Insights
Into the O’Neills of
Edwin B. O’Neill and John
D. McLaughlin
The O'Neills of
Address
for correspondence: E. B. O’Neill,
vix3205 (at) cox.net
Received:
Introduction
The
purpose of the present research was to determine if available DNA and other
data provide new insights into the O’Neills[1]
of Ireland, including the relationship of the O’Neills to Niall “of the Nine
Hostages,” the traditional founder of the Ui Neill dynasties in
Irish Historical Background
One of
the most important surnames in Irish history is O’Neill; persons bearing that
surname were kings or rulers in
Y-DNA
testing can help separate Irish history from legend and myth as in a study
series conducted by
To
examine further the question of whether the IMH was consistent with patrilineal
descent from the Ui Neill line, Moore et al. (2006) tested another 59
participants, all with surnames linked to the Ui Neill line (but not including
O’Neills), at 19 Y-STR markers, the results showing “. . . a significantly
higher affinity with the IMH . . . than with a general R1b3 northwestern Ireland
geographic population . . . .”
Independent
of, and prior to the TCD studies,
Through
19-Marker Y-STR tests a second TCD study by McEvoy and Bradley (2006) (data,
shown at McEvoy (2006)), examined 1,325 males of selected surnames including 80
O’Neills from all areas of
Methods
The
present study used the Y-STR data on the 80 O’Neills identified in the TCD
surname study, supplemented with data from six additional DNA sources on
O’Neills (and McLaughlins, O Cathains, McShanes and others). These sources were, the Y-STR database of Sorenson
Molecular Genealogy Foundation (SMGF), Y-Base, Y-Search, the surname projects
of Family Tree DNA (FTDNA), the Clan McShane-Johnson-MacSeai’n (McS) website
and a separate McShane Family website.
SMGF has
an extensive collection of haplotypes from samples donated for research
purposes with online access and a surname-search capability. The Y-Search and
Y-Base databases also allow for searches by surname. The FTDNA projects provide Y-DNA test results
for specific participants, many of whom have also uploaded their results to
Y-Search; these participants are identified by kit number. McS includes Y-DNA
test results for several McShane, O’Neill and related surnames while The
McShane Family website shows results for several McShanes. Y-STR haplotypes for 22 O’Neills were
extracted from the six sources, which were then added to the 80 haplotypes from
the TCD study, resulting in an overall total of 102.
Results
A most
important finding was the presence of at least two distinct clusters within the
102 haplotypes, one associated with NWI, the other not. We have named the second cluster the O'Neill
Variety (ON) and the modal haplotype for this cluster, the O’Neill Modal
Haplotype (ONMH). Restricting the
clusters to those haplotypes which are one-step up-or-down at two markers or
less from NWIMH or ONMH there are twelve O’Neills in the NWI group but more
than twice as many, 30 haplotypes, in the ON cluster. The remaining 62 O’Neills were apparently
unrelated to the two largest clusters, representing multiple independent
origins of the surname.
Table
1 displays those
12 O’Neills who form the NWI cluster. The
authors have arbitrarily included in this table only those haplotypes within
two mutational steps of the modal values, but a later table will include
haplotypes of more mutational steps, but confined to territories associated
with the Northern Ui Neill and the Tyrone O’Neills (O'Neills from in and around
County Tyrone). Because the great
majority of subjects was from the McEvoy and Bradley TCD study, the table
displays only the 19 markers used in that study. More markers were available for the
non-TCD-study participants, but those are omitted in Table 1. The TCD study tested a few markers not
available in the other sources, so, where appropriate, some values are left
blank in the table. “ON-X” denotes a
participant from the TCD study, “O-N29907” and “O-49120” are from the FTDNA
O’Neill Project, showing their kit numbers, and “N-2274” is from the FTDNA
Neal-O’Neal Project, also labeled by kit number. It is noted that 2 has been added to the DYS
values of the TCD study for DYS 461 to make it compatible with conventions used
by FTDNA, DNAH, DNA-FP, etc. Y-Search, Y-Base, SMGF and the two McShane sources
did not yield any additional O'Neills beyond those included in Table 1.
