index copy 1-25-08

20 May 2008

O'NEILL Y-DNA

SUMMARY

This website presents DNA measurements of many "O'Neills". It includes all the data the author could find, from whatever source, as of the date above; it will be updated as new data become available. In addition, it presents the author's personal interpretation of the data. The author actively solicits comments, corrections, additions and alternate interpretations in an effort ultimately to present the true picture of the DNA of "O'Neills" (of various spellings, including "Non-O'Neill O'Neills"), and how the DNA data provide insights into the various O'Neill Clans.

The author's email is Vix3205@cox.net. Any male "O'Neill" desiring to be DNA-tested, please contact the author.

INTRODUCTION

Y-DNA data are presented for 157 O'Neills (including O'Neills, O'Neils, O'Neals and some Neals). In addition, history has recorded that some persons with non-O'Neill surnames were originally O'Neills but, at some point in time, a male ancestor changed his name from O'Neill - from a DNA standpoint, they are still O'Neills since their paternal line is genetically linked to O'Neills. This is not to imply that all persons with these non-O'Neill surnames are, in fact, O'Neills, only some of them. The non-O'Neills include some Paines/Paynes, McShanes, Johnsons, McCulloughs and Rineys. This website includes the Y-DNA of 25-30 (some may be duplicates) of these possible "Non-O'Neill O'Neills". It is noted that the Y-DNA of all "O'Neills" are shown below while included are the DNA of only those "Non-O'Neill O'Neills" that seem to have DNA similar to the main DNA groupings of O'Neills that are identified.

O'NEILL HISTORY

History records that Niall Noigialach, more commonly known as Niall of the Nine Hostages, established a dynasty in Ireland that lasted many centuries. Niall, who died in 407AD, was the 127^th King of Ireland. He lived about 500 years before surnames (such as O'Neill) came into existence. His dynasty was known as the Ui Neill (different from Ua Neill).

History also records that later on, after surnames began to be used, men with many, many surnames (like Ryan, O'Sullivan, Kennedy, Byrne, McLaughlin, etc.) were direct descendents of the family of Niall of the Nine Hostages. It also records that the Royal O'Neills of Ulster, rulers in Ireland for about 650 years, were also descended from Niall's family.

Niall Glundubh, 170^th King of Ireland (916-919), historically identified as a descendent of Niall of the Nine Hostages, is the namesake of the O'Neills, his grandson, Domhnall of Armagh, 173^rd King of Ireland (956-980) being the first to use the surname that became O'Neill. He took the name Domhnall Ardmacha Ua Neill (Donald of Armagh O'Neill). Domhnall and the Royal O'Neills that followed were located in the Province of Ulster in Ireland.

It is noted that the Royal O'Neills of Ulster were called the Tyrone O'Neills and, from them, several branches emerged: Clannaboy O'Neills, centered in Counties Antrim and Down; O'Neills of the Fews, centered in County Armagh; and, the O'Neills of Ivowen, located in Counties Tipperary and Waterford. All were originally Tyrone O'Neills and therefore genetic Tyrone O'Neills.

In addition to the Royal O'Neills of Ulster, other O'Neill Septs, not related to the Ulster O'Neills, were the O'Neills of Magh da Chonn (also known as the Carlow O'Neills); and the Thomond O'Neills, centered in Counties Clare, Limerick and North Tipperary.

O'NEILL Y-DNA 101

What follows is a simplification of the subject of DNA, simplified for the purpose of making the description more understandable to the layman.

In the cell of a male human being there are X- and Y-Chromosomes; females do not have Y-Chromosomes. Through use of powerful "microscopes" scientists have identified specific locations within the Y-Chromosome of males and named each location (such as DYS391, DYS19, etc., where the DYS means DNA Y-Chromosome Segment). These locations are called Markers. In a typical Y-DNA test, 25 markers might be used and, at each marker, the number of a specific pattern is counted and the results tabulated such as: DYS393=13, DYS390=24, DYS19=14, DYS391=11, etc. to all 25 markers.

These indicate there are 13 of the pattern at Marker DYS393, 24 at Marker 390, etc.

What is significant is that, in almost all cases, a father passes his Y-DNA onto his son unchanged (the tabulated results are identical at all markers). If a father always passed on his Y-DNA to his son then any male descendent of Niall of the Nine Hostages would have the same Y-DNA. But the real situation is that occasionally the Y-DNA changes (mutates) between father and son.

For a 25 Marker test, experimentally it has been determined that, on an average, each marker will change/mutate approximately once every 360 generations (note: there are differing opinions as to whether 360 generations is the best estimate). Since, for this typical test, we tested at 25 markers, one marker will, on average, change every 360/25=14.4 generations, or approximately every 430 years.

