Surname Teirney - Meaning and Origin
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Teirney: What does the surname Teirney mean?
Teirney is a variant of the Irish surname Tierney, which hails from the Gaelic O'Tighearnaigh. The name is derived from "tighearna", meaning "lord" or "master." Hence, it can be inferred that Teirney signifies "descendant of the lord or master." The O'Tighearnaigh clan has roots in the western region of Ireland, particularly in the counties of Clare, Galway, and Mayo. Over time, due to emigration and other factors, the spelling and pronunciation of the surname have varied, resulting in versions like Tierney, Teirney, Tierny and others. Regardless of its spelling, the basic meaning remains the same.
Order DNA origin analysisTeirney: Where does the name Teirney come from?
The last name Teirney is an Irish name of Norman origin and is most commonly found in the country of Ireland and the Irish diaspora around the world.
In Ireland, the name Teirney is most commonly found in counties Wexford and Kilkenny. Within Wexford, it is primarily found around the neighbouring towns of Bunclody and Adamstown.
The diaspora of Irish people across the world has also resulted in the spread of the Teirney surname. The United States is home to a large Irish-American population and as such, has a high concentration of Teirneys. According to the US Census, the Teirney name is most commonly found in Massachusetts, New York and Pennsylvania.
Beyond the United States, the Teirney surname has spread to other countries with large Irish populations such as Canada, Australia, England, Scotland, and Wales. Additionally, in Europe, the surname is commonly found in France, Belgium, Luxembourg, and Germany.
In terms of forenames, Patrick Teirney in the nineteenth century was a popular Irishman amongst the Irish-American population. As a result, the use of Teirney as a first name has increased in recent years. However, the surname Teirney remains a rarity across the world.
Variations of the surname Teirney
The surname Teirney has many variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin. It is generally believed to be of Irish origin, but it is unclear exactly where the name comes from.
The most common variant is Tierney, which is the English version of the surname. The other Irish variants include Mac Tighearnaidh, Mac Airtnaidh, Mac Airtnaigh, Mac Airtnéidigh, Mac Airtnigh, Mac Airtneredh, and Mac Airtnaí.
The Welsh variant of the surname is Tirney. Another variant found in England is Terne, while other spellings include Turny, Turby, Turriby, Turry, and Tureni. In Scotland, the variants are Teireney and Teirnane.
Other surnames of the same origin include Tierny, Tiernay, Ternay, Tierney, Tiernye, Tiernrye, Tirny, Ternye, Terney, Tirneya, Tirni, Teirnane, Tiernane, and Tiernat.
The name is also commonly seen with various prefixes, such as O’Tierney, Fitz Tierney, and MacTierney.
Overall, the surname is quite diverse, and therefore it can be difficult to trace the exact origin of the name. It is thought that the name is derived from the Irish language and is likely related to the Gaelic word “tighearna”, which translates to “lord”. Other theories suggest that the name is derived from the pre-Norman era Gaelic word “tuirne”, which translates to “wolf”.
Famous people with the name Teirney
- Colin Tierney: actor of stage and screen who has acted in productions such as Mike Bartlett's "King Charles III" on the West End and the 2018 ITV mini-series "Trauma".
- Anne Tierney: Irish actress, best known for her roles in ‘The Tudors’, ‘The Project’ and ‘Black refill’.
- Harry Tierney: Broadway composer, most famous for his score for the musical ‘Rio Rita’.
- Paddy Tierney: Irish artist, sculptor and animator, having created works for the Guggenheim Museum and Tate Modern.
- Glenn Tierney: Australian actor and musician, credited in films such as ‘The Dressmaker’ and ‘Wolf Creek 2’.
- Shayne Tierney: actor and producer, featured in Australian television series such as ‘Anzac Girls’ and ‘The Principal’.
- Sean Tierney: Irish-born Canadian actor and director focused on the development of web series across Canada and the United States.
- Ella Tierney: Irish actress, noted for her role in ‘Game of Thrones’.
- James Tierney: American actor, best known for roles in ‘The Good Place’, ‘The Purge’ and ‘Dave’.
- Louise Tierney: former model, and now a philanthropist and environmental activist.