Show ContentsCernan History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The original Gaelic form of Cernan was Mac Thighearnain, which is derived from the word "tighearna," which means "lord."

Early Origins of the Cernan family

The surname Cernan was first found in County Cavan, where they held a family seat from ancient times.

Early History of the Cernan family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Cernan research. Another 53 words (4 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Cernan History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Cernan Spelling Variations

Names from the Middle Ages demonstrate many spelling variations. This is because the recording scribe or church official often decided as to how a person's name was spelt and in what language. Research into the name Cernan revealed many variations, including Kiernan, MacKiernan, Tiernan, McKernan, McKernon, McKernin, McKernen and many more.

Early Notables of the Cernan family

More information is included under the topic Early Cernan Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Cernan family

A massive amount of Ireland's native population left the island in the 19th century for North America and Australia in hopes of finding more opportunities and an escape from discrimination and oppression. A great portion of these migrants arrived on the eastern shores of the North American continent. Although they were generally poor and destitute, and, therefore, again discriminated against, these Irish people were heartily welcomed for the hard labor involved in the construction of railroads, canals, roadways, and buildings. Many others were put to work in the newly established factories or agricultural projects that were so essential to the development of what would become two of the wealthiest nations in the world. The Great Potato Famine during the late 1840s initiated the largest wave of Iris immigration. Early North American immigration and passenger lists have revealed a number of people bearing the name Cernan or a variant listed above: Hugh Kiernan who arrived in Philadelphia in 1802; followed by James in 1826; Charles, James, John, Michael, Patrick, Thomas Kiernan all arrived in Philadelphia between 1840 and 1870.


Contemporary Notables of the name Cernan (post 1700) +

  • Captain Eugene Andrew "Gene" Cernan (1934-2017), American NASA Astronaut with 566 hours in space, the last person to walk on the Moon 1


  1. NASA Astronauts Homepage. (Retrieved 2010, September 27) Eugene Cernan. Retrieved from http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/Bios/htmlbios/cernan-ea.html


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