Where did the Scottish Findlay family come from? What is the Scottish coat of arms/family crest? When did the Findlay family first arrive in the United States? Where did the various branches of the family go? What is the history of the family name?
The ancestors of the Findlay family lived among the ancient Pictish tribes of Scotland. The Findlay surname comes from the Gaelic Fionnlagh, which is often Anglicized to fair hero.
In the Middle ages, spelling and translation were not yet regulated by any general rules. spelling variations in names were common even among members of one family unit. Findlay has appeared Findlay, Findlow, Findlaw, Finley, Finlay and others.
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.
Faced by this persecution and the generally unstable political climate of those days, many Scots chose to leave their homeland for Ireland, Australia, and North America in search of greater opportunity and freedom. The colonies across the Atlantic were the most popular choice, but a passage there was neither cheap nor easily suffered. Passengers arrived sick and poor, but those who made it intact often found land and more tolerant societies in which to live. These brave settlers formed the backbone of the burgeoning nations of Canada and the United States. It is only this century that the ancestors of these families have begun to recover their collective identity through the patriotic highland games and clan societies that have sprung up throughout North America. Research into early immigration and passenger lists revealed many immigrants bearing the name Findlay: James Finley who settled in Halifax Nova Scotia in 1810; he was married at St. John's Newfoundland; Margaret Finlay settled at Harbour Grace, Newfoundland, in 1825.
Motto Translated: Brave in difficulties.
For more information on the last name Findlay, the PDF Surname History is available for purchase as well as other products.
Some noteworthy people of the name Findlay
* John Niemeyer Findlay, English-American professor of philosophy
* Linnie Findlay (b. 1918), American historian and writer
* William Findlay, American politician, governor of Pennsylvania from 1817 to 1820
* John Ritchie Findlay, Scottish newspaper owner and philanthropist
* Robert Findlay, Scottish-Canadian architect
* Commodore James Findlay,
* Colonel Sir Rowland Findlay,
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