Surname Kiernan - Meaning and Origin
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Kiernan: What does the surname Kiernan mean?
The surname Kiernan is of Irish origin, stemming from the Gaelic “Ó Ceirináin", meaning "descendant of Ceirinán". The name Ceirinán itself is an affectionate diminutive of the personal name Ciarán, which comes from the Gaelic “ciar”, meaning "dark" or "black". So, the surname could be interpreted to mean "dark-skinned" or "black-haired". The Kiernan family was primarily based in the province of Ulster in Northern Ireland and County Leitrim in Connacht. Although the exact origins of the name are unclear, it is generally recognized as one of the oldest and most distinguished Irish surnames. Noteworthy bearers of this name include several ecclesiastics, such as Saint Ciarán of Clonmacnoise and Saint Ciarán of Saigir, and contemporary figures like author Caitlín R. Kiernan or journalist Michael Kiernan.
Order DNA origin analysisKiernan: Where does the name Kiernan come from?
The surname Kiernan is of Irish origin, derived from the Gaelic Mac Ciarain, meaning "son of Ciaran." The name Ciaran itself is made up of two elements -- "ciar," which translates to "dark" or "black," and the diminutive suffix "an" implying little. So, this surname could be interpreted as "descendant of little dark one."
In Ireland, the Kiernan family was primarily associated with County Cavan, a region in the country's Province of Ulster, and rose to prominence as the lords of the Teallach Dunchada region. After the Anglo-Norman invasion of Ireland in the 12th century, many Irish families lost their lands and were pushed to peripheral areas; however, the Kiernans managed to retain some of their authority for a significant duration.
Today, the surname is common in its country of origin – Ireland, but it is also found among Irish diasporas across the globe, especially in the United States, Canada, England, and Australia. Like many Irish surnames, Kiernan's frequency spikes around St. Patrick's Day, when people worldwide celebrate their Irish heritage.
Variations of the surname Kiernan
The surname Kiernan originates from Ireland and is derived from the Gaelic "Mac Thighearnain," meaning "son of Tighearnach."
Variants of the surname Kiernan include MacKiernan, MacTiernan, MacTiernain, MacTernan, McKernan, and MacThighearnain. It has also been anglicized into Keernan, Kieran, Kiernon, Keirnen, and Kyran.
In the past, spelling variations occurred commonly due to the fact that scribes and church officials recorded names as they were pronounced, often resulting in a single person being recorded under several different spellings. For this reason, Kiernan and its different variations may refer to the same family lineage.
It's also possible that the surname has regional variations based on areas where families carrying the name settled or were based. For example, MacKiernan was a title given to the lords of Teallach-Dunchadha, a territory in Ireland. A branch of this family also anglicized their name as MacTiernan of south Ulster.
Irish names often have a rich history due to the country’s heritage of ancient Gaelic clans and family systems. So a one-to-one correlation between the surname variant and the specific family might be challenging. Understanding a family's genealogy and history would provide the most accurate connections within surname variants.
Famous people with the name Kiernan
- Caitriona Balfe: an Irish model-turned-actress, best known for her award-winning role as the female lead in the historical drama series Outlander.
- Pollyanna McIntosh: an English actress and film director, known for her roles in films such as The Woman, Hush and Let Us Prey.
- Jim Kiernan: an Australian rugby player who competed in four games for the national team in the 1991 Rugby World Cup.
- George Kiernan: an Australian basketball player who won four consecutive NBL championships with the Adelaide 36ers between 1991 and 1994.
- Maureen Kiernan: an American journalist, author and television news reporter. She was the first female reporter to cover the White House for ABC News.
- Garrett Kiernan: an American actor, best known for his role as Eric Keys on the ABC Family series Wildfire.
- Aisling Kiernan: an Irish actress, best known for her role as the character Rose in the RTÉ television series Single-Handed.
- Dermot Kiernan: an Irish actor, best known for his role as Father Mac Casper in the Irish soap opera Fair City.
- William Robert Kiernan: an American professional soccer player who played for the Cincinnati Kids Club in the National Soccer League in 1961 and 1962.
- Larry Kiernan: an American basketball player who won championships at the NJSIAA tournament as a member of the St. Stanislaus basketball team in 1937 and 1938.