Surname MacKiernan - Meaning and Origin

MacKiernan: What does the surname MacKiernan mean?

The last name MacKiernan is a patronymic surname, meaning it is derived from the name of an ancestor. Specifically, MacKiernan is an anglicized form of the Irish surname Mac Ciardhain. The prefix “Mac” indicates the name originates from a son of the original ancestor, while “Ciardhain” is derived from a Gaelic word meaning “son of a dark-haired one”.

The MacKiernans were a sept or clan with origins in County Leitrim, situated north of the River Shannon in the northwest region of Ireland. The original root of the name traces its origin to the region of Ciardhain in Connacht, which in turn comes from the region of Kieran in the Barony of Errislannan. According to Irish history, St. Kieran of Saigir was an illustrious scholar and the patron saint of Ossory.

The MacKiernans, who are known to be descendants of King Milesius, have a long and distinguished genealogy. The MacKiernan chiefs served as the Kings of Hy-Many - a division of Connacht which included Galway, Mayo, Roscommon and Sligo - for some 500 years and had an enduring presence in Irish history.

The name MacKiernan is widely renowned throughout Ireland and the United Kingdom. It is estimated that there are over 10,000 people throughout Ireland, Britain and the United States with the surname, making the MacKiernan family one of the most prolific families in Irish history.

MacKiernan: Where does the name MacKiernan come from?

The last name MacKiernan is an Irish surname that originated in the Connacht province of Ireland. It is a surname derived from the Gaelic MacGhiolla Iontach, which means "son of the devoted one". It is not very common today; however, it is still found in Ireland, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Canada. In Ireland, the name is largely concentrated in County Galway along the River Corrib and in County Roscommon in the Nth East. In the United Kingdom, MacKiernan is most commonly found in Scotland, particularly in Glasgow. In the United States, it is most commonly found in New York, Pennsylvania, Texas, Massachusetts, Montana, and Arizona. In Canada, it is found most commonly in Ontario. Online genealogical records show that MacKiernans can be traced back to ancient clans in the area around what is now Galway and Roscommon.

The last name MacKiernan can also be seen in various variations, such as MacKernan, Shiernan, Kiernan, and McKiernan. McKiernan, with one K, is a Scottish version of the name and is more common in the United States than the original Irish version with two K's. In Scotland, the name is also associated with the Galloway region.

In closing, the last name MacKiernan is an ancient Irish surname that is not as common today as it once was. The MacKiernan spelling is primarily found in Ireland, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Canada. The name is still seen in various forms, such as MacKernan, Shiernan, Kiernan, and McKiernan. Despite its decline in population, the MacKiernan surname is still an important part of Irish history and culture.

Variations of the surname MacKiernan

The surname MacKiernan is one of the many Irish and Scottish surnames of Gaelic origin, and is an anglicised form of the Gaelic name MacFhirBhain - the prefix ‘Mac’ meaning ‘son of’ and ‘FhirBhain’ meaning ‘descendant of Kernern.’ Variants of the MacKiernan surname include MacKerner, MacKerran, MacKernan, MacKearnan, MacKernon, MacKirn, MacKirnan, MacKierann, Kiaran and Kiernan. Some of the variations of this surname can also be found in different spellings, such as MacKeroan, MacKiron, MacKieron and MacKyrnan.

MacKiernan is a common surname in Ireland and Scotland, and is used all over the world. It is also found in different surnames, including Kerner, Kernan, Kiernan, Kirnan, Kirwan and Cairns. Some spellings of the MacKiernan surname can be seen in other countries such as Northern Ireland, the UK, the United States, Australia, Canada, South Africa and New Zealand as well as in other parts of the world.

A person’s surname is an important part of their identity and it is often the case that different families with a similar surname may be from different countries or regions. This is certainly the case for the MacKiernan surname which can be found in many locations around the world.

Famous people with the name MacKiernan

• Doug Mackiernan: a software engineer and one of the early developers of the computer programming language COBOL.
• Dara Mackiernan: a former Irish politician who served as a TD for the Carlow–Kilkenny constituency between 1969 and 1989.
• Bridgit Mackiernan: a NASA astronaut candidate.
• Miler Mackiernan: an American actor who has had roles on television shows such as The O.C., CSI: Miami and NCIS.
• Aidan Mackiernan: a British Army officer and current Commander of the British Army’s Wales.
• Paul Mackiernan: an Irish entrepreneur and the founder of the software company Practice Planner.
• Will Mackiernan: a former professional ice hockey player who played in the National Hockey League from 2003 to 2012.
• Darren Mackiernan: an Australian television presenter and newsreader who is currently a reporter for Sky News Australia.
• Noel Mackiernan: an Irish music producer and musician.
• Colm Mackiernan: an Irish novelist and playwright who has written numerous books, including The Tattooed Wall and Life Is A Bottle Of Grains.

Other surnames

MacKieran