Surname McTiernan - Meaning and Origin

McTiernan: What does the surname McTiernan mean?

McTiernan is an Irish surname with Gaelic origins, derived from "Mac Tighearnáin". It translates to "son of Tighearnán". The name Tighearnán itself means ‘lord’ or ‘master’ in Gaelic. Therefore, McTiernan can be translated to mean "son of the lord" or "son of the master". The use of 'Mac' at the beginning of Irish surnames was common to denote filial relationships. Like many Irish family names, McTiernan can be found in many spelling variations, including McTiernan, McTernan, Tighearnán and even Tierney. McTiernans mainly originated from the region of Breifne, which straddles modern day counties Leitrim and Cavan. The name is most commonly found in the Leitrim region today.

McTiernan: Where does the name McTiernan come from?

The surname McTiernan originates from Ireland, specifically derived from the Gaelic name "Mac Tighearnáin," which means "son of the lord" or "son of the master". It's an anglicization of the Gaelic name and is associated with County Leitrim in the northern province of Connacht, Ireland. The name's roots can be traced back to a powerful Gaelic family that was once part of the ancient kingdom of Bréifne.

Today, the name McTiernan is found in Ireland, but it is also relatively common in countries where the Irish diaspora settled, such as the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, and Canada. However, it remains less common than other Irish surnames. It's important to note that variations of the name exist and are dependent on the region or country; they might include MacTiernan, McKiernan, and Kiernan. Filmmaker John McTiernan is perhaps one the most well-known bearers of this surname, noted for directing film classics such as Die Hard and The Hunt for Red October.

Variations of the surname McTiernan

The surname McTiernan is of Irish origin, derived from the Gaelic "Mac Tighearnáin," meaning "son of Tighearnán," a personal name composed of "tighearna," meaning "lord," and the diminutive suffix "-án." Variations and alternate spellings of the surname include MacTiernan, McTernan, MacTernan, and McTierman.

Sometimes, the prefix "Mac" or "Mc" is dropped, and spellings like Tiernan or Ternan could also be used. Certain Anglicized versions of this surname can also exist such as Tierney which is derived from "O'Tighearnaigh," a similar Gaelic surname. The spelling of the surname could also vary due to regional dialects, translation errors, and phonetic spellings in historical documents.

The surnames McTiernan and its variants are primarily found in the Irish counties of Cavan and Leitrim. Each of these surnames, while they may have varied in spelling, would generally point back to shared or connected ancestral lines in Ireland. These surnames may reflect common descent from a shared ancestral figure or clan, in this case, the Gaelic lord referenced in the surname's original meaning.

Famous people with the name McTiernan

• John McTiernan: Academy Award-winning director of Die Hard and Predator.
• Mark McTiernan: Australian screenwriter and director, best known for writing/directing The Man from Snowy River and The Railton Trail.
• Allen McTiernan: Award-winning cinematographer/director, known for his films, Sucker Free City and A Very British Gangster.
• John McTiernan Jr.: Son of John McTiernan, he is an actor and producer, appearing in such films as Predator 2 and The Thomas Crown Affair.
• John McTiernan III: Son of John McTiernan, he is a director and cinematographer, working on films such as The Adventures of Ford Fairlane and Last Action Hero.
• Donal McTiernan: Irish film director, known for his films, Black Ice and Shem the Penman Sings Again.
• Siobhan McTiernan: Irish film actress known for her roles in Gone and Saltwater.
• Peter McTiernan: Irish actor, best known for his roles in Into the West and In the Name of the Father.
• Rory McTiernan: Award-winning Irish director, known for his films, Tigerbay and Silver River.
• Michael McTiernan: Award-winning Australian film director, writer and editor, best known for his films, Killing Time and Sunnyside Up.

Other surnames

McTierney