Ó Tighearnáin

Rev Patrick Woulfe

Irish Names and Surnames

1923

Ó TIGHEARNÁIN—I—O Ternane, O Tiernan, Tiernan, Ternan, (Tierney); 'descendant of Tighearnán' (diminutive of Tighearnach, lordly); an alias, in Mayo and Westmeath, for Ó Tighearnaigh, which see; but there are probably distinct families of the name, none however numerous, in other parts of Ireland. Of the Mayo family, O'Donovan writes: "They are a stout race of men and very proud of their descent, of which, however, they know nothing, except that their ancestors, a long time ago, had estates in Carra, and were strong men and courageous fighters. They look upon themselves as superior to their neighbours of the same rank, and always use a style of dress, particularly the great coat, by which they are at once distinguished from others of the same neighbourhood. This gave rise to an Irish saying in Carra: 'Ir geall le mórgháil Mhuintire Thighearnáin é'—'It is like the ostentation of the O'Tiernans'" (Hy Fiachrach, p. 186 n.).

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