Surname Terny - Meaning and Origin
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Terny: What does the surname Terny mean?
The surname Terny is not common and its specific origins or meanings are not readily available in traditional sources or databases. It could possibly be of French or other European origin. However, without precise historical and geographical context, it is difficult to provide an accurate meaning. Like many last names, Terny might describe a place where an ancestor lived or their occupation. It's also possible that Terny is a variation of another surname. Nonetheless, meanings of a surname can change across countries and languages. Therefore, it's best for individuals with the Terny surname to look into their personal family history for a more accurate and individualized interpretation.
Order DNA origin analysisTerny: Where does the name Terny come from?
The last name Terny is most common today in the United Kingdom and Ireland, mainly in England. While it’s origins remain a mystery, it seems to have been around for centuries in these countries. Some theories suggest it may have originated in France, though this has not been substantiated.
In England, Terny is particularly prevalent in Yorkshire, where more than 20 households were identified as having this surname in the 1881 census. According to records, the surname can be found in nearby counties such as Lancashire, Lincolnshire, Nottinghamshire, and Derbyshire.
In more recent years, the Terny surname has also spread outside of England, even to the United States. It can be found in census records from the mid-19th century onward, indicating that some Ternys have emigrated from England. It appears that many have settled in big cities like New York, as well as other major American cities, such as Chicago and Houston.
Today, the Terny surname is still common in many English-speaking countries, including the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, and Australia. It may differ in spelling depending on the country, ranging from Terny to Terney and even turning, but usually the pronunciation remains the same.
Variations of the surname Terny
The surname Terny is derived from the French word terne, which means gloomy or sad. Variations of this surname include Ternie, Terny, Terney, Thorney, Tornay, and Turner.
Terny is also an anglicised version of the Gaelic surname Ó Tighearnaigh, which is derived from the words ‘tighearnaigh’, meaning ‘lord’, and ‘ó’, meaning 'of’. Variations of this surname in English include Tierney, Tierny, Tiernye, Tierneye, Tynery, Tirney, and Tiernie.
In Ireland, the surnames O'Tierney and O'Terny were most commonly found in the province of Connacht, where spelling of surnames were often corrupted and changed. O'Tierney and O'Terny were also found in County Kerry, in the south-west of Ireland.
In Scotland, the spelling of the surname is invariably the anglicised Ternay. Other variants of this surname can include Thormon, Thurmon and Thurmond.
In the examples given here, the faux suffix ‘-y’ has been added to many versions of the surname. For example, the usual spelling of Tierney in Ireland and Scotland is actually 'Tighearnaigh'. However, the Scots have embraced the anglicised version as their own, and so the ‘-y’ suffix is often found more commonly.
Famous people with the name Terny
- Christian Terny: is a Belgian lawyer and politician of the Socialist Party, who has been a senator since July 2020.
- Cassandra Terny: is an American film actress, best known for her role in the movie The Crook Factory.
- Dusan Terny: is a Slovak politician and entrepreneur, and former member of the Slovak Parliament.
- Giorgio Terny: is an Italian alpine skier. He competed in the 1984 and 1988 Winter Olympics.
- Uldis Terny: is a Latvian sculptor and painter, and former member of the Latvian Association of Professional Artists.
- Steven Terny: is an American military historian and author of the book The War That Ended Peace: How the First World War Divided Europe.
- Krisztián Terny: is a Hungarian footballer, playing as a forward for Kaposvári Rákóczi FC.
- Yvonne Terny: is a German actress, best known for her role in the Netflix series Dark.
- Ernie Terny: is an American professional wrestler who competed in the World Wrestling Federation in the mid-1990s.
- Jo De Terny: is a French figure skater who competed in the 1969 World Championships.