| ![Show Contents]() McTiernan History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
The original Gaelic versions of today's Irish names demonstrate a proud, ancient past. The original Gaelic form of the name McTiernan is Mac Tighearnain, which is derived from the word tighearna, which means "lord." Early Origins of the McTiernan familyThe surname McTiernan was first found in County Cavan, at Tullyhunco where the "Annals of the Four Masters" show no fewer than 33 Tiernans. Almost all were Chiefs of Teallach Donnchadha. Despite their high ranking, their exploits were not well documented from 1250-1550. One must presume that they ruled with compassion and understanding and were amiable to their fellow man. The "Mac" prefix of the name is typically spelt "MacTernan" or "McTernan" and is usually found in the Cavan-Leitrim area of Ireland. Ternan or Terrenan (d. 431?), was Archbishop of the Picts. "According to his legend he went to Rome, where he spent seven years under the care of the pope, was appointed archbishop of the Picts, and returned to Scotland with the usual accompaniment of miraculous adventures. He died and was buried at Banchory on the river Dee, which was named from him Banchory Ternan. His day in the calendar is 12 June, and the years given for his death vary from 431 to 455. " 1 Early History of the McTiernan familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our McTiernan research. Another 40 words (3 lines of text) covering the year 1800 is included under the topic Early McTiernan History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. McTiernan Spelling VariationsPeople who were accounted for by scribes and church officials often had their name recorded many different ways because pronunciation was the only guide those scribes and church officials had to go by. This resulted in the problem of one person's name being recorded under several different variations, creating the illusion of more than one person. Among the many spelling variations of the surname McTiernan that are preserved in archival documents are Tiernan, Tierman, Ternan, Kiernan and others. Early Notables of the McTiernan familyMore information is included under the topic Early McTiernan Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
 McTiernan migration to the United States | + |
Death and immigration greatly reduced Ireland's population in the 19th century. For the native Irish people poverty, hunger, and racial prejudice was common. Therefore, thousands left their homeland to seek opportunity in North America. Those who survived the journey and the quarantine camps to which they arrived, were instrumental towards building the strong developing nations of the United States and the future Canada. By far, the largest influx of Irish settlers occurred with Great Potato Famine during the late 1840s. These were employed as construction or factory workers. An examination of passenger and immigration lists has shown early immigrants bearing the name McTiernan:
McTiernan Settlers in United States in the 19th Century- Bridget McTiernan, who arrived in New York, NY in 1833 2
- James McTiernan, who landed in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1868 2
| McTiernan migration to Canada | + |
Some of the first settlers of this family name were: McTiernan Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century- Margaret McTiernan, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1827
| Contemporary Notables of the name McTiernan (post 1700) | + |
- John Campbell McTiernan Jr. (b. 1951), American film director and producer
- Paul McTiernan (b. 1982), Irish football player in the League of Ireland
- George McTiernan (b. 1947), Canadian superstar of spin
- Sir Michael Aloysius McTiernan (1892-1990), Australian jurist, lawyer and politician
| Historic Events for the McTiernan family | + |
- Mrs. Margaret McTiernan (1845-1917), Canadian resident from Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada who died in the Halifax Explosion (1917) 3
- Mrs. Mary Jane McTiernan (1857-1917), Canadian resident from Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada who died in the Halifax Explosion (1917) 3
- Mr. Bartley E. McTiernan (1877-1917), Canadian resident from Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada who died in the Halifax Explosion (1917) 3
- Master Wilfred McTiernan (1913-1917), Canadian resident from Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada who died in the Halifax Explosion (1917) 3
- Mrs. Caroline McTiernan (1879-1917), Canadian resident from Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada who died in the Halifax Explosion (1917) 3
- Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print
- 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)
- Halifax Explosion Book of Remembrance | Maritime Museum of the Atlantic. (Retrieved 2014, June 23) . Retrieved from https://maritimemuseum.novascotia.ca/what-see-do/halifax-explosion/halifax-explosion-book-remembrance
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McTiernan migration to the United States 
McTiernan migration to Canada 
Ireland
Scotland
