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{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
'''Tierney''' {{IPAc-en|ˈ|t|ɪər|n|i}} is an Irish surname, and a female given name.

The name is an Anglicized form of the [[Irish language]] surname {{lang|ga|Ó Tiarnaigh}} (literally "Descendant of [[Tigernach (disambiguation)|Tiarnach]]"; historically spelt {{lang|ga|Ó Tighearnaigh}}), derived from {{lang|ga|[[tiarna]]}}, the Irish word for 'lord' or 'master'. It is sometimes a variant of [[Tiernan]] ({{langx|ga|Mac Tiarnáin|link=no}}).<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.allfamilycrests.com/t/mctiernan-family-crest-coat-of-arms.shtml | title=McTiernan family crest and meaning of the coat of arms for the surname McTiernan, McTiernan name origin }}</ref>
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==Families==
Five unrelated families of the name arose in [[Gaelic Ireland]], in what is now [[County Clare]], [[County Mayo]], [[County Monaghan]], [[County Meath]], and [[County Tipperary]].

===Ó Tighearnaigh of Cenél nEógain===
This family lived in the territory of [[Farney (barony)|Fearnmuigh]] or Fearnmaigh [which means 'the territory of the plain'], in an area in South [[Monaghan]]/South [[Armagh]] that is the present Barony of [[Farney, Monaghan|Farney]], whose principal town is [[Carrickmacross]].<ref name="A Brief History">{{cite web| url = http://homepage.eircom.net/~thetierneyclan/A%20Brief%20History.htm#origins| title = A Brief History}}</ref>

===Ó Tighearnaigh of Uí Fiachrach Muaidhe===
This family were Lords of [[Carra, County Mayo|Carra]]. Almost the only family member recorded in the annals was [[Flann Ó Tighearnaigh]]. [[Gilbert Ó Tigernaig]], Bishop of [[Annaghdown]] (1306–1323), was also a member of this family.

===Ó Tighearnaigh of Brega===
This family claimed descent from [[Tigernach mac Fócartai]] (died 865), one of the [[Kings of Brega]]. They were a branch of the southern [[Uí Néill]]. "The Kingdom is said to have stretched from [[Birr, County Offaly|Birr]] in County [[Offaly]] to the [[Hill of Uisneach|Hill of Uishneach]] in Westmeath. Tighearnach resided at the Great [[Crannóg]] of Lagore, which is situated near [[Ratoath]] in County [[County Meath|Meath]], not far from Dublin. Tighearnach led the Irish to a great victory over the Norse Vikings in 848 A.D."<ref name="A Brief History" />

===Ó Tighearnaigh of Ormond===
A family of the name resided in [[Ormond (ancient Irish kingdom)|Ormond]], now [[County Tipperary]]. Their origins are obscure.<ref name="A Brief History" /> New research now confirms that this family was indeed an indigenous sept. Their seat was in the townland of Park and their lands, Fearann Ó Tighearnaigh, took in most of the present-day townlands of [[Ballymackey]], Ballyknockane, Carrowea, Clash, Falleen, Gortnadrumman, Kilgorteen and Knockane.

===Ó Tighearnaigh of Corcu Modruad===
This is an area in northern [[County Clare]]. This sept were hereditary priests and monks.

== Notable people with the surname ==

===In arts and media===
* [[Brian Tierney (medievalist)]] (1922–2019), historian and medievalist
* [[Mark Aloysius Tierney]] (1795–1862), English Catholic historian
* [[Patrick Lennox Tierney]] (1914–2015), art historian, specialist on Japan
* [[Tom Tierney (artist)]] (1928–2014), American paper doll artist

====Film, television, and theatre====
* [[Eileen Wilson Powell]] (1894–1942), American actress born Julia Mary Tierney
* [[Gene Tierney]] (1920–1991), American stage and film actress
* Gerard "Jerry" Tierney (1924–1985), American actor known as [[Scott Brady (actor)|Scott Brady]]
* [[Jacob Tierney]] (born 1979), Canadian actor, film director and writer
* [[Kevin Tierney]] (1950–2018), Canadian film producer
* [[Lawrence Tierney]] (1919–2002), Irish-American actor
* [[Malcolm Tierney]] (1938–2014), British actor
* [[Matt Tierney (sound designer)|Matt Tierney]], American sound designer for theatre  
* [[Maura Tierney]] (born 1965), American actress

====In music====
* [[Andrew Tierney]] (born 1974), Australian singer-songwriter of band Human nature
* [[Garrett Tierney]], bass guitar and vocals in band 'brand new'
* [[Harry Tierney]] (1890–1965), American composer of musical theatre
* [[Michael Tierney (musician)]] (born 1977), member of Australian band Human Nature
* [[Mick Pyro]], Irish musician, born Michael Tierney
* [[Vivian Tierney]] (born 1957), English operatic soprano

