| ![Show Contents]() Ternent 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 Ternent is Mac Tighearnain, which is derived from the word tighearna, which means "lord." Early Origins of the Ternent familyThe surname Ternent 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 Ternent familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Ternent research. Another 40 words (3 lines of text) covering the year 1800 is included under the topic Early Ternent History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Ternent Spelling VariationsThose scribes in Ireland during the Middle Ages recorded names as they sounded. Consequently, in this era many people were recorded under different spellings each time their name was written down. Research on the Ternent family name revealed numerous spelling variations, including Tiernan, Tierman, Ternan, Kiernan and others. Early Notables of the Ternent familyMore information is included under the topic Early Ternent Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Migration of the Ternent familyTo escape the religious and political discrimination they experienced primarily at the hands of the English, thousands of Irish left their homeland in the 19th century. These migrants typically settled in communities throughout the East Coast of North America, but also joined the wagon trains moving out to the Midwest. Ironically, when the American War of Independence began, many Irish settlers took the side of England, and at the war's conclusion moved north to Canada. These United Empire Loyalists, were granted land along the St. Lawrence River and the Niagara Peninsula. Other Irish immigrants settled in Newfoundland, the Ottawa Valley, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia. The greatest influx of Irish immigrants, however, came to North America during the Great Potato Famine of the late 1840s. Thousands left Ireland at this time for North America and Australia. Many of those numbers, however, did not live through the long sea passage. These Irish settlers to North America were immediately put to work building railroads, coal mines, bridges, and canals. Irish settlers made an inestimable contribution to the building of the New World. Early North American immigration records have revealed a number of people bearing the Irish name Ternent or a variant listed above, including: John Tierman settled in Philadelphia in 1802; John Tiernan settled in Philadelphia in 1845; also 1850; 1867; and 1880; Patrick Tiernan settled in Philadelphia in 1846.
- Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print
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Ireland
Scotland