Table 1 O’Neills with NWIrish Variety Haplotypes
|
DYS |
19 |
388 |
390 |
391 |
392 |
393 |
434 |
435 |
436 |
437 |
438 |
439 |
389-1 |
389-2 |
460 |
461 |
462 |
385a |
385b |
|
NWIMH |
14 |
12 |
25 |
11 |
14 |
13 |
9 |
11 |
12 |
15 |
12 |
12 |
13 |
29 |
11 |
12 |
11 |
11 |
13 |
|
ON62 |
14 |
12 |
25 |
11 |
14 |
13 |
9 |
11 |
12 |
15 |
12 |
12 |
13 |
29 |
11 |
12 |
11 |
11 |
13 |
|
ON31 |
14 |
12 |
25 |
11 |
14 |
13 |
9 |
11 |
12 |
15 |
11 |
12 |
13 |
29 |
11 |
12 |
11 |
11 |
13 |
|
ON68 |
14 |
12 |
25 |
10 |
14 |
13 |
9 |
11 |
12 |
15 |
12 |
12 |
13 |
29 |
11 |
12 |
11 |
11 |
13 |
|
ON76 |
14 |
12 |
25 |
10 |
14 |
13 |
9 |
11 |
12 |
15 |
12 |
12 |
13 |
29 |
11 |
12 |
11 |
11 |
13 |
|
ON1 |
14 |
12 |
25 |
11 |
14 |
13 |
9 |
11 |
12 |
14 |
12 |
12 |
13 |
29 |
11 |
12 |
11 |
11 |
13 |
|
O-N29907 |
14 |
12 |
25 |
11 |
14 |
12 |
|
|
|
|
|
12 |
13 |
29 |
|
|
|
11 |
13 |
|
ON57 |
14 |
12 |
25 |
11 |
14 |
13 |
9 |
11 |
12 |
15 |
12 |
13 |
13 |
29 |
11 |
12 |
11 |
11 |
14 |
|
ON44 |
15 |
12 |
25 |
12 |
14 |
13 |
9 |
11 |
12 |
15 |
12 |
12 |
13 |
29 |
11 |
12 |
11 |
11 |
13 |
|
ON22 |
14 |
12 |
25 |
11 |
14 |
13 |
9 |
11 |
12 |
15 |
12 |
11 |
13 |
29 |
11 |
11 |
11 |
11 |
13 |
|
ON19 |
14 |
12 |
25 |
11 |
14 |
13 |
9 |
11 |
12 |
15 |
12 |
11 |
13 |
29 |
11 |
11 |
11 |
11 |
13 |
|
O-49130 |
14 |
12 |
25 |
11 |
13 |
13 |
|
|
|
15 |
12 |
12 |
13 |
29 |
11 |
|
|
11 |
14 |
|
N-2274 |
15 |
12 |
25 |
12 |
14 |
13 |
|
|
|
|
|
12 |
13 |
29 |
|
|
|
11 |
13 |
Table
2 shows the Y-STR
haplotypes for the 30 O’Neills of the O'Neill Variety. Of the 30, 13 had identical 19/19 matches, 2 had
16/16 matches, 10 had 18/19 matches, 1 had 15/16, 2 had 11/12 and 2 had 17/19.
The table illustrates that this ON Variety is a very tightly clustered group,
indicative of a very recent origin. Expanding
the restrictions to 3 mismatches, yields only two more O'Neills. It is noted that, using only their 80 O'Neills
and haplotypes within one mutational step or less of ONMH, McEvoy and Bradley
estimated the TMRCA of about 1,100 years (about the year 900), very close to
the time frame of the grandson of Niall Glundubh, Domhnall “of Armagh”, said to
be the first to use the surname O’Neill. It is also noted that, in the TCD surname
study, there were only two non-O’Neills closer than a 16/19 match with ONMH
(McNeice and McVeigh).