====In other media====
* [[Gerard Tierney]] (1924–1979), Irish bi-lingual radio broadcaster
* [[John Tierney (journalist)]] (born 1953), American journalist
* [[Matthew Tierney (poet)]] (born 1970), Canadian poet
* [[Patrick Tierney (author)]], American writer and mountaineer
* [[Richard L. Tierney]] (1936–2022), American writer
* [[Robert J. Tierney]], linguist and author
* [[Ronald Tierney]] (1944–2017), American newspaper editor and author
* [[Tierney Gearon]] (born 1963), American photographer

===Government, law, and politics===
* [[Darren Tierney]], British civil servant, Director General for Propriety and Ethics
* [[Frank A. Tierney]], Deputy Commissioner under the Workmen's Compensation act
* [[Gayle Tierney]], Australian politician, Labor party
* [[George Tierney]] (1761–1830), English Whig politician
* [[James Tierney (politician)]] (born 1947), Attorney General of Maine
* [[James Tierney Jr.]] American republican politician, Representative from New Hampshire
* [[John Tierney (Australian politician)]] (born 1946), Liberal senator
* [[John Tierney (Irish politician)]] (born 1951)
* [[John F. Tierney]] (born 1951), United States Representative from Massachusetts 
* [[John H. Tierney]] (1832–1907), American politician and farmer
* [[John J. Tierney]] (1926–2005), American Boston city council member
* [[Joseph M. Tierney]] (1941–2009), American politician, father of Maura Tierney
* [[Michael Tierney (politician)]] (1894–1975), professor at University College Dublin
* [[Patrick Tierney (Irish politician)]] (1904–1990), Irish Labour party politician
* [[Peter Tierney Murrell]] (born 1964), CEO of the Scottish National Party
* [[Sir Edward Tierney, 2nd Baronet]] (June 1780–11 May 1856) Irish lawyer and landowner
* [[Susan Tierney]] (born 1951), American academic and Government policy administrator
* [[Sydney Tierney]] (1923–2010), British Labour Party politician
* [[Thomas Tierney (mayor)]] (1916–1998), Irish mayor of Galway, Ireland  
* [[Thomas M. Tierney]] (1919–2001), American administrator of the Bureau of Health Insurance
* [[Tim Tierney]] (born 1974), Canadian councillor and politician
* [[William Tierney Robarts]] (1786–1820), British politician and businessman
* [[William L. Tierney]] (1876–1958), Democratic member of the US House of Representatives

===In sport===
==== In football ====
* [[Chris Tierney (soccer)]] (born 1986), American footballer
* [[Fergus Tierney]] (born 2003), Scottish born Malaysian footballer, Johor Darul Ta'zim III F.C.
* [[Francis Tierney]] (born 1975), English footballer with Doncaster Rovers
* [[Gary Tierney]] (born 1986), Scottish football (soccer) player
* [[Grant Tierney]] (born 1961), Scottish footballer
* [[Jim Tierney (footballer)]] (born 1940), Scottish footballer
* [[Kieran Tierney]] (born 1997), footballer for Celtic Glasgow, Arsenal
* [[Lawrie Tierney]] (1959–2011), Scottish football (soccer) player
* [[Marc Tierney]] (born 1985), English footballer (soccer)
* [[Martin Tierney]] (born 1966), Scottish footballer (Ayr United) and TV pundit
* [[Neil Tierney]], Australian rugby league footballer
* [[Paul Tierney (footballer)]] (born 1982 in England), Irish football (soccer) player
* [[Ross Tierney]] (born 2001), Irish footballer
* [[Ryan Tierney]], Scottish footballer
* [[Sam Tierney]] (born 1998), English footballer for Leicester City
* [[Tommy Tierney]], English footballer

====In Gaelic football and hurling====
* [[Benny Tierney]], Irish Gaelic goalkeeper and sports journalist
* [[David Tierney]] (born 1979), Irish hurler and Gaelic footballer
* [[John Tierney (Gaelic footballer)]] (born 1982), Gaelic footballer
* [[Matthew Tierney (Gaelic footballer)]], Irish Gaelic footballer
* [[Michael Tierney (Gaelic footballer)]] (born 1986), from Laois in Ireland
* [[Noel Tierney]] (born 1942), Irish Gaelic footballer and sportsperson
* [[Tom Tierney (Galway hurler)]] (born 1983), Irish hurler and manager
* [[Tom Tierney (Kilkenny hurler)]] (1894–1984), Irish hurler
* [[Tomás Tierney]] (born 1961), Irish Gaelic footballer

====In rugby====
*[[Abi Tierney]], British, appointed as the first female chief executive of the Welsh Rugby Union in 2023 
*[[Dylan Tierney-Martin]] (born 1999), Irish rugby union player
*[[Lewis Tierney]] (born 1994), Scottish international rugby league player
*[[Matt Tierney (rugby union)]] (born 1996), Canadian Rugby union player
*[[Melbourne Tierney]] (1923–2014), Welsh rugby league player
*[[Paul Tierney (rugby league)]] (1919–1973), Australian rugby league footballer
*[[Tom Tierney (rugby union)]], Irish rugby union player

