Find out how popular the first name Tiernan has been for the last 39 years (from 1985 to 2023) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Popularity of Tiernan by gender

Based on the last 39 years of data, Tiernan is more commonly used as a male name, with approximately 88% of people named Tiernan being male.

For the most recent data in 2023, there were 35 male babies and 0 female babies born with the name Tiernan.

The history of the first name Tiernan

The name Tiernan is an Irish given name of Gaelic origin, derived from the Irish word "tíreannach," which means "lord" or "landowner." The name dates back to the early medieval period in Ireland, around the 5th to 8th centuries CE.

Tiernan was a popular name among the Irish nobility and ruling classes during this time. It was often given to the sons of chieftains and kings, reflecting their status as lords of the land. The name's roots can be traced back to the Old Irish language, which was spoken in Ireland before the arrival of Christianity.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Tiernan is found in the Annals of Ulster, a chronicle of medieval Irish history. In this text, a person named Tiernan Ua Ruairc is mentioned as the King of Breifne, a medieval kingdom in what is now County Leitrim, Ireland, in the late 12th century.

Throughout the centuries, several notable individuals bore the name Tiernan. One of the most famous was Tiernan O'Rourke (c. 1625-1718), an Irish poet and harpist who was renowned for his compositions in the Gaelic tradition. Another notable Tiernan was Tiernan O'Donnell (c. 1570-1649), a Irish chieftain and military leader who fought against the English during the Irish Confederate Wars.

In the 19th century, Tiernan was the given name of Tiernan O'Farrelly (1826-1892), an Irish-American businessman and philanthropist who founded the O'Farrelly School for Boys in New York City. Additionally, Tiernan MacBride (1856-1923) was an Irish barrister and Home Rule politician who served as Lord Mayor of Dublin.

Tiernan O'Rourke (1876-1957) was an Irish Sinn Féin politician and member of the First Dáil Éireann, the revolutionary parliament of the Irish Republic established in 1919. He was a prominent figure in the Irish struggle for independence from British rule.

While the name Tiernan has its roots in ancient Irish history, it continues to be used as a given name in modern times, particularly in Ireland and among Irish diaspora communities around the world.

Data source

The first name data used on this page comes from the Social Security Administration (SSA). They've been collecting data on baby names since 1880.

The history and meaning of the name Tiernan was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Tiernan, please contact us.

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