Origins of The Tierney Name
Both O’Tierney, Tierney, Tierny (O’Tighearnaigh), and the synonym O’Tiernan, Tiernan (O’Tighearnáin) are derived from the Gaelic word tighearnach meaning “lord” or “lordly”. Tighearnach, sometimes spelt Tigernaich or Tigernach or even Tignarach, was a popular given name in ancient Ireland. Some of these Tighearnachs were of famous lineage, as we shall see later, and it is from some of these Tighearnachs that the surname Tierney has been handed down. The proper surname should be Ó Tighearnaigh, with the Ó [or UÍ or uíbh] translating as 'descendant of' - hence the surname Ó Tighearnaigh translates as 'the descendant of Tighearnach'.
The Rev. Patrick Woulfe, an eminent historian and genealogist and a recognized authority on Irish names in his book “Irish Names and Surnames” states that there were three main septs of the name.
The first were a branch of the Cinel Eoghain or Uí Néill Thuaidh or Hy-Néill (descendants of Eoghan, son of Niall of the Nine Hostages) who, according to Woulfe, were anciently Chiefs of Fearnmaigh. The Rev. Woulfe contends that this territory is an area in the present County Donegal adjacent to the County Fermanagh border. However more recent studies of the Annals of the Four Masters would suggest that the territory of Fearnmuigh or Fearnmaigh [which means 'the territory of the plain'] is an area in South Monaghan/South Armagh and is in fact the present Barony of Farney, whose principal town is Carrickmacross.
The second was a branch of the Uí Fiachrach (descendants of Fiachrach, son of Eochaidh Muighmheadhoin, King of Ireland, and brother of Niall of the Nine Hostages), who were formerly Lords of Partry and Kings of Ceara, now the Barony of Carra in County Mayo. These were believed to have been the most powerful of the septs in their day. They stem from the fourth century King Daithí the last pagan monarch of Ireland. In the Book of Lecan [c. 1450] the Tierneys are described as "a stout race of men, very proud of their descent whose ancestors long ago had estates in Carra and were very strong men and very courageous fighters and known by their great coats". Most of the leaders of the clan, including the Clann Ceann-fine (Chieftain), Flann O'Tighearnaigh, were slain in 1273 during the course of a gathering between themselves and a neighbouring O'Murray clan. Apparently there was a dispute over the Kingship of Ceara between the two rival clans and a meeting was called to negotiate the position. However, with the aid of Hugh O'Connor, the son of Felim O'Connors King of Connaught, the O'Murray's contrived to murder all the Tierney clan present. Some survived but their power diminished.
The third family was a branch of the Uí Néill Theas (Southern Uí Néill) and were based in Meath/Westmeath since 1100s. These are believed to be descended from King Tighearnach who ruled the Kingdom of Bréaga, a territory that lay between the Rivers Liffey and Boyne, in the present day County Meath/ Westmeath. The Kingdom is said to have stretched from Birr in Co. Offaly to the Hill of Uishneach in Westmeath. Tighearnach resided at the Great Crannóg of Lagore, which is situated near Ratoath in County Meath, not far from Dublin. Tighearnach led the Irish to a great victory over the Norse in 848 A.D..
There was also a fourth great family of the name. It is unsure as to whether this family is a branch of the Uí Néill Theas, who were moved or transplanted from their territory in Meath/Westmeath in the twelfth century with the expansion westwards of the English, or if they were a branch of the Uí Fiachrach who came south from Galway and East Clare with their O'Kennedy overlords. It was also assumed in certain quarters that the Tierneys of Tipperary may have been part of O'Neill's army and settled in Tipperary after the Battle of Kinsale. It may be that some Tierneys did, but it is certain that for many generations prior to Kinsale there was a large and important Tierney presence in the County. There is evidence to show that a Tierney family were Chieftains of, and ruled a kingdom in, an area within the present day Civil Parish of Ballymackey, an area about one mile East of the town of Nenagh. It is for this reason that the initial view is thought to be the more likely. Their territory straddled the Baronies of Upper and Lower Ormond in the present day North County Tipperary. This area is referred to on a number of occasions in the Ormond Deeds or Papers of the 16th and 17th Centuries, as in those deeds there are references to “fearnan O’Tyernie”, i.e., O’Tierney Country. Extracts from the Ormond Deeds are included in the Clan Archives.
