Finnis

Finnis is a surname that appears in English-speaking countries. The precise origin of the name is not clearly established in standard reference works; it may derive from multiple sources, including anglicized forms of Gaelic names, or from habitational or occupational roots. The spelling Finnis is relatively uncommon, and most instances are found in modern records rather than long-established historical sources. Like many surnames, its distribution varies by region and over time, with pockets of occurrence in different countries. In genealogical contexts, Finnis may appear as part of longer family names or in combination with other identifiers.

Notable people with the surname Finnis include John Finnis (born 1940), an Australian legal philosopher and professor known for his advocacy of natural law theory. Finnis's influential work Natural Law and Natural Rights (1980) argues for a universal basis of moral norms grounded in basic goods and human flourishing, and it has shaped debates in legal philosophy and public policy. He has taught at several universities and authored extensively on jurisprudence, constitutional law, and ethics. Beyond John Finnis, the surname has been borne by other individuals in various professional fields, though none has achieved the same level of international prominence in the public sphere.