Mctiernan
Irish surname meaning "son of the hereditary wolf-hunter or forester".
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 651 Americans carry the last name Mctiernan. That puts it at #38,801 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.19 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 526,504 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Mctiernan surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
Bearers in the US
651
1 in 526,504
Census rank
#38,801
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.2
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
569
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 569 bearers of the surname Mctiernan in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.19 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 38801st position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Mctiernan, the largest self-reported group is White at 95.1%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (3.5%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Mctiernan
The surname MCTIERNAN is of Irish origin, tracing its roots back to the 12th century in County Mayo, Ireland. It is an anglicized version of the Irish Gaelic name "Mac Tighearnaigh," which means "son of the lord" or "son of the landowner." The name is derived from the Gaelic words "mac," meaning "son," and "tighearnaigh," meaning "lord" or "landowner."
The surname MCTIERNAN first appeared in historical records during the Anglo-Norman invasion of Ireland in the late 12th century. The name is linked to the MacTiernan clan, which was a prominent family in County Mayo and held significant landholdings in the region. The earliest known bearer of the name was Maoileachlainn Mac Tighearnaigh, who was a chieftain of the MacTiernan clan in the late 12th century.
In the 14th century, the MCTIERNAN surname is mentioned in the "Annals of the Four Masters," a chronicle of medieval Irish history. The annals record several notable members of the MacTiernan clan, including Tadhg Mac Tighearnaigh, who was a skilled military leader and played a significant role in the Irish campaigns against the Anglo-Normans.
One of the earliest recorded examples of the surname MCTIERNAN can be found in the "Fiants of the Tudor Sovereigns," which were official documents issued by the English government in Ireland during the 16th century. The records mention individuals such as Edmond McTiernan, who was granted land in County Mayo in 1586.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the surname MCTIERNAN. One such person was Michael McTiernan (1829-1892), an Irish-American politician who served as a member of the United States House of Representatives from New York. Another prominent figure was John McTiernan (1951-present), an American film director known for his work on popular action movies like "Die Hard" and "The Hunt for Red October."
Other notable individuals with the surname MCTIERNAN include:
1. Francis McTiernan (1835-1899), an Irish-American businessman and banker in New York City.
2. Hugh McTiernan (1856-1936), an Irish-American Catholic priest and educator who served as the president of Niagara University.
3. John McTiernan (1911-1993), an Australian rules footballer who played for the Melbourne Football Club in the Victorian Football League.
4. Edna McTiernan (1898-1982), an American actress who appeared in several Broadway productions and films during the 1920s and 1930s.
5. Michael McTiernan (1929-2007), an Irish journalist and author who wrote extensively on Irish history and culture.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Mctiernan
Among Census respondents with the surname Mctiernan, the largest self-reported group is White at 95.1%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (3.5%).
The bar chart below shows how Mctiernan bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2010 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Mctiernan surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White95.1%
- Hispanic or Latino3.5%
- Unknown or suppressed1.4%
Year on year
2000 vs 2010 Census
How has the Mctiernan surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
| Metric | 2000 | 2010 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #39,240 | #38,801 | 1.1% |
| Count | 528 | 569 | 7.8% |
| Per 100K | 0.20 | 0.19 | -5.0% |
Between the 2000 and 2010 Census, the number of Mctiernan bearers went from 528 to 569 (+7.8% change). The surname moved up 439 positions in the national ranking, going from #39,240 to #38,801.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Mctiernan
FAQ
Mctiernan surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Mctiernan?
The surname Mctiernan holds position #38,801 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 651 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 0.19 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Mctiernan surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Mctiernan, the largest self-reported group is White at 95.1%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (3.5%). These figures come from the 2010 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Where does this surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These tables list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2010 Census, along with a frequency rate and self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.