The Findlay surname

In the 2010 U.S. Census, 4,509 people carried this name — #7,387 among all U.S. surnames, about 1 in every 65,400 people counted. That is up 9% from 4,150 in 2000.

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Where the name comes from

The origin of the Findlay surname

Variant of Finlay.

From Wiktionary, the free dictionary (en.wiktionary.org) — entry «Findlay» (English), by Wiktionary contributors · licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 (creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0) · excerpt, lightly adapted.

In Scotland, 1880s

Findlay was 17 in every 10,000 names in Scotland.

That is about 1 in 588. Its home there, in Guppy’s words: “Ayrshire.” He counted the more than 20,000 names in Halliburton’s County Directory of Scotland, taking Scotland as a whole, and listed only the names that reached 10 in every 10,000.

H. B. Guppy, «Homes of Family Names in Great Britain» (London, 1890), appendix: alphabetical list of the most frequent Scottish names, p. 588 — public domain · names in Halliburton’s County Directory of Scotland, per 10,000 for the whole country.

In Scotland’s registers today

Findlay was recorded 178 times in Scotland’s registers of births, marriages and deaths in 2025.

That made it the 119th most common name in those registers. In 1975, the first year of the series, the count was 288. Each birth counts the child’s surname, each marriage both partners’ and each death the surname of the person who died — a yearly count of registrations, not of the people who live in Scotland.

National Records of Scotland, «Most Common Surnames, 2025» (published 26 May 2026): every surname recorded 10 or more times in the 2025 registers, and the series from 1975 · different spellings are counted separately — © Crown copyright 2026. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

In print

Findlay in American newspapers,
1898–1900.

Newspaper page from The White Mountain Echo And Tourist's Register carrying the name Findlay
The White Mountain Echo And Tourist's Register 1900-08-25
Newspaper page from The White Mountain Echo And Tourist's Register carrying the name Findlay
The White Mountain Echo And Tourist's Register 1900-08-25
Newspaper page from The White Mountain Echo And Tourist's Register carrying the name Findlay
The White Mountain Echo And Tourist's Register 1898-09-03

Chronicling America, Library of Congress — digitised newspapers in the public domain · 75,386 pages in all carry the name.

In print

Findlay in Australian newspapers,
1820s–2010s.

37,897 articles name a Mr, Mrs or Miss Findlay. The most, 8,489, date from the 1930s. Victoria has the most articles, but weighed against how much of each state’s press from the same decades has been digitised, the name stands out most in the Australian Capital Territory, at 2.6 times its expected share.

Articles, by state

Victoria 10,917
New South Wales 9,415
Queensland 6,983
Tasmania 5,079
Western Australia 2,989
South Australia 1,525
ACT (Canberra) 929
Northern Territory 19

Trove, National Library of Australia (trove.nla.gov.au) · articles in its digitised newspapers that name a Mr, Mrs or Miss Findlay.

Who carried it

People named Findlay,
with a public archive behind them.

  • barbara findlay d. 2026 · lawyer
  • John Findlay d. 1916 · association football player
  • Isabella Findlay d. 2008 · painter
  • William Findlay d. 1960
  • Hannah Findlay d. 1952
  • Elizabeth Findlay d. 1958

Wikidata (CC0) · 10 lives in all are documented under this name.

In the public record

People named Findlay,
in the records of 7 countries.

Soldiers, farmers, migrants and neighbours who carried the name and left a trace in public archives. Everyone shown here died long ago or was born more than a century ago.

United States930 records

930 records of the Findlay name in the United States
  • U.S. alien registration index, 1940–1955 309
  • Passenger arrivals in the United States, 1820–1912 207
  • Other U.S. records 414
  1. A United States Selective Service registration card, 1942
    Example: U.S. registration card, 1942
    Military record Thomas Findlay

    Born 1918 in Oregon. Enlisted 1940 at Portland; office clerk from Multnomah County. U.S. Army veteran of World War II; died 1991, buried at Willamette National Cemetery, Oregon.

    U.S. National Archives, WWII Army Enlistment Records (public domain); U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Gravesite Locator (CC0)
  2. A passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, arriving at New York in 1903
    Example: passenger manifest, 1903
    Passenger record John Findlay

    Arrived at New York in 1892 aboard the State of Nebraska from Glasgow and Moville, aged 28; caulker. From Glasgow, Scotland; bound for Baltimore.