Read Notable Bearers of The Tierney Name
The Rev. Patrick Woulfe, an eminent historian and genealogist and a recognized authority on Irish names in his book “Irish Names and Surnames” states that there were three main septs of the name.
The first were a branch of the Cinel Eoghain or Uí Néill Thuaidh or Hy-Néill (descendants of Eoghan, son of Niall of the Nine Hostages) who, according to Woulfe, were anciently Chiefs of Fearnmaigh. The Rev. Woulfe contends that this territory is an area in the present County Donegal adjacent to the County Fermanagh border. However more recent studies of the Annals of the Four Masters would suggest that the territory of Fearnmuigh or Fearnmaigh [which means 'the territory of the plain'] is an area in South Monaghan/South Armagh and is in fact the present Barony of Farney, whose principal town is Carrickmacross.
The second was a branch of the Uí Fiachrach (descendants of Fiachrach, son of Eochaidh Muighmheadhoin, King of Ireland, and brother of Niall of the Nine Hostages), who were formerly Lords of Partry and Kings of Ceara, now the Barony of Carra in County Mayo. These were believed to have been the most powerful of the septs in their day. They stem from the fourth century King Daithí the last pagan monarch of Ireland. In the Book of Lecan [c. 1450] the Tierneys are described as "a stout race of men, very proud of their descent whose ancestors long ago had estates in Carra and were very strong men and very courageous fighters and known by their great coats". Most of the leaders of the clan, including the Clann Ceann-fine (Chieftain), Flann O'Tighearnaigh, were slain in 1273 during the course of a gathering between themselves and a neighbouring O'Murray clan. Apparently there was a dispute over the Kingship of Ceara between the two rival clans and a meeting was called to negotiate the position. However, with the aid of Hugh O'Connor, the son of Felim O'Connors King of Connaught, the O'Murray's contrived to murder all the Tierney clan present. Some survived but their power diminished.
The third family was a branch of the Uí Néill Theas (Southern Uí Néill) and were based in Meath/Westmeath since 1100s. These are believed to be descended from King Tighearnach who ruled the Kingdom of Bréaga, a territory that lay between the Rivers Liffey and Boyne, in the present day County Meath/ Westmeath. The Kingdom is said to have stretched from Birr in Co. Offaly to the Hill of Uishneach in Westmeath. Tighearnach resided at the Great Crannóg of Lagore, which is situated near Ratoath in County Meath, not far from Dublin. Tighearnach led the Irish to a great victory over the Norse in 848 A.D..
There was also a fourth great family of the name. It is unsure as to whether this family is a branch of the Uí Néill Theas, who were moved or transplanted from their territory in Meath/Westmeath in the twelfth century with the expansion westwards of the English, or if they were a branch of the Uí Fiachrach who came south from Galway and East Clare with their O'Kennedy overlords. It was also assumed in certain quarters that the Tierneys of Tipperary may have been part of O'Neill's army and settled in Tipperary after the Battle of Kinsale. It may be that some Tierneys did, but it is certain that for many generations prior to Kinsale there was a large and important Tierney presence in the County. There is evidence to show that a Tierney family were Chieftains of, and ruled a kingdom in, an area within the present day Civil Parish of Ballymackey, an area about one mile East of the town of Nenagh. It is for this reason that the initial view is thought to be the more likely. Their territory straddled the Baronies of Upper and Lower Ormond in the present day North County Tipperary. This area is referred to on a number of occasions in the Ormond Deeds or Papers of the 16th and 17th Centuries, as in those deeds there are references to “fearnan O’Tyernie”, i.e., O’Tierney Country. Extracts from the Ormond Deeds are included in the Clan Archives.
Read Notable Bearers of The Tierney Name