Surname McKiernan - Meaning and Origin
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McKiernan: What does the surname McKiernan mean?
The last name McKiernan is of Irish origin and is an anglicized form of the Gaelic name "Mac Tiernan", which translates to "son of Tiernan". The name Tiernan itself is derived from the Irish Gaelic 'Tighearnán' which means 'a lord' or 'a lordling'. Therefore, McKiernan can be interpreted as 'son of a small lord'. The family associated with this last name was historically located in the region of Breifne, an ancient political area, larger than a county but smaller than a province, encompassing parts of today's counties Cavan and Leitrim. Over generations, the name has spread to other parts of Ireland and the world due to immigration and the Irish diaspora.
Order DNA origin analysisMcKiernan: Where does the name McKiernan come from?
The surname McKiernan is of Irish origin. It is an anglicized form of the Gaelic "Mac Thiarnain", which translates to "son of the lord or master". It originates from the historical kingdom of Breifne, which laid mostly in modern-day counties of Cavan and Leitrim in Ireland. McKiernan family members were traditional rulers of Tullyhunco, now the barony of Tullyhunco in County Cavan.
Today, the McKiernan name still remains most common in Ireland, especially within the regions that were historically part of the Breifne kingdom. However, due to Irish emigration during and since the Great Famine in the mid-19th century, the surname can also be found in many English-speaking countries, including the United States, Canada, Australia, and the United Kingdom. Its spelling can vary, with versions including MacKiernan, Kiernan, and McKernan among others. Despite these variations, the surname remains comparatively rare globally.
Variations of the surname McKiernan
The surname McKiernan originates from Irish Gaelic, particularly from a personal name "Ciar", meaning "black" or "dark". Often, it's associated with Co. Cavan in Ireland. Variations and alternate spellings of the name McKiernan may include: Mac Kiernan, McKernan, MacKernan, McKieran, MacKieran, McKiernan, MacKiernan, McKernon, MacKernon, McKinernon and MacKinernon. It could also be anglicized to Kearns or Kernan.
However, it's important to note that the lack of standardized spelling in early historical records means that it was often recorded phonetically which led to many different spellings of the same name. Complexities in translation between Gaelic and English also led to further spelling variations.
Also, different branches of a family could adapt the surname in unique ways over time, compounding the variations. Thus, one family's McKiernan could be another family's Kernan, while both stemming from the same original source. The diversity of spellings is a testament to the history and evolution of the surname and those who carried it.
Famous people with the name McKiernan
- Patrick McKiernan: Former NFL football player for the St. Louis Rams.
- Joe McKiernan: Former professional baseball player and brother of Patrick McKiernan.
- Maggie McKiernan: American jazz vocalist and actress.
- Dionne McKiernan: Politician in the Australian Labor Party and the Member for Rockhampton in the Queensland Legislative Assembly.
- Brody McKiernan: Canadian actor and emerging model.
- Kenneth McKiernan: Canadian Roman Catholic clergyman and former Bishop of the Diocese of Corner Brook and Labrador
- Charlotte McKiernan: Australian international high jumper.
- Aileen McKiernan: American professional golfer over two decades in the 1950s and 60s.
- Sean McKiernan: American poet, journalist, and director of the Alaska Literary Project.
- Lauren McKiernan: Film producer and former president of the production company Cinebrass Productions.