Gaelic variations: Ó hEachthigheirn, Ó hEachthigherna, Ó hEichthigheirn, Ó hEachthighearna, Ó hEachiairn.

Ó hEachthighearna: “lord of the horse”.

Anglicised variations: Ahern(e), Ahearn(e), Hearn(e), O’Hearn(e).

The family are said to be descended from Echtigern who was a brother of the High King of Ireland, Brian Boru. Being of the Dalcassians, they were an important sept [...]