Clan: Finnerly of Creggs
Other branches of the clan: Finaghty, Finerty.
According to McLysaght, this surname is found to be a variant spelling of the Irish name Finaghty. This is due to the English practice of substituting R for H, which has prevailed in the anglicising of O’ Fionnachta (Finaghty) even though it is chiefly found in County Galway which, until recently, was largely Gaelic speaking.
Finnerty and Finerty have now almost superseded the name Finaghty. The name is derived from the Gaelic Ó Fionnachta, composed of the elements “fionn” meaning fair and “sneachta” meaning snow. The name would be used to denote someone with a fair complexion with white hair.
