Kiernan

Kiernan is a name of Irish origin. It is usually performed as a surname; as a male first name is Kiernan rare.

• 3.1 Surname

Origin and Meaning

Family name

As a family name Kiernan is the shortened form of McKiernan, who in turn is the anglicized form of the Gaelic Meic Thighearnáin and means son of Tighearnan. The Meic Thighearnáins were in ancient Ireland, the owner of the barony of Tullyhunco and settled in Croghan.

Additional derivations have the Celtic word cuirnin (bush ) or the Gaelic word cuirnean (small cairn or hill ).

First name

As a first name Kiernan is an Anglicized version of the Gaelic -Irish name Ciaran or Scottish Gaelic Ciaran ( Irish pronunciation: [ ciəɾ ˠ a ː n ˠ ] or [ ciəɾ ˠ a ː n ˠ ]; English pronunciation: [ kɪərən ] ) and can be " small, dark man " or " dark-haired man ". imply All forms of the name are from the Gaelic word ciar ( German: black, dark ) derived.

Variants

Name variants are Ciaran, Keiran, Keiron, Kernan, Kieran, Kieren, Kieron, Kierren, Kierrin, Kierron, Kiran or Kyran. The name variations are more common than their first names.

Bearers of the name

Family name

• Ben Kiernan ( born 1953 ), Australian historian and author
• Caitlin Kiernan (born 1964 ), Irish science fiction and fantasy author
• Colm Kiernan (1931-2010), Irish historian
• Francis Kiernan (1800-1874), British anatomist and physician
• Ian Kiernan ( born 1940 ), Australian yachtsman and environmental activist
• Thomas J. Kiernan (1897-1967), Irish diplomat
• Victor Kiernan (1913-2009), British historian
• William Kiernan (1908-1973), American production designer in film