|
DYS |
19 |
3 8 8 |
3 9 0 |
3 9 1 |
3 9 2 |
3 9 3 |
434 |
435 |
436 |
437 |
438 |
439 |
3 8 9-1 |
389-2 |
460 |
4 6 1 |
4 6 2 |
3 8 5 a |
3 8 5 b |
|
|
ONMH |
14 |
12 |
24 |
11 |
13 |
13 |
9 |
12 |
12 |
15 |
12 |
11 |
13 |
30 |
11 |
12 |
11 |
12 |
15 |
|
|
O’N13 |
14 |
12 |
24 |
11 |
13 |
13 |
9 |
12 |
12 |
15 |
12 |
11 |
13 |
30 |
11 |
12 |
11 |
12 |
15 |
|
|
S1 |
14 |
12 |
24 |
11 |
13 |
13 |
|
|
|
15 |
12 |
11 |
13 |
30 |
11 |
12 |
11 |
12 |
15 |
|
|
S5 |
14 |
12 |
24 |
11 |
13 |
13 |
|
|
|
15 |
12 |
11 |
13 |
30 |
11 |
12 |
11 |
12 |
15 |
|
|
ON5 |
14 |
12 |
24 |
11 |
13 |
13 |
9 |
11 |
12 |
15 |
12 |
11 |
13 |
30 |
11 |
12 |
11 |
12 |
15 |
|
|
ON29 |
14 |
12 |
24 |
11 |
13 |
13 |
9 |
11 |
12 |
15 |
12 |
11 |
13 |
30 |
11 |
12 |
11 |
12 |
15 |
|
|
ON30 |
14 |
12 |
24 |
10 |
13 |
13 |
9 |
12 |
12 |
15 |
12 |
11 |
13 |
30 |
11 |
12 |
11 |
12 |
15 |
|
|
ON38 |
14 |
12 |
24 |
10 |
13 |
13 |
9 |
12 |
12 |
15 |
12 |
11 |
13 |
30 |
11 |
12 |
11 |
12 |
15 |
|
|
ON27 |
14 |
12 |
24 |
11 |
13 |
13 |
9 |
12 |
12 |
15 |
12 |
12 |
13 |
30 |
11 |
12 |
11 |
12 |
15 |
|
|
ON32 |
14 |
12 |
24 |
11 |
13 |
13 |
9 |
12 |
12 |
15 |
12 |
11 |
13 |
29 |
11 |
12 |
11 |
12 |
15 |
|
ON35
|
14 |
12 |
24 |
11 |
13 |
13 |
9 |
12 |
12 |
15 |
12 |
11 |
13 |
30 |
10 |
12 |
11 |
12 |
15 |
|
|
ON80 |
14 |
12 |
24 |
11 |
13 |
13 |
9 |
12 |
12 |
15 |
12 |
11 |
13 |
30 |
11 |
13 |
11 |
12 |
15 |
|
|
O-36315 |
14 |
12 |
24 |
11 |
13 |
13 |
9 |
12 |
12 |
15 |
12 |
11 |
13 |
30 |
11 |
12 |
11 |
11 |
15 |
|
|
McS-1 |
14 |
12 |
24 |
11 |
13 |
13 |
|
|
|
15 |
|
11 |
13 |
30 |
|
|
|
11 |
15 |
|
|
O-42891 |
14 |
12 |
24 |
11 |
13 |
13 |
|
|
|
15 |
|
11 |
13 |
30 |
|
|
|
11 |
15 |
|
|
ON21 |
14 |
12 |
24 |
11 |
13 |
13 |
9 |
12 |
12 |
15 |
12 |
11 |
13 |
30 |
11 |
12 |
11 |
12 |
16 |
|
|
S2 |
14 |
12 |
24 |
11 |
13 |
13 |
|
|
|
15 |
12 |
12 |
13 |
30 |
11 |
12 |
11 |
11 |
15 |
|
|
ON59 |
14 |
12 |
24 |
11 |
13 |
13 |
9 |
11 |
12 |
15 |
12 |
11 |
13 |
30 |
11 |
12 |
11 |
13 |
15 |
|
|
ON60 |
14 |
12 |
24 |
11 |
13 |
13 |
9 |
12 |
12 |
15 |
12 |
11 |
13 |
29 |
12 |
12 |
11 |
12 |
15 |
|
In Table
2 O’N13 designates thirteen O’Neills from the TCD study (ON2,
ON3, ON11, ON16, ON24, ON25, ON39, ON41, ON43, ON53, ON61, ON65, and ON71), all
with haplotypes identical to the ONMH; other ON’s identify other TCD O’Neills;
“SX” designates a SMGF participant, “O-X”, a FTDNA O’Neill Surname Project
participant with his kit number, and McS-1 an O’Neill listed at the McS site. Note: one repeat has been added to DYS 461 on
all the SMGF haplotypes for compatibility with current standards.
