Variants McTiernan, Tiernan, McKiernan, Kiernan. In the Annals of the Four Masters this Irish family is mentioned no less than 33 times, nearly all of them being Chiefs of Teallach Donnchadha. They were a very important sept throughout the three centuries from 1250-1550. The name is still found chiefly in the Cavan-Leitrim area but generally without the prefix Mac. Another sept held territory in the north eastern part of Roscommon in mediaeval times, they being descended from the grandson of Turlough Mor O'Connor, King of Ireland. The name is also spelt in Irish MacThighearnain, which is anglicized MacKiernan.
Animal is a Lion
Lion - The lion is the most popular beast in heraldry. He appears in the arms of Great Britian, Denmark, Spain, Holland, Bohemia, Saxony and numerous lesser countries. As early as 1127 Henry I used the lion as an ornament on a shield. Of the 918 bannerets of Edward II, 225 bore lions. The early English heralds seem to have confused the lion with the leopard. While never drawn spotted as the real leopard, he was described in most attitudes as leo-pardé, or a lion as a leopard.
The lion is drawn in about 30 attitudes, but it is seldom he is seen in other than rampant or passant.
Lion pose is “passant”
Passant - (pas'-sant) Walking; said of any animal, except beasts of the chase, when represented as walking, with the dexter paw raised.
The same attitude in the case of a stag, hart, etc., would be trippant.
