Tigerna facts for kids
A Tiarna (pronounced "TEER-na") is an old Irish and Scottish Gaelic word for a lord. Think of a lord as an important leader or a noble person in charge of a certain area. The word comes from the Old Irish word tigerna.
Sometimes, you might hear the term Ard Tiarna. This means "high lord." An Ard Tiarna was a very important noble, often similar in rank to a count or an earl in other parts of Europe. These were powerful titles in the Gaelic lands of Ireland and Scotland.
The family name Tierney is actually an English version of an old Irish name, O'Tighearnaigh, which came from the word Tiarna.
How the Title Changed
Over time, the meaning of "Tiarna" could change. In older writings, some leaders were called Rí, which means "king." But in later times, writers might use "Tiarna" instead of "Rí" for these same leaders. This happened when people started to see these rulers as less powerful than a true king. So, sometimes, a "Tiarna" might have once been considered a king!
Famous Examples
- James Tuchet, 3rd Earl of Castlehaven: This Irish nobleman, who came from an English family, was sometimes called Tiarna Beag. This means "Little Lord." He got this nickname because he was not very tall.