|
DYS |
19 |
3 8 8 |
3 9 0 |
3 9 1 |
3 9 2 |
3 9 3 |
434 |
435 |
436 |
437 |
438 |
439 |
3 8 9-1 |
389-2 |
460 |
4 6 1 |
4 6 2 |
3 8 5 a |
3 8 5 b |
|
|
ONMH |
14 |
12 |
24 |
11 |
13 |
13 |
9 |
12 |
12 |
15 |
12 |
11 |
13 |
30 |
11 |
12 |
11 |
12 |
15 |
|
|
O’N13 |
14 |
12 |
24 |
11 |
13 |
13 |
9 |
12 |
12 |
15 |
12 |
11 |
13 |
30 |
11 |
12 |
11 |
12 |
15 |
|
|
S1 |
14 |
12 |
24 |
11 |
13 |
13 |
|
|
|
15 |
12 |
11 |
13 |
30 |
11 |
12 |
11 |
12 |
15 |
|
|
S5 |
14 |
12 |
24 |
11 |
13 |
13 |
|
|
|
15 |
12 |
11 |
13 |
30 |
11 |
12 |
11 |
12 |
15 |
|
|
ON5 |
14 |
12 |
24 |
11 |
13 |
13 |
9 |
11 |
12 |
15 |
12 |
11 |
13 |
30 |
11 |
12 |
11 |
12 |
15 |
|
|
ON29 |
14 |
12 |
24 |
11 |
13 |
13 |
9 |
11 |
12 |
15 |
12 |
11 |
13 |
30 |
11 |
12 |
11 |
12 |
15 |
|
|
ON30 |
14 |
12 |
24 |
10 |
13 |
13 |
9 |
12 |
12 |
15 |
12 |
11 |
13 |
30 |
11 |
12 |
11 |
12 |
15 |
|
|
ON38 |
14 |
12 |
24 |
10 |
13 |
13 |
9 |
12 |
12 |
15 |
12 |
11 |
13 |
30 |
11 |
12 |
11 |
12 |
15 |
|
|
ON27 |
14 |
12 |
24 |
11 |
13 |
13 |
9 |
12 |
12 |
15 |
12 |
12 |
13 |
30 |
11 |
12 |
11 |
12 |
15 |
|
|
ON32 |
14 |
12 |
24 |
11 |
13 |
13 |
9 |
12 |
12 |
15 |
12 |
11 |
13 |
29 |
11 |
12 |
11 |
12 |
15 |
|
ON35
|
14 |
12 |
24 |
11 |
13 |
13 |
9 |
12 |
12 |
15 |
12 |
11 |
13 |
30 |
10 |
12 |
11 |
12 |
15 |
|
|
ON80 |
14 |
12 |
24 |
11 |
13 |
13 |
9 |
12 |
12 |
15 |
12 |
11 |
13 |
30 |
11 |
13 |
11 |
12 |
15 |
|
|
O-36315 |
14 |
12 |
24 |
11 |
13 |
13 |
9 |
12 |
12 |
15 |
12 |
11 |
13 |
30 |
11 |
12 |
11 |
11 |
15 |
|
|
McS-1 |
14 |
12 |
24 |
11 |
13 |
13 |
|
|
|
15 |
|
11 |
13 |
30 |
|
|
|
11 |
15 |
|
|
O-42891 |
14 |
12 |
24 |
11 |
13 |
13 |
|
|
|
15 |
|
11 |
13 |
30 |
|
|
|
11 |
15 |
|
|
ON21 |
14 |
12 |
24 |
11 |
13 |
13 |
9 |
12 |
12 |
15 |
12 |
11 |
13 |
30 |
11 |
12 |
11 |
12 |
16 |
|
|
S2 |
14 |
12 |
24 |
11 |
13 |
13 |
|
|
|
15 |
12 |
12 |
13 |
30 |
11 |
12 |
11 |
11 |
15 |
|
|
ON59 |
14 |
12 |
24 |
11 |
13 |
13 |
9 |
11 |
12 |
15 |
12 |
11 |
13 |
30 |
11 |
12 |
11 |
13 |
15 |
|
|
ON60 |
14 |
12 |
24 |
11 |
13 |
13 |
9 |
12 |
12 |
15 |
12 |
11 |
13 |
29 |
12 |
12 |
11 |
12 |
15 |
|
It is important to examine the
frequency of occurrence of these two clusters of O’Neills in those areas
associated with the Royal O’Neills (Tyrone O’Neills) and the Northern Ui Neill,
those situated in the north and west of Ireland in the present counties of
Tyrone, Armagh and Antrim and those where natural migration might have been
expected (Counties Derry, Monaghan and Donegal). It is noted there were also unrelated septs of
O’Neills located in Thomond (Counties Clare, North Limerick and North Tipperary), Co. Carlow,
and the Decies (Counties Waterford and South Tipperary) (MacLysaght, 1985).
