Tierney Coat of Arms, Family Crest and Tierney Family History

Tierney Family History

The Tierney ancient family history was found in the irishsurnames.com archives.

Surnames developed a wide number of variants over the centuries. Many different spelling variations of the same name can be traced back to a single original root. Also, when a bearer of a name emigrated from Ireland it was not uncommon that their original name would be incorrectly transcribed in the record books upon arrival at their new location. Some names have dozens of spelling variations. Some Surnames were also altered over the years based on how they sounded phonetically, by their sound, and depending on the prevailing political conditions it may have been advantageous to change a name from one language to another. This was especially so in Ireland where most Gaelic names were 'anglicized' at some stage.

Variants of the name Tierney include O'Tierney and Tiernan. The most important sept of this name was that of County Mayo, where they were Chiefs and Lords of Carra. The name is widespread throughout every County but rarely found in Ulster Province. In Mayo, Tierney and Tiernan have been used as synonyms and cases of these are also found in County Clare. They were firmly established as a sept in Upper Ormond and in the 'Ormond Deeds' Fearnan O'Tyernie is mentioned several times. As early as 1273 there is a recorded reference of a Florence O'Tierney, Bishop of Kilfenora. In 1372 Cornelius O'Tierney is recorded as being the Bishop of Kerry. The Gaelic form of this name is O'Tighearnaigh which is taken from the word 'tighearna' meaning 'lord'.The Tierney family crest (or coat of arms) came into existence many centuries ago. The process of creating these coats of arms began as early as the eleventh century although a form of Proto-Heraldry may have existed in some countries prior to this, including Ireland. The new more formalized art of Heraldry made it possible for families and even individual family members to have their very own family crest, coat of arms, including Tierney descendants.