    U.S. National Archives, Castle Garden Immigration Center Collection, Ship Passenger Records (unrestricted)
  3. Names engraved on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, Washington, D.C.
    Example: U.S. war memorial
    War record Edward H. Findlay

    Born 1931; from Tuscola County, Michigan. U.S. Army, combat construction specialist; declared dead 1950 in North Korea.

    U.S. National Archives, Defense Casualty Analysis System (public domain)

Showing 3 of 930 records for Findlay in the United States.

Counts: U.S. National Archives, Flexoline Index Data File (public domain) · U.S. National Archives, Castle Garden Immigration Center Collection, Ship Passenger Records (unrestricted) · NYC Department of Records & Information Services, Historical Vital Records (NYC Open Data) · U.S. National Archives, WWII Army Enlistment Records (public domain) · U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Gravesite Locator (CC0) · New York State Department of Health, Genealogical Research Death Index · U.S. National Archives, Famine Irish Passenger Records (public domain) · U.S. National Archives, Defense Casualty Analysis System (public domain) · Sacramento County, Historic Burials (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: U.S. Selective Service registration card, 1942 (public domain); Passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, New York, 1903 (public domain); Vietnam Veterans Memorial, photo by U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Michael J. Carden, 2009 (public domain).

Australia1,612 records

1,612 records of the Findlay name in Australia
  • Victoria passenger lists, 1839–1923 773
  • Victoria wills and probate, deaths to 2001 370
  • Other Australian records 469
  1. A petition to the probate court of St. Louis, 1848
    Example: probate petition, 1848
    Probate record John Armstead Findlay

    Died 1919 in Broadmarsh, Tasmania. Will registered in Tasmania in 1919.

    Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A marriage entry in the civil register of Tilburg, 1911
    Example: marriage register, 1911
    Marriage record Christina Isabel Findlay

    Born 1872 in Port Sorell, Tasmania. Married 1898 in Mersey, Tasmania, aged 25.

    Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0)
  3. An 1829 etching of convicts being rowed out to the prison ship York in Portsmouth Harbour
    Pictured: convicts going on board a prison ship, 1829
    Transportation record William Findlay

    Transported to New South Wales aboard the Hive, arriving 1834; certificate of freedom 1840.

    Museums of History NSW – State Archives Collection (CC BY)

Showing 3 of 1,612 records for Findlay in Australia.

Counts: Public Record Office Victoria (CC BY 4.0) · Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0) · Queensland State Archives (CC BY 4.0) · Museums of History NSW – State Archives Collection (CC BY) · National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain) · ACT Government, Transport Canberra and City Services (CC BY 4.0) · State Library of Western Australia (CC BY 4.0) · City of Ballarat, Avenue of Honour Plaques (CC BY 3.0 AU). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Petition to the probate court, St. Louis, 1848, Missouri Historical Society (public domain); Marriage register, Tilburg, 1911, Regionaal Archief Tilburg (public domain); Prison-ship in Portsmouth Harbour, with the convicts going on board, etching by Edward William Cooke, 1829, Royal Museums Greenwich (public domain).

Canada443 records

443 records of the Findlay name in Canada
  • Nova Scotia Archives name indexes 258
  • Mountain View Cemetery, Vancouver 69
  • Other Canadian records 116
  1. Fairview Lawn Cemetery in Halifax, Nova Scotia
    Example: Canadian cemetery
    Burial record Georgina Findlay

    Killed in the Halifax Explosion of 1917, aged 38; buried at Mount Olivet Cemetery, Halifax.

    Nova Scotia Archives. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Nova Scotia.
  2. Fairview Lawn Cemetery in Halifax, Nova Scotia
    Example: Canadian cemetery
    Burial record John Findlay

    Buried in 1960 at Mount Hermon Cemetery, Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, aged 64.

    Halifax Regional Municipality. Contains information licenced under the Open Government Licence—Halifax.
  3. Fairview Lawn Cemetery in Halifax, Nova Scotia
    Example: Canadian cemetery
    Burial record Margaret Findlay

    Buried in 1961 at Queen's Park Cemetery, Calgary, Alberta, aged 80.

    City of Calgary. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – City of Calgary.

Showing 3 of 443 records for Findlay in Canada.