Nearly
all of the O’Neill study sample subjects who were not in the TCD study were
unable to identify the province or county of origin in
|
Province/County |
Total
|
ON
|
NWI
|
|
1. |
|||
|
Tyrone |
14 |
7 |
2 |
|
|
3 |
3 |
0 |
|
|
3 |
1 |
0 |
|
Antrim |
3 |
0 |
0 |
|
Donegal |
2 |
1 |
0 |
|
Monaghan |
2 |
0 |
2 |
|
Down |
2 |
0 |
0 |
|
Other |
1 |
0 |
0 |
|
Total |
30 |
12 |
4 |
|
2. |
|||
|
|
5 |
2 |
1 |
|
Carlow |
1 |
0 |
0 |
|
Kilkenny |
3 |
0 |
0 |
|
Laois |
1 |
0 |
0 |
|
Wicklow |
1 |
0 |
0 |
|
Total |
11 |
2 |
1 |
|
3. |
|
|
|
|
Clare |
2 |
1 |
0 |
|
|
6 |
1 |
0 |
|
Kerry |
1 |
0 |
0 |
|
|
6 |
1 |
0 |
|
|
1 |
0 |
0 |
|
|
1 |
0 |
0 |
|
Total |
17 |
3 |
0 |
|
4. |
|||
|
Mayo |
3 |
1 |
0 |
|
|
3 |
1 |
0 |
|
Total |
6 |
2 |
0 |
|
5. “ |
7 |
2 |
1 |
|
6. Outside |
9 |
3 |
0 |
Table 4 Percentage of NWIrish and O'Neill Varieties
with
Different Mutational Steps from
the Modal Haplotype
|
Mutational Steps |
0 |
1 |
2 |
3 |
3+ ** |
|
NWI |
3.7% |
3.7% |
14.8% |
25.9% |
29.6% |
|
ON |
25.9% |
40.7% |
44.4% |
48.1% |
48.1% |
**
Includes some two-mutational steps at the same marker
Table 5 ONMH and NWIMH
Comparisons
|
DYS |
1 9 |
3 8 8 |
3 9 0 |
3 9 1 |
3 9 2 |
3 9 3 |
4 3 4 |
4 3 5 |
4 3 6 |
4 3 7 |
4 3 8 |
4 3 9 |
3 8 9 i |
3 8 9 ii |
4 6 0 |
4 6 1 |
4 6 2 |
3 8 5 a |
3 8 5 b |
|
ONMH |
14 |
12 |
24 |
11 |
13 |
13 |
9 |
12 |
12 |
15 |
12 |
11 |
13 |
30 |
11 |
12 |
11 |
12 |
15 |
|
NWIMH |
14 |
12 |
25 |
11 |
14 |
13 |
9 |
11 |
12 |
15 |
12 |
12 |
13 |
29 |
11 |
12 |
11 |
11 |
13 |
Using
all 102 O’Neills and markers beyond those used by TCD it is possible to propose
an expanded ONMH and to compare it to the NWIMH. Such an expansion is shown in Table 6, but
it is only preliminary because of the small database.
Table 6 Comparison of NWIMH and
Expanded ONMH
DYS
|
NWIMH
|
ONMH
|
DYS
|
NWIMH
|
ONMH
|
DYS
|
NWIMH
|
ONMH
|
|
19 |
14 |
14 |
441 |
13 |
|
462 |
11 |
11 |
|
385a |
11 |
12 |
442 |
12 |
13 |
463 |
22 |
|
|
385b |
13 |
15 |
444 |
12 |
|
464a |
15 |
15 |
|
388 |
12 |
12 |
445 |
12 |
|
464b |
16 |
15 |
|
389-1 |
13 |
13 |
446 |
13 |
|
464c |
16 |
17 |
|
389-2 |
29 |
30 |
447 |
25 |
25 |
464d |
17 |
17 |
|
390 |
25 |
24 |
448 |
18 |
19 |
570 |
17 |
|
|
391 |
11 |
11 |
449 |
30 |
|
576 |
18 |
|
|
392 |
14 |
13 |
452 |
11 |
|
607 |
16 |
|
|
393 |
13 |
13 |
454 |
11 |
11 |
IB07 |
10 |
|
|
425 |
12 |
|
455 |
11 |
11 |
A10 |
13 |
|
|
426 |
12 |
12 |
456 |
17 |
15 |
C4 |
23 |
|
|
434 |
9 |
9 |
458 |
17 |
17 |
CDYa |
37 |
|
|
435 |
11 |
12 |
459a |
9 |
9 |
CDYb |
39 |
|
|
436 |
12 |
12 |
459b |
10 |
10 |
GATAH4 |
11 |
11 |
|
437 |
15 |
15 |
460 |
11 |
11 |
YCAiia |
19 |
19 |
|
438 |
12 |
12 |
461 |
12 |
12 |
YCAiib |
23 |
23 |
|
439 |
12 |
11 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
According to the traditional
pedigrees and mythology of Ireland most of the septs in the northwest of
Ireland descend from either Niall of the Nine Hostages (N9H) or one of his two
brothers, Brian (or Brion) and Fiachrach. Descendants of Brian and Fiachrach are
referred to as “Connachta,” or descendants of
The
(O')Gallagher (12), (O')Boyle (9), (O')Doherty (5), O'Donnell (4),
O'Connor (3), Cannon (3), Bradley (2), O'Reilly (2), Flynn (2), (Mc)Kee (2),
Campbell (1), Devlin (1), Donnelly (1), Egan (1), Gormley (1), Hynes (1),
McCaul (1), McGovern (1), McLoughlin (1), McManus (1), McMenamin (1), Molloy
(1), O'Kane (1), O'Rourke (1), and Quinn (1).
