Surname Tighearna - Meaning and Origin
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Tighearna: What does the surname Tighearna mean?
Tighearna is an Irish surname derived from the Gaelic word “tighearna”, which translates as “lord” or “lordling”. It was used to indicate the head of a minor branch of a noble family. People with the surname Tighearna often shared a common ancestor, and they often shared a coat of arms or other symbols signifying their approximate rank in noble society.
In ancient Ireland, families whose heads had the title of “tighearna” usually resided on a small estate, and their landholders, or vassals, would work the land in return for protection and other services. These families often also received the right to collect certain taxes or tolls from their vassals, and in some cases, their authority extended to collecting dues from those who crossed their territory. As a result, a person with the surname Tighearna was often of some importance, and their family name would have been held in high regard.
Today, surnames of Irish origin like Tighearna are relatively common in many places, but the significance of the surname is still recognizable in many parts of the world. Those with the surname Tighearna likely have distant ancestors who were rooted in Ireland’s rich history, and who likely had some influence on their local society.
Order DNA origin analysisTighearna: Where does the name Tighearna come from?
The last name Tighearna is most commonly found in Ireland today. In Irish, it is pronounced "TEE-ar-nah" and is derived from the Irish words "tighearn" and "tigh." The literal translation for "tighearn" is "lord" or "lordly," and "tigh" means "house," making Tighearna roughly translate to "lord of the house."
Outside of Ireland, the name is far less common. Those who bear the last name today most likely have Irish ancestry, although some have adopted the name from other sources.
Traditionally, members of the Tighearna last name were seen as having noble status in Ireland. Many were prominent in Irish politics and were esteemed as leaders in their local communities, making the name both respected and revered throughout the country.
In the records, the surname Tighearna dates back as far as the sixteenth century. It is most often found in areas including County Galway in the west of Ireland and County Wexford in the south.
Though the last name is less common outside of Ireland, there are still plenty of examples of Tighearna descendants all over the world today, from the United States to Australia. These descendants often carry with them a proud Irish heritage, and a strong attachment to their last name, constantly celebrating different members of their family who share the same last name.
Variations of the surname Tighearna
The surname Tighearna is an anglicization of the Gaelic name Tí Conaill or Mac Conaill. Variants of this name include the Irish Gaelic spelling Tí Ghearáin, which is pronounced tee ghar-awn. Other anglicized versions include Teeran, Teeren, Tieran and Tiernan. Different variants of Tiernan include Tiarnan, Tiarnon, Tiernon, Tierrn, Thiernan, Tighearnan, Tigiernan and Tyernan. In addition, forms such as O’Tierney, O’Tiernan, and O’Tighearn are common, as are shortened forms such as Tiern, Tierny, Tier, Tiernee and Tyerney.
When used as a first name, Tiernan is associated with different spellings and derivatives such as Tiernan, Tierney, Tierny, Tiran, Tearon, Teiran, Tyeran, Tíran and Tigernan. Although rare these days, there is also a female variant of the name Tighearna, which is Eaghthighearna or “the mistress of the house”.
The surname Tighearna has spread beyond Ireland, and variations of the name can be found in the US, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. Other branches of the family have simply been known as Teeran or Tieran, while some have chosen to go back to the original Gaelic spelling of Tí Ghearáin. Similarly, anglicized versions of the variant O’Tierney, O’Tiernan, and O’Tighearn remain popular.
Famous people with the name Tighearna
- Paul Tighearna, an Irish actor and model
- Seán Tighearna, a radical Irish poet
- Tim Tighearna, a musician and composer
- Edward Tighearna, an American lawyer and politician
- Terrance Tighearna, an Irish-American playwright
- Dan Tighearna, an American pianist and conductor
- Bob Tighearna, a professional golfer from Ireland
- Mary Tighearna, a leading Irish-American historian
- John Tighearna, a leading Irish human rights lawyer
- Joseph Tighearna, an Irish classical scholar