Counts: Nova Scotia Archives. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Nova Scotia. · City of Vancouver. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Vancouver. · City of Winnipeg. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Winnipeg. · Veterans Affairs Canada. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Canada. · City of Calgary. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – City of Calgary. · Halifax Regional Municipality. Contains information licenced under the Open Government Licence—Halifax. · National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain) · City of Niagara Falls. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Niagara Falls. · Archives of Ontario. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Ontario. · Contains information provided by the City of Waterloo under licence. Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Fairview Lawn Cemetery, Halifax, photo by Edgar El (CC BY 3.0).

United Kingdom142 records

142 records of the Findlay name in the United Kingdom
  • Stirling Council burial records 65
  • Scottish rolls of honour, First World War 41
  • Other British records 36
  1. A First World War roll of honour of the staff of C. & E. Morton Ltd
    Example: roll of honour, 1914–1919
    War record Gordon Cumming Findlay

    Born 1893 at Elgin; in seed trade. Died 1916. Named in the Morayshire roll of honour (1921).

    National Library of Scotland, Rolls of Honour (public domain)
  2. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record John Stein Findlay

    Died 1964, aged 53; buried at Bannockburn Cemetery, Stirling, Scotland.

    Stirling Council. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
  3. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Dorothy Findlay

    Buried in 1826 at St James's burial ground, Euston, London, aged 77.

    MOLA and HS2, St James's burial ground data. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

Showing 3 of 142 records for Findlay in the United Kingdom.

Counts: Stirling Council. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. · National Library of Scotland, Rolls of Honour (public domain) · National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain) · MOLA and HS2, St James's burial ground data. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Example pages, not the records of the people shown: C. & E. Morton Ltd roll of honour, 1914–1919, photo by Adrian S Pye via Geograph (CC BY-SA 2.0); Burial register of Newtown, Montgomeryshire, 1858, National Library of Wales (CC0).

New Zealand67 records

67 records of the Findlay name in New Zealand
  • Christchurch City cemetery records 57
  • War Office casualty lists, 1917–1919, among the dead 4
  • Other New Zealand records 6
  1. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Elizabeth Webster Findlay

    Died 1924, aged 70; buried at Linwood Cemetery, Christchurch, Canterbury.

    Christchurch City Council (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Hugh Osborne Findlay

    Died 1957, aged 65; buried at Omaka Cemetery, Marlborough.

    Marlborough District Council (CC BY 4.0)
  3. A page of the Livre d’or of the French war dead, Paris
    Example: roll of the war dead
    War record N. Findlay

    Lance Corporal, New Zealand Field Artillery. Listed among the dead in the War Office casualty list of 1918.

    National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain)

Showing 3 of 67 records for Findlay in New Zealand.

Counts: Christchurch City Council (CC BY 4.0) · National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain) · Marlborough District Council (CC BY 4.0) · Thames-Coromandel District Council (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Burial register of Newtown, Montgomeryshire, 1858, National Library of Wales (CC0); Livre d’or of the war dead, Paris, Ministère des pensions, Archives nationales (CC0).

France4 records

4 records of the Findlay name in France France's national death register, 1970–2001
  1. A page of the death register of Nice, 1930
    Example: French death register, 1930
    Death record Nancy Findlay

    Born 1917 in Great Britain; died 2001 in Castelnau-le-Lez (Hérault).

    Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte)
  2. A page of the death register of Nice, 1930
    Example: French death register, 1930
    Death record Michael David Mac Findlay

    Born 1942 in Great Britain; died 1999 in Claix (Isère).

    Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte)

Showing 2 of 4 records for Findlay in France.

Counts: Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Death register of Nice, 1930, Archives départementales des Alpes-Maritimes (public domain).

Netherlands1 record

1 record of the Findlay name in the Netherlands Dutch civil registers (births, marriages, deaths)
  1. A marriage entry in the civil register of Tilburg, 1911
    Example: marriage register, 1911
    Marriage record Elsie Jane Findlay

    Married in 1916 in Groningen.

    Open Archives, Groninger Archieven (CC BY 4.0)

Counts: Open Archives (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Marriage register, Tilburg, 1911, Regionaal Archief Tilburg (public domain).

Nearby in the index

Surnames next to Findlay.

When the index is not enough

This page says where Findlay is.
A volume says what happened to it.

Every page in the index is free and stays free. The Heritage Volume is the long form: the full paper trail, the arms, the crossing — bound, and yours.

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