Genealogists believe the name Finney or Phinney is derived from the diminutive form  of the baptismal name Finn or Phinn; others assert that it was originally a nickname  meaning "the fine".  Ancient records record various spellings, but Finney and Phinney  are forms most used in America today.  The Irish spellings are Feeney and Feeny.   Among the earliest records of the name in England are Katherine Finn of  Huntingdonshire in 1273; Robertus Fyn of 1307; Robert le Fyn of Somersetshire in  1327; and Thomas Fyn of Howdenshire in 1379.  In the sixteenth century Thomas Finney  was living in Stafffordshire, England.  Historians state that in 1703, Samuel Finney,  the son of Thomas, accompanied William Penn on his second voyage to Philadelphia.   John and Robert Finney, their widowed mother, and their sister Catherine came to  Plymouth, Massachusetts c.1631.  Richard Finney came to James City County, Virginia  in 1639, and Robert Finney emigrated from County Tyrone,Ireland, to New London, Pennsylvania in  1720.  Riley Finney of Franklin County, who married in Virginia in 1793, was likely  descended from either Richard or Robert.  Additional research is being done.