Tierney

Tierney /ˈtɪərni/ is an Irish surname.

It is an Anglicized form of Irish Ó Tiarnaigh (male), Ní Thiarnaigh (female), also spelled Ó Tighearnaigh/Ní Thighearnaigh. It is derived from tiarna, the Irish word for Lord or Master. The name can be found around the world, mostly in the Anglosphere and it's most prevalent outside of Ireland in the United Kingdom and United States of America.

Five unrelated families of the name arose in Gaelic Ireland, in what is now County Clare, County Mayo, County Monaghan, County Meath, and County Tipperary.

Families[]

Ó Tighearnaigh of Cenél nEógain[]

This family lived in the territory of Fearnmuigh or Fearnmaigh [which means 'the territory of the plain'], in an area in South Monaghan/South Armagh that is the present Barony of Farney, whose principal town is Carrickmacross.^[1]

Ó Tighearnaigh of Uí Fiachrach Muaidhe[]

This family were Lords of Carra. Almost the only family member recorded in the annals was Flann Ó Tighearnaigh. Gilbert Ó Tigernaig, Bishop of Annaghdown (1306–1323), was also a member of this family.

Ó Tighearnaigh of Brega[]

This family claimed descent from Tigernach mac Fócartai (died 865), one of the Kings of Brega. They were a branch of the southern Uí Néill. "The Kingdom is said to have stretched from Birr in County 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 Vikings in 848 A.D."^[1]

Ó Tighearnaigh of Ormond[]

A family of the name resided in Ormond, now County Tipperary. Their origins are obscure.^[1] New research now confirms that this family was indeed an indigenous sept. Their seat was in the townland of Park and their lands, Fearann Ó Tighearnaigh, took in most of the present-day townlands of Ballymackey, Ballyknockane, Carrowea, Clash, Falleen, Gortnadrumman, Kilgorteen and Knockane.

Ó Tighearnaigh of Corcu Modruad[]

This is an area in northern County Clare. This sept were hereditary priests and monks.

People[]

In arts and media[]

Brian Tierney (1922–2019), historian and medievalist
Mark Aloysius Tierney (1795-1862), English Catholic historian
Patrick Lennox Tierney (1914–2015), art historian, specialist on Japan
Tom Tierney (1928-2014), American paper doll artist.

Film, television, and theatre[]

Gene Tierney (1920–1991), American stage and film actress
Gerard "Jerry" Tierney (1924–1985), American actor known as Scott Brady
Jacob Tierney (born 1979), Canadian actor, film director and writer
Kevin Tierney (1950-2018), Canadian film producer
Lawrence Tierney (1919–2002), Irish-American actor
Malcolm Tierney (1938–2014), British actor
Maura Tierney (born 1965), American actress

In music[]

Andrew Tierney (born 1974), Australian singer-songwriter and musician, who is a member of the music group Human nature
Garrett Tierney bass guitar and vocals in band 'brand new'
Harry Tierney (1890–1965), American composer of musical theatre
Michael Tierney (musician) (born 1977), member of Australian band Human Nature
Tierney Sutton (born 1963), American jazz singer
Mick Pyro, Irish musician, born Michael Tierney
Vivian Tierney (born 1957), English operatic soprano

In other media[]

Gerard Tierney (1924-1979), Irish bi-lingual radio broadcaster for RTE
John Tierney (journalist) (born 1953), American journalist
Matthew Tierney (born 1970), Canadian poet
Patrick Tierney (journalist), who works as a UCIS volunteer at the University of Pittsburgh
Richard L. Tierney (born 1936), American writer
Robert J. Tierney, linguist and author
Ronald Tierney (1944-2017), American newspaper editor and author
Tierney Gearon (born 1963), American photographer

Government, law, and politics[]

Darren Tierney, British civil servant, current Director General (March 2021-present) for Propriety and Ethics
Frank A. Tierney, secretary to Governor Glynn, and Deputy Commissioner under the Workmen's Compensation act
Gayle Tierney Australian politician, labor party
George Tierney (1761–1830), English Whig politician
James Tierney (born 1947), Director of the National State Attorneys General Program at Columbia University and former Attorney General of Maine
John Tierney (Australian politician) (born 1946), Liberal member of the Australian Senate
John Tierney (Irish politician) (born 1951)
John F. Tierney (born 1951), United States Representative from Massachusetts
John H. Tierney (1832–1907), American politician and farmer
John J. Tierney (1926–2005), American Boston city council member
Joseph M. Tierney (1941–2009), American politician, president of Boston city council and father of actress Maura Tierney
Michael Tierney (politician) (1894–1975), professor of Greek, President of University College Dublin (1947–1964), and Irish politician
Patrick Tierney (Irish politician) (1904-1990), Irish Labour party politician
Peter Tierney Murrell (born 1964), Scottish current Chief Executive Officer of the Scottish National Party (SNP).He is married to Nicola Sturgeon, the party's leader and First Minister of Scotland.
, British professor of law.
Susan Tierney (born 1951), American academic and Government policy administrator
Sydney Tierney (1923–2010), former British Labour Party politician
Thomas Tierney (1916–1998), Irish mayor of Galway, Ireland
Thomas M. Tierney (1919–2001), American administrator who served as the Director of the Bureau of Health Insurance
Tim Tierney (born 1974), Canadian councillor and politician
William Tierney Robarts (1786-1820),British politician and businessman
William L. Tierney (1876-1958), American Democratic member of the United States House of Representatives

In sport[]

In Football[]

