1774; Robert Finney settled in Virginia in 1716; Ellen Finney settled in Boston Massachusetts in 1840.