STR analysis (data not shown) of the same surnames in public databases
such as Y-Search confirm that at least some participants in each surname
project match the NWI.
These surnames can be divided into clan names,
following Irish traditions, as follows:
Ui Briuin: O’Connor, O’Reilly, Hynes, Flynn, McGovern, McManus,
O’Rourke
No
surnames of the Clan Ui Fiachrach were mentioned by the Trinity team, but several
haplotypes of surnames of that clan were found in the Y-Search database that match
the NWI: O’Dowd, O’Shaunnessy.
In addition to the Irish matches, a large number of people
with Scottish surnames also match the NWI, as do a lesser number of English
surnames. There are also many surname
matches in
In short, for every surname that the Irish pedigrees would
lead us to believe were descended from N9H or his brothers, including O’Neill, there
are participants who closely match the NWI.
Another
branch of the Ui Neill were the southern Ui Neill, centered in the midland
counties, and descended from yet other sons of Niall. But these are as yet poorly represented in
DNA databases.
A recent
observation by McEwen (2006) is that all males with STR values associated with
NWIrish who have been tested on the SNP M222 have tested positive.[2]
This group includes a number of
known Ui Neill surnames: a Gallagher from
County Derry (Cenel Conaill), a Cannon of unknown origin (a Cenel Conaill
surname; the O Canannans were Kings of Tirconnell prior to the O’Donnells), a
Slaven from Tyrone (Cenel Eoghain) and a Burns from Sligo (Ui Briuin) all have
tested M222+. Several other surnames with less definite Ui Neill clan
affiliations have also tested M222+, including a Flannagan from Tyrone
(possibly Cenel Cairbe mac Neill), a Bonner from Donegal and a Magonegill (both
probably Cenel Conaill). The Magonegill
listing states only an “origin in
If these results are reinforced as
more persons are tested, it would imply that M222+ is a necessary, though
perhaps not sufficient condition, to be part of the NWI grouping and, perhaps,
associated with the Ui Neill. To date one of the authors of this paper (shown
in Table 2 as O-36315, and identified as SKX6A in Y-Search) is the only
person known to be associated with the ONMH to have been tested on M222 and he
tested negative for M222. Though this is
a single data point, it suggests, along
with STR data, that the ON Variety is not part of the NWI. Further, it suggests that people with the ONMH
are not patrilineally descended from Niall of the Nine Hostages.
The
timeline from Niall of the Nine Hostages forward, as per history/legend/myth
is:
·
380-405: Niall of the Nine Hostages (N9H), 127th
King of
·
380-980: Almost all of the surnames historically linked to
N9H or his brothers, branched off from the genetic line of the Tyrone O'Neills:
718: Fergal Mac Maele Duin, King of
862-875: Either Aedh Finnliath, King of Ireland, was the
MRCA of McLaughlins (MacLochlainns) and Tyrone O'Neills, or
956-980: Domhnall Ardmacha Ua Niall (O'Neill), King of
Ireland, was the MRCA of McLaughlins (MacLochlainns) and Tyrone O'Neills.
Domhnall, grandson of Niall Glundubh, 170th King of Ireland, was
said to be the first to use O’Neill as a surname
·
1004-1030 and 1033-1036: Flaithbertach an Trostain
O’Neill, King of Ailech
·
1176-1177: Aedh Macaemh Toinleasg O’Neill (“Lazy Youth”),
King of Cenel Eoghain, was the MRCA of Tyrone and Clannaboy O'Neills
·
1432-1455: Eoghan O'Neill, King of Ulster, was the MRCA of
Tyrone and Fews O'Neills
·
1519-1542:
As
shown, almost all surnames historically linked patrilineally to N9H or his
brothers are from lines branching off from the N9H line somewhere after N9H
(circa 380) and before Domhnall Armacha O’Neill (died 980). The O’Neill (Ua
Neill) surname was first introduced circa 950.
The
patrilineal line of O’Neills is well established from 1176 to the present time
but between 1036 and 1176 the historical accuracy of the O’Neill pedigree has
been questioned by O Ceallaigh (1951, 1994).
The period of 1036-1176 may therefore be a time of suspicion for O’Neill
patrilineal decendancy. In 1176 Aedh Macaemh Toinleasg O’Neill reinstated
O’Neill power after years of supremacy by their kinsmen the McLaughlins. About
400 years later, an O’Neill is said to have begun the surname McShane.