Chris Tierney (soccer) (born 1986), American former footballer New England Revolution
Francis Tierney (born 1975), English retired professional footballer Crewe Alexandra and Doncaster rovers
Gary Tierney (born 1986), Scottish professional football (soccer) player
Grant Tierney (born 1961), former Scottish footballer
Jim Tierney (born 1940), former Scottish footballer
Kieran Tierney Scottish (born 1997), professional footballer for Celtic Football Club Glasgow, Arsenal F.C London,Scottish national team.
Lawrie Tierney (1959–2011), Scottish professional football (soccer) player
Marc Tierney (born 1985), English professional footballer (soccer)
Martin Tierney (born 1966), former Scottish footballer (Ayr United) and TV pundit
Neil Tierney, Australian rugby league footballer
Paul Tierney (footballer) (born 1982 in England), Irish football (soccer) player
Ross Tierney (born 2001) Irish footballer
Ryan Tierney, Scottish footballer
Sam Tierney (born 1998), English footballer and defender for Leicester City W.F.C
Tommy Tierney, English footballer

In Gaelic Football[]

Benny Tierney, former Irish Gaelic goalkeeper and sports journalist
David Tierney (born 1979), Irish hurler and Gaelic footballer
John Tierney (Gaelic footballer) (born 1982), Gaelic footballer
Michael Tierney (Gaelic footballer) (born 1986), Gaelic football player from Laois in Ireland
Noel Tierney (born 1942), Irish former Gaelic Football Player and Sportsperson
Tomás Tierney (born 1961), former Irish Gaelic footballer

In Rugby[]

Dylan Tierney-Martin (born 1999), Irish rugby union player
Lewis Tierney (born 1994), Scottish international rugby league player
Matt Tierney (born 1996), Canadian Rugby union player
Melbourne Tierney (born 1924), former Welsh rugby league player
Paul Tierney (rugby league) (1919–1973), Australian rugby league footballer
Tom Tierney (rugby union), former Irish rugby union player

In other sports[]

, (born 1996), Thai hurdler
Bill Tierney (baseball) (1858-1898), American former major league baseball player Cincinnati red stockings
Chris Tierney (ice hockey) (born 1994), Canadian hockey player
Cotton Tierney (1894–1953), American baseball second and third baseman
Erin Tierney (born 1970), cook islander Olympic sprinter, first female competitor to represent the Cook Islands at the Olympics
Festus Tierney (1899-1973), American NFL guard Toledo Maroons
Jack Tierney (1893-1968), American basketball player and coach
Jade Tierney (born 2004), Cook Islander Olympic canoeist 2020 Summer Olympics
James Tierney (1878–1959), former Australian rules footballer
Joe Tierney (1903-2004), American Olympic sprinter at the 1928 Olympics
John Tierney (rower), American rower
John Tierney (cricketer) (born 1964), English cricketer
Meghan Tierney. US Olympic Snowboarder 2018 (Pyeongchang, South Korea)
Paul Tierney (hurler) (born 1982), Irish hurler and ultrarunner
Tierney Pfirman (born 1994), American professional basketball player
Tom Tierney (hurler) (1894-1984), Irish hurler
Trevor Tierney American retired Lacrosse goaltender and Lacrosse assistant coach
William "Bill" Tierney, lacrosse coach

Other fields[]

In Business[]

Brian Tierney (born 1957), American businessman and newspaper publisher
Michael Tierney (born 1989), American businessman, founder and chief executive officer of Stuffed Puffs
Paul E. Tierney (born 1943), American business professor, fund manager and venture capitalist
Thomas J. Tierney (born 1954), business executive, chairman of eBay

In Education[]

Alison Joan Tierney CBE (born 1948), British nursing theorist, nurse researcher
Charles Rust-Tierney (born 1955), American former ACLU chapter president
James Tierney (born 1947), Director of the National State Attorneys General Program at Columbia University and former Attorney General of Maine
Keith Tierney Canadian scientist and academic
Myles Tierney (1937–2017), American mathematician and professor
Robert J. Tierney, American Professor Emeritus and Dean Emeritus of the Faculty of Education at the University of British Columbia and author
T. F. Tierney (born 1951), American urbanist, network theorist and educator
William G. Tierney, American scholar in higher education and Author

Other[]

Emiko Ohnuki-Tierney (born 1934), Japanese-American anthropologist
Flann Ó Tighearnaigh (??-1273), Gaelic Irish lord
John P. Tierney (1974-2001), American firefighter died in the September 11 attacks
Paul Tierney (referee) (born 1980), English football referee
Tigernach mac Fócartai (???-865), king of Lagore
William Tierney Clark (1783–1852), English civil engineer of bridges

In Religion[]

Cornelius Tierney (1872-1931), Irish priest and missionary
Gilbert Ó Tigernaig, bishop of Annaghdown from 1306 to 1323
Michael Tierney (bishop) (1839–1908), Roman Catholic bishop
Tigernach of Clones (???-549), Irish saint, patron
Tigernach Ua Braín (????-1088), Abbott of Clonmacnoise

In Science[]

James Edward Tierney Aitchison (1835-1898), Scottish surgeon and botanist.
Jessica Tierney (born 1982), American paleoclimatologist
Luke Tierney, American statistician and computer scientist
Sir Matthew John Tierney (1776-1845), Irish surgeon and physician to kings George IV and William IV
Tierney Thys (born 1966), American marine biologist

Fictional Characters[]

Kyra Tierney character in the video game phantasy star 4:The end of the millennium
Philip Tierney main protagonist in the 1958 horror movie Terror in a Haunted House
Rashers Tierney character in TV show strumpet city played by David Kelly
Ray Tierney main protagonist, played by Edward Norton in the movie pride and glory
Sheila Wayne Tierney main protagonist in the 1958 horror movie Terror in a Haunted House
Skye Tierney character in the Evernight book series

References[]

^ ^a ^b ^c "A Brief History".