| ![Show Contents]() Keirnan History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
- Origins Available:
 Ireland The original Gaelic form of Keirnan was Mac Thighearnain, which is derived from the word "tighearna," which means "lord." Early Origins of the Keirnan familyThe surname Keirnan was first found in County Cavan, where they held a family seat from ancient times. Early History of the Keirnan familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Keirnan research. Another 53 words (4 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Keirnan History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Keirnan Spelling VariationsBefore widespread literacy came to Ireland, a name was often recorded under several different variations during the life of its bearer. Accordingly, numerous spelling variations were revealed in the search for the origin of the name Keirnan family name. Variations found include Kiernan, MacKiernan, Tiernan, McKernan, McKernon, McKernin, McKernen and many more. Early Notables of the Keirnan familyMore information is included under the topic Early Keirnan Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
 Keirnan migration to the United States | + |
The 19th century saw a great wave of Irish families leaving Ireland for the distant shores of North America and Australia. These families often left their homeland hungry, penniless, and destitute due to the policies of England. Those Irish immigrants that survived the long sea passage initially settled on the eastern seaboard of the continent. Some, however, moved north to a then infant Canada as United Empire Loyalists after ironically serving with the English in the American War of Independence. Others that remained in America later joined the westward migration in search of land. The greatest influx of Irish immigrants, though, came to North America during the Great Potato Famine of the late 1840s. Thousands left Ireland at this time for North America, and those who arrived were immediately put to work building railroads, coal mines, bridges, and canals. In fact, the foundations of today's powerful nations of the United States and Canada were to a larger degree built by the Irish. Archival documents indicate that members of the Keirnan family relocated to North American shores quite early:
Keirnan Settlers in United States in the 19th Century- Francis Keirnan, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1803-1827 1
- James Keirnan, who landed in New York, NY in 1816 1
| Contemporary Notables of the name Keirnan (post 1700) | + |
- Anthony Keirnan, American actor, known for his work in Captives (1994)
- Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
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Keirnan migration to the United States 