The two closest kin to the O’Neills of Ireland were the O Cathains
(O’Kane) and the McLaughlins of Derry/Donegal.
The O Cathains were descended from Conchobhar or Conor, son of Feaghal,
the Irish High King (d. 718), also an O’Neill ancestor. In later centuries they were the leading sept
of the Clan Conchobhar, originally located in Magh Ith on the Donegal/Tyrone
border. Sometime in the middle of the 12th
century they re-located to
The McLaughlins were the closest kin to the O’Neills of all the
Cenel Eoghain septs. Unfortunately the
McLaughlin pedigrees are in disarray making it impossible to say exactly when
they branched off from the main line of the Ui Neill. Rawlinson (c1130) has the
McLaughlins descend from Muirdaigh, a son of Domhnall “of
There are currently twelve McLaughlin DNA samples on Ysearch. Out of these, 9 match the NWI, including a
sample from Letterkenny, Donegal and one from Tyrone. Another McLaughlin from Donegal in the
Sorenson database matches the NWI, as did the one McLoughlin sample in the
Conclusion Based on O Cathains and McLaughlins
It appears then, based on the evidence available to date, that the
main line of Ui Neill kings in
As
stated above the McShane surname has been historically linked to the O’Neill line
circa 1500s. Y-DNA values for eight McShanes were found at the various
databases, seven of which appear to be consistent with ON as shown in Table 7. Four McShanes, two from Tyrone (McS 1 and 2)
and one each from
Table 7 Y-STR Values for McShanes
|
|
ONMH |
McS 1 |
McS 2 |
McS 3 |
McS 4 |
McS 5 |
McS 6 |
McS 7 |
|
393 |
13 |
13 |
13 |
13 |
13 |
13 |
13 |
13 |
|
390 |
24 |
24 |
24 |
24 |
24 |
24 |
24 |
24 |
|
19 |
14 |
14 |
14 |
14 |
14 |
14 |
14 |
14 |
|
391 |
11 |
11 |
11 |
11 |
11 |
11 |
11 |
11 |
|
385a |
12 |
12 |
12 |
12 |
12 |
12 |
12 |
12 |
|
385b |
15 |
15 |
15 |
15 |
15 |
15 |
15 |
15 |
|
426 |
12 |
12 |
12 |
12 |
12 |
12 |
12 |
12 |
|
388 |
12 |
12 |
12 |
12 |
12 |
12 |
12 |
12 |
|
439 |
11 |
11 |
11 |
11 |
11 |
11 |
11 |
11 |
|
389-1 |
13 |
13 |
13 |
13 |
13 |
13 |
13 |
13 |
|
392 |
13 |
13 |
13 |
13 |
13 |
13 |
13 |
13 |
|
389-2 |
30 |
31 |
31 |
31 |
30 |
30 |
31 |
31 |
|
458 |
17 |
16 |
16 |
16 |
16 |
|
|
16 |
|
459a |
9 |
9 |
9 |
9 |
9 |
|
|
9 |
|
459b |
10 |
10 |
10 |
10 |
10 |
|
|
10 |
|
455 |
11 |
11 |
11 |
11 |
11 |
|
|
11 |
|
454 |
11 |
11 |
11 |
11 |
11 |
|
|
11 |
|
447 |
25 |
25 |
25 |
25 |
25 |
|
|
25 |
|
437 |
15 |
15 |
15 |
15 |
14 |
|
|
15 |
|
448 |
19 |
19 |
19 |
19 |
19 |
|
|
19 |
|
449 |
|
29 |
29 |
29 |
29 |
|
|
29 |
|
464a |
15 |
15 |
15 |
15 |
15 |
|
|
|
|
464b |
15 |
15 |
15 |
15 |
15 |
|
|
|
|
464c |
17 |
17 |
17 |
17 |
17 |
|
|
|
|
464d |
17 |
17 |
17 |
17 |
18 |
|
|
|
|
460 |
11 |
|
|
|
|
11 |
|
11 |
|
GATA H4 |
11 |
|
|
|
|
11 |
|
11 |
|
YCAIIa |
19 |
|
|
|
|
19 |
|
19 |
|
YCAIIb |
23 |
|
|
|
|
23 |
|
23 |
|
456 |
15 |
|
|
|
|
15 |
|
15 |
|
607 |
|
|
|
|
|
15 |
|
|
|
576 |
|
|
|
|
|
17 |
|
|
|
570 |
|
|
|
|
|
18 |
|
|
|
CDYa |
|
|
|
|
|
36 |
|
|
|
CDYb |
|
|
|
|
|
37 |
|
|
|
442 |
13 |
|
|
|
|
13 |
|
13 |
|
438 |
12 |
|
|
|
|
12 |
|
12 |
|
461 |
12 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
12 |
|
462 |
11 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
11 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The territory of the Clannaboy O’Neills, who branched off
from the main Tyrone O’Neill line circa 1100s, was primarily in counties Antrim
and Down, both greatly under-represented in the TCD studies (2 samples, both in
Antrim) making it impossible to draw any conclusions relative to the NWI or
ON. The same is true of the O’Neills of
the Fews, located mainly in
The major findings of the present
research are:
1.