====In other sports====
* [[Bill Tierney (baseball)]] (1858–1898), with Cincinnati red stockings
* [[Bill Tierney]] (born 1952) American lacrosse coach
* [[Blake Tierney]] (born 2002) Canadian competitive swimmer
* [[Chris Tierney (ice hockey)]] (born 1994), Canadian hockey player
* [[Cotton Tierney]] (1894–1953), American baseball second and third baseman
* [[Erin Tierney]] (born 1970), Cook Islander female Olympic sprinter
* [[Festus Tierney]] (1899–1973), American NFL guard with Toledo Maroons
* [[Jack Tierney]] (1893–1968), American basketball player and coach
* [[Jade Tierney]] (born 2004), Cook Islander Olympic canoeist
* [[James Tierney (footballer)]] (1878–1959), Australian rules footballer
* [[Joe Tierney]] (1903–2004), American sprinter at the 1928 Olympics
* [[John Tierney (cricketer)]] (born 1964), English cricketer
* [[John Tierney (rower)]], American rower
* [[Meghan Tierney]], US Olympic snowboarder
* [[Paul Tierney (hurler)]] (born 1982), Irish hurler and ultrarunner
* [[Rhona Torney|Rhona Tierney]] (Torney), Irish camogie player
* [[Shea Tierney]] (born 1986), American football and coach for New York giants
* [[Tim Tierney (American football)]] (1943–2012), American football player and coach
* [[Trevor Tierney]], American lacrosse goaltender and coach

=== In business ===
* [[Brian Tierney]] (born 1957), American businessman and newspaper publisher
* Michael Tierney (born 1989), American businessman, founder of [[Stuffed Puffs]]
* [[Paul E. Tierney]] (born 1943), American business professor and venture capitalist
* [[Thomas J. Tierney]] (born 1954), business executive, chairman of eBay

=== In education ===
* [[Alison J. Tierney]] (born 1948), British nursing theorist and researcher
* [[Charles Rust-Tierney]] (born 1955), American ACLU chapter president
* [[James Tierney (politician)]] (born 1947), Attorney General of Maine
* [[Keith Tierney]], Canadian scientist and academic
* [[Myles Tierney]] (1937–2017), American mathematician and professor
* [[Robert J. Tierney]], Dean Emeritus at the University of British Columbia
* [[T. F. Tierney]] (born 1951), American urbanist, network theorist and educator
* [[William G. Tierney]], American scholar in higher education and author

=== In religion ===
* [[Cornelius Tierney]] (1872–1931), Irish priest and missionary
* [[Gilbert Ó Tigernaig]], bishop of Annaghdown
* [[Michael Tierney (bishop)]] (1839–1908), Roman Catholic bishop
* [[Tigernach of Clones]] (died 549), Irish saint, patron
* [[Tigernach Ua Braín]] (died 1088), Abbott of Clonmacnoise

=== In science ===
* [[James Edward Tierney Aitchison]] (1835–1898), Scottish surgeon and botanist
* [[Jessica Tierney]] (born 1982), American paleoclimatologist
* [[Luke Tierney]], American statistician and computer scientist
* [[Matthew John Tierney]] (1776–1845), Irish surgeon and royal physician

=== In other fields ===
* [[Emiko Ohnuki-Tierney]] (born 1934), Japanese-American anthropologist
* [[Flann Ó Tighearnaigh]] (died 1273), Gaelic Irish lord
* [[Paul Tierney (referee)]] (born 1980), English football referee
* [[Tigernach mac Fócartai]] (died 865), king of [[Lagore]]
* [[William Tierney Clark]] (1783–1852), English civil engineer of bridges

== Fictional characters ==
* Kyra Tierney, character in the video game [[Phantasy Star IV]]
* Philip Tierney, main protagonist in the 1958 film [[Terror in the Haunted House]]
* Rashers Tierney in TV show [[Strumpet City (miniseries)]] played by David Kelly
* Ray Tierney, main protagonist in [[Pride and Glory (film)]] played by Edward Norton
* Sheila Wayne Tierney, main protagonist in the 1958 film [[Terror in the Haunted House]]
* Skye Tierney, character in the [[Evernight (series)]] books
* Jack Tierney, character in the film [[Friday the 13th (1980 film)|Friday the 13th]]

== Notable people with the given name ==
* [[Tierney Gearon]] (born 1963), American photographer
* [[Tierney Pfirman]] (born 1994), American basketball player
* [[Tierney Sutton]] (born 1963), American singer
* [[Tierney Thys]] (born 1966), American biologist

==See also==
* [[Lawvere–Tierney topology]]
* [[Roper-Logan-Tierney model of nursing]] (published 1980, revised in 1985, 1990 and latest edition 1998)
* [[Simmons–Tierney bet]]
* [[Tigernach (disambiguation)]]
* [[Pitt–Tierney duel]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{Given name|type=both}}

[[Category:Irish families]]
[[Category:Patronymic surnames]]
[[Category:Surnames of Irish origin]]
[[Category:Anglicised Irish-language surnames]]