In 1800 the arrondissements of Quimper, Brest, Châteaulin, Morlaix and Quimperlé were established. The arrondissement of Quimperlé was disbanded in 1926.[4]
The borders of the arrondissements of Finistère were modified in January 2017:[5]
one commune from the arrondissement of Brest to the arrondissement of Morlaix
three communes from the arrondissement of Châteaulin to the arrondissement of Quimper