Tierney Surname Meaning & Origin
What the Tierney last name means, where the surname began and how it spread.
Meaning and origin of the Tierney last name
Meaning of the Tierney last name: descendant of Tighearnach ("lordly"). Tierney comes from the Gaelic Ó Tighearnaigh, "descendant of Tighearnach", a personal name built on tighearna, "lord". The name arose in several places, including Mayo, Westmeath and Donegal. Today it is most common in Tipperary, Limerick and Clare, and in Dublin. A curious detail: Gene Tierney, the Hollywood actress, carried the name to fame in the film noir classic "Laura".
Arms associated with the Tierney name
Irish shields often use green and gold, colours linked with the land and good fortune, a feel shared by the arms associated with the Tierney name.
Get your full Tierney family history
This is only a glimpse of the Tierney story. The full Tierney history report goes much deeper into where the name began, who carried it and how the family spread, and it comes with a museum-style painted Tierney coat of arms. Get the full Tierney report.
Tierney name FAQ
What does the Tierney name mean?
Descendant of Tighearnach ("lordly"). Common variants include Tiernan, Tiernay, O'Tierney.
Where does the Tierney surname come from?
It originates in Ireland, and is also found in the United States, England and Australia.
Is there a Tierney coat of arms?
Arms were granted to individuals rather than to everyone with a surname. Herald Lab paints a personalized Tierney coat of arms in museum style, based on historic heraldry.
Researched by Herald Lab Research Studio, since 1993. Sources: MacLysaght, The Surnames of Ireland; Dictionary of American Family Names (Oxford); US Census Bureau 2010.