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Irish surname

Tierney: Irish Surname History & Coat of Arms

Ó Tighearnaigh · 'descendant of Tigearnach' (lordly)

Woulfe (1923) gives Tierney as Ó Tighearnaigh, 'descendant of Tigearnach' (lordly), the name of three families: a branch of the Cinel Eoghain in the present Co. Donegal, a branch of the Ui Fiachrach who were lords of Ceara (the barony of Carra) in Co. Mayo, and a Westmeath family of the southern Ui Neill. Matheson's index of 1890 births calls it 'a very scattered name', found principally in Dublin, Tipperary and Galway.

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Coat of arms associated with the Tierney surname
Irish formÓ Tighearnaigh
Meaning'descendant of Tigearnach' (lordly)
CountiesDonegal, Mayo, Westmeath, Clare
Other spellings3

Origin of the Tierney name

Three families (Woulfe): (1) a branch of the Cinel Eoghain, anciently chiefs of Fearnmaigh, in the present Co. Donegal; (2) a branch of the Ui Fiachrach, formerly lords of Ceara, now the barony of Carra, Co. Mayo; (3) a Westmeath family of the southern Ui Neill race.[1]

  1. End of the 16th centuryÓ Tighearnaigh common also in Clare and Tipperary.[1]
  2. 1776Matthew John Tierney born at Ballyscandland, Co. Limerick, 24 November.[5]
  3. 1818Matthew John Tierney, royal physician, created a baronet.[5]
  4. 189078 Tierney births registered; Matheson calls it 'a very scattered name'.[3]

Where in Ireland

Co. DonegalCinel Eoghain branch, anciently chiefs of Fearnmaigh, in the present Co. Donegal.[1]
Co. MayoUi Fiachrach branch, lords of Ceara (barony of Carra); 'still numerous in that county' (Woulfe).[1]
Co. WestmeathA Westmeath family of the southern Ui Neill race.[1]
Co. ClareAt the end of the 16th century the name was common also in Clare and Tipperary.[1]
Co. TipperaryCommon there at the end of the 16th century; among principal Tierney counties in 1890.[1][3]
Co. DublinFirst county named for Tierney births in 1890.[3]
Co. GalwayAmong the three counties where Tierney was principally found in 1890.[3]

Notable people named Tierney

George Tierney1761–1830Born at Gibraltar, son of Thomas Tierney, a native of Limerick; treasurer of the navy, master of the mint.[6]
Sir Matthew John Tierney1776–1845Born at Ballyscandland, Co. Limerick; physician to the Prince Regent, George IV and William IV.[5]

Other spellings

O'Tierney · Terney · O Tierny[1]

The Tierney coat of arms

The design shown is a coat of arms associated with the Tierney surname. In Irish and British heraldry a coat of arms is granted to one person and passes to their heirs; it does not belong to everyone who shares the surname. Many families still use the arms of their name as a symbol of their heritage.

Tierney crest gifts

Clan Otierney Coat Of Arms - Irish Family Crest Classic Cap HL10 Otierney Coat Of Arms Irish Cap Otierney Coat Of Arms - Irish Family Crest Classic Cap£26.00Clan Tierney Coat Of Arms - Irish Family Crest St Patrick's Day Classic CapEE13 Classic Cap - Tierney Coat Of Arms St Patrick's Day Classic Cap Irish Cap Tierney Coat Of Arms - Irish Family Crest St Patrick's Day Classic Cap£33.00Clan Otierney Coat Of Arms - Irish Family Crest St Patrick's Day Classic CapVM59 Classic Cap - Otierney Coat Of Arms St Patrick's Day Classic Cap Irish Cap Otierney Coat Of Arms - Irish Family Crest St Patrick's Day Classic Cap£33.00Clan Tierney Coat Of Arms - Irish Family Crest Classic Cap ZF98 Tierney Coat Of Arms Irish Cap Tierney Coat Of Arms - Irish Family Crest Classic Cap£26.00

Tierney surname: questions

What does the surname Tierney mean?

Woulfe gives Ó Tighearnaigh, 'descendant of Tigearnach' (lordly).[1]

Where in Ireland is the Tierney name from?

Woulfe names three families: in the present Co. Donegal (Cinel Eoghain), in Carra, Co. Mayo (Ui Fiachrach), and in Westmeath (southern Ui Neill). Matheson's index of 1890 births calls it 'a very scattered name', found principally in Dublin, Tipperary and Galway.[1][3]

Are Tierney and Tiernan the same name?

Not always. Woulfe says the Mayo family is often called Ó Tighearnáin in Irish and Tiernan in English, and that MacFirbis gives Ó Tighearnáin as an alias for the Westmeath family; but he adds there are probably distinct Tiernan families, none numerous, elsewhere.[1][2]

Is Tierney an Irish name?

Yes. Woulfe gives it as the English form of the Irish surname Ó Tighearnaigh, borne by three Irish families.[1]

Sources

  1. Ó Tighearnaigh — Irish Names and Surnames (Rev. Patrick Woulfe, 1923), transcribed, LibraryIreland.com. libraryireland.com/names/ot/o-tighearnaigh.php
  2. Ó Tighearnáin — Irish Names and Surnames (Rev. Patrick Woulfe, 1923), transcribed, LibraryIreland.com. libraryireland.com/names/ot/o-tighearnain.php
  3. Tierney — Birth Indexes of 1890 — Special Report on Surnames in Ireland (Robert E. Matheson, 1909), transcribed, LibraryIreland.com. libraryireland.com/matheson/report/births/tierney.php
  4. Tiernan (list no. 1959) — Varieties and Synonymes of Surnames and Christian Names in Ireland (Robert E. Matheson, 1901), transcribed, LibraryIreland.com. libraryireland.com/matheson/varieties/list/1959.php
  5. Tierney, Matthew John — Dictionary of National Biography (1885–1900), transcribed, Wikisource. en.wikisource.org/wiki/Dictionary_of_National_Biography,_1885-1900/...
  6. Tierney, George — Dictionary of National Biography (1885–1900), transcribed, Wikisource. en.wikisource.org/wiki/Dictionary_of_National_Biography,_1885-1900/...

Note: Matheson's 1890 figures for a surname include its spelling varieties (Matheson, Table Explanation).