This interesting and unusual name has several possible origins although the most likely is the Norse-Viking pre 9th Century "Finnr", and later found in England as Fin and in Ireland as O'Finn, both having the same meaning of "the fair one". However, it is also possible that the name is a derivation of the Olde pre 10th Century French "Fin" - a nickname of endearment and meaning "one who is tender and delicate". The varied spellings included Finn, Fynn, Phin, Phinn and Fine, the plurals when they occur implying the patronymic "son of". The heraldic Finnis family are recorded as being at Brook House, Devon in 1901. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Steriker Finnis. which was dated 1810 - 1889, Married Emma Turner of Lincoln. during the reign of King George III, Farmer George 1760 - 1820. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was known as Poll Tax. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.