Let $C(Gamma)$ be the set of isomorphism classes of the finite groups that are homomorphic images of $Gamma$. We investigate the extent to which $C(Gamma)$ determines $Gamma$ when $Gamma$ is a group of geometric interest. If $Gamma_1$ is a lattice in ${rm{PSL}}(2,R)$ and $Gamma_2$ is a lattice in any connected Lie group, then $C(Gamma_1) = C(Gamma_2)$ implies that $Gamma_1$ is isomorphic to $Gamma_2$. If $F$ is a free group and $Gamma$ is a right-angled Artin group or a residually free group (with one extra condition), then $C(F)=C(Gamma)$ implies that $FcongGamma$. If $Gamma_1<{rm{PSL}}(2,Bbb C)$ and $Gamma_2< G$ are non-uniform arithmetic lattices, where $G$ is a semi-simple Lie group with trivial centre and no compact factors, then $C(Gamma_1)= C(Gamma_2)$ implies that $G cong {rm{PSL}}(2,Bbb C)$ and that $Gamma_2$ belongs to one of finitely many commensurability classes. These results are proved using the theory of profinite groups; we do not exhibit explicit finite quotients that distinguish among the groups in question. But in the special case of two non-isomorphic triangle groups, we give an explicit description of finite quotients that distinguish between them.
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