FINCH
Finch is a surname of English origin that is derived from the Middle English word fink or finch, referring to a small bird of the finch family. The name is believed to have arisen either as a nickname for a person who resembled a finch in stature or singing voice, or as an occupational surname for someone who bred, caught or sold finches as songsters.
The earliest recorded instance of the surname is found in 1049, where a man named Godric Finc is listed in the Olde English Bynames Register during the reign of King Edward the Confessor (1042–1066). The name appears again in the Curia Regis Rolls of Norfolk in 1205, where an individual known as Gilbert le Finch is recorded. These early records place the surname firmly in the mid‑11th to early‑13th century period in England.
Over the centuries the spelling of the name has varied. Documented alternatives include Fynch, Fyncham, Fink, Vink and Vinck. Such variation is typical of surnames that evolved from nicknames or occupations during the Middle Ages.
By the early 17th century the surname had spread beyond England. A woman named Frances Finch is recorded as residing in the Virginia Colony in 1620, a few months before the arrival of the Pilgrims. This demonstrates that bearers of the name had already established a presence in the New World by the time of the early English colonisation.
The Finch family is associated with several heraldic institutions. At least eight distinct coats of arms have been granted to families bearing the surname. One noted example, awarded to the Earl of Aylesford, features a silver field with a black chevron positioned between three griffins passant. The accompanying motto, Aperto vivere voto, is Latin and translates into English as “To live without a wish concealed.”
Today the surname Finch remains common in English‑speaking countries, particularly within the British Isles. Its origins as a nickname, a descriptive name or an occupational title illustrate the diverse ways in which surnames were formed in medieval England.
Typical given names associated with the Finch surname
Male
- Andrew
- David
- James
- John
- Mark
- Michael
- Paul
- Peter
- Robert
- Stephen
Female
- Claire
- Elizabeth
- Emma
- Jane
- Julie
- Karen
- Lisa
- Margaret
- Mary
- Patricia
- Sarah
- Susan
Similar and related surnames
Related and similar names are generated algorithmically based on the spelling, and may not necessarily share an etymology.
How to communicate the surname Finch in...
Braille
⠋⠊⠝⠉⠓
Morse
..-...-.-.-.....
Semaphore
There are approximately 19,163 people named Finch in the UK. That makes it the 452nd most common surname in Britain. Around 294 in a million people in Britain are named Finch.
Surname type: Nickname
Origin: English
Region of origin: British Isles
Country of origin: England
Religion of origin: Christian
Language of origin: English
Famous people named Finch
- Peter Finch - -born Australian actor (1916 to 1977)
- Jon Finch - Actor (1941 to 2012)
- Charles Finch - Businessman
- Flora Finch - -born film actress (1867 to 1940)
- Ray Finch - Member of the European Parliament for the South East England region for the UK Independence Party
- Nigel Finch - Film director (1949 to 1995)
- John Finch, 1st Baron Finch - Politician (1584 to 1660)
- Brian Finch - Screenwriter (1936 to 2007)
- Norman Augustus Finch - Recipient of the Victoria Cross (1890 to 1966)
- Elizabeth Finch, 1st Countess of Winchilsea - Countess (1556 to 1634)
- Albert Finch - Boxer (1926 to 2003)
- Janet Finch - Sociologist and academic
- Bobby Finch - Football player (1948 to 1978)
- William Coles Finch - Historian (1864 to 1944)
- Jack Finch - Football player (1909 to 1993)
- Harry Finch - Cricketer
- Lady Natasha Rose Eleanor Finch - Socialite
- Lester Finch - Football player and manager (1909 to 1995)
- Janet Finch-Saunders - Welsh politician and Member of the National Assembly for Wales
- Heneage Finch, 4th Earl of Aylesford - Artist and politician (1751 to 1812)
Names and descriptions courtesy of Wikipedia, and may contain errors. This is not intended to be an exhaustive list of every famous person with this name.