Many men with surnames patrilineally linked to the Ui
Neill line have Y-STR NWIrish Variety signatures.
2.
There are at least two separate and different groupings of
O’Neills, one related to the Ui Neill (NWIrish Variety), the other not (O'Neill
Variety). Together they represent a large percentage of all O’Neills in the
Tyrone O’Neill (Northern Ui Neill) areas of
3.
To date, all persons associated with the NWIrish Variety
who have been tested for M222 have tested positive.
4.
One person with the Y-STR O'Neill Variety haplotype was
tested and found to be M222-.
5.
Y-STR test results confirm the association of O Cathains
and McLaughlins with the NWIrish Variety.
6.
Y-STR test results strongly suggest association of
McShanes with the O’Neill Variety.
Conclusions and
Discussion
1.
From the time of the introduction of the O’Neill surname
until an unknown later date, it is likely the Royal (Tyrone) O’Neills were
patrilineally connected to the Ui Neill line. This conclusion is based on the
fact that a number of O’Neills have Ui Neill signatures (NW Irish Variety), as
did numbers of O Cathains and McLaughlins, both of whom historically had common
patrilineal ancestors with the Tyrone O’Neills (approximate 700s to 800s or
900s era). This is reinforced by the number of NW Irish Variety signatures and
a number of positives for SNP M222 of persons with other Ui Neill-related
surnames.
2.
At some time the Royal O’Neill line was interrupted by a
Non-Paternal Event (NPE) such that later Royal O’Neills had Y-STR O'Neill
Variety signatures. This is based on the size of the ON Variety, the Y-DNA
results of the McShanes, who have patrilineal ancestors common to the Tyrone
O’Neills circa 1500s, and the SNP M222 negative test of one person related to
the O’Neill Variety.
3.
The most likely period for the NPE was the time frame of
900s-1500s.
4.
Another alternate (but in our opinion, less likely)
scenario would be that the main O’Neill Variety were non-related male introgressors
absorbed into the clan from the surrounding population. But the main O’Neill Variety shows a strong
founder effect more consistent with a single NPE or introgression event than
with a ra
Electronic-Database Information
www.smgf.org Y-STR
database
www.ysearch.org Y-STR database
www.ybase.org Y-STR database
Addresses of Surname Project Web Sites
The McShane Family
http://members.aol.com/maryferns/myhomepage/mcshane-y.htm
Clan McShane-Johnson-MacSeai’n
Registry
http://www.clanmcshane.org/registry.htm
O’Dowd Clan DNA Project
http://mysite.verizon.net/cdowd7/dna.htm)
O’Neill
http://www.familytreedna.com/(dcc5umelsf3kyl55cprh0ubg)/public/oneill/index.aspx
Neal-O’Neal
http://www.familytreedna.com/(nbqin355gwwm2gy2t1srh445)/public/Neal-2/index.aspx
O’Neal
http://www.familytreedna.com/surname_join.asp?code=K91143&special=True&projecttype=S
References
ISOGG
(2006) The Y-DNA Haplogroup Tree.
(website)
Moore
LT, McEvoy B, Cape E, Simms K, Bradley DG (2006) A Y-Chromosome Signature of
Hegemony in Gaelic Ireland. Am J Hum Genet 78:334-8. See also Supplementary
Data.
McEvoy B, Bradley
DG (2006) Y-Chromosomes and the Extent of Patrilineal Ancestry in Irish
Surnames. Hum Genet 119 (1-2):212-219.
See also Supplementary Data.
McEwen
J (2006) R1b1c7 haplogroup M222 SNP aka North West Irish Variety, IMH and
R1bSTR19Irish (website).
MacLysaght E (1985)
The Surnames of Ireland, 6th ed, Irish Academic Press,
Ó Ceallaigh S
(Cork 1951; 2nd. edition with introduction, Additional chapter and
indexes, Draperstown 1994) Gleanings from
O’Corrain D [compiler] Manuscript: “Genealogies
from Rawlinson B 502.” CELT: Corpus of
Electronic Texts: A project of
Wilson D
(2006) The Northwest Irish Variety of Y-DNA Haplogroup R. (website).