Show ContentsKernon History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

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

Early Origins of the Kernon family

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

Early History of the Kernon family

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

Kernon 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 Kernon revealed many variations, including Kiernan, MacKiernan, Tiernan, McKernan, McKernon, McKernin, McKernen and many more.

Early Notables of the Kernon family

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


United States Kernon migration to the United States +

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 Kernon or a variant listed above:

Kernon Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • John Kernon, aged 24, who landed in Washington County, Pennsylvania in 1820 1

Contemporary Notables of the name Kernon (post 1700) +

  • Robert H. Kernon, American politician, U.S. Attorney for Maryland, 1963 2


  1. 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)
  2. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, October 6) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html


Houseofnames.com on Facebook