Taking this a step further, if we have two O'Neills tested at 25 markers, the O'Neill ancestors of each one will have averaged one marker change in 430 years so the two together will have seen two changes in 430 years or an average of one difference between them every 215 years or so. An example: if two O'Neills are 25-Marker tested and they differ at three markers, the most likely outcome is they had a common ancestor within the last 645 years. That ancestor is called the Most Recent Common Ancestor (MRCA).

Based on Y-DNA tests it is possible conclusively to say two O'Neills are not related; or to say they are related and approximately how far back one must go to find the Most Recent Common Ancestor.

GROUPINGS OF Y-DNA DATA

The author's analysis of the Y-DNA data for "O'Neills" has identified four groupings (clusters) of results identified as:

Northwest Irish (NWI) - Believed to be descended from the original family of the Royal O'Neills of Ulster including, perhaps, the family of the first person to carry the O'Neill surname, Domhnall of Armagh Ua Neill (O'Neill), the 173rd King of Ireland who died in the year 980AD; and, likely also descended from the family of Niall of the Nine Hostages (Ui Neill), the 127^th King of Ireland who died in 405AD.

O'Neill Variety (ON) - Believed to be descended from the family of the later Royal O'Neills of Ulster, starting at a time near the year 1100 and forward from there. An explanation of the split between the Northwest Irish O'Neills and the O'Neill Variety is given at: http://www.jogg.info/22/ONeill.htm. Suffice it to say it is believed the line of the Royal O'Neills of Ulster was continued by Royal O'Neills who were not of the original Royal O'Neill line.

Munster Variety (MUN) - This grouping is composed of O'Neills that seem mainly to be centered in the Province of Munster. The origin of this cluster is not known. It is noted their DNA is the same (or nearly so) as the more familiar Atlantic Modal Haplotype.

O'Neills of Magh da Chonn (MDCh) - Believed to be descended from a separate Domhnall Ua Neill who lived in the 900s. This Sept was located primarily in the area called Moyacomb which included parts of the present Counties of Carlow, Wexford and Waterford. There is much less data to support this cluster than the other clusters.

NON-O'NEILL SURNAMES

Paine/Payne - History records that Henry O'Neill, born 1665, changed his name to Paine in an attempt to hold onto his property at a time the Irish were having their property taken away by the English. He was the great-great-great-great-great grandson of Conn Bacach O'Neill, the 1^st Earl of Tyrone. One of these Paines, Robert Trent Paine, signed the Declaration of Independence. Some of these Paines later changed the spelling to Payne. The Paines/Paynes would be Tyrone O'Neills. The evidence has identified some Paines/Paynes with O'Neill Variety Y-DNA.

McShane/Johnson - Thomas O'Neill (circa 1650), son of Shane O'Neill, adopted the surname McShane (son of Shane); and one of his sons, Christopher, adopted the name Johnson (son of John/Shane). This is a known instance of O'Neills becoming McShanes and Johnsons. History also identifies an earlier O'Neill adoption of the name McShane (circa 1500s) but the exact person to do so cannot be established with certainty. The McShanes and Johnsons would be Tyrone O'Neills. Data have identified several McShanes and Johnsons with O'Neill Variety Y-DNA.

McCullough - There is evidence that some persons named O'Neill changed their name to McCullough (son of Cu Uladh [Cullo] O'Neill). There are at least three possible origins of the O'Neill/McCullough surname: (1) descendents of Sir Cullo O'Neill, 1^st Laird of Myrton, who died in the 1331/1335 time frame; (2) descendents of Cu Uladh O'Neill, son of Brian Ballach O'Neill (1395-1425); (3) descendents of Cullo O'Neill, son of Domhnall O'Neill, King of Ulster (1283-86 and 1295-1325). (1) and (2) would be Clannaboy O'Neills (branch of Tyrone O'Neills of Ulster) while (3) would be Tyrone O'Neills. Tests identified McCulloughs with both O'Neill Variety and NWI (Ui Neill) Y-DNA.

Riney - Some of the Ulster O'Neills were said to have moved from Ulster to County Kerry, near Kenmare, and changed their names to Riney (Ri=King; Ney=short for O'Neill). This likely occurred circa 1602. Some persons believe that Riney was merely a nickname and not connected to the O'Neills. If connected, they would be Tyrone O'Neills. Y-DNA for the Rineys found all are NWI (Ui Neill).

There are five lists that follow: (1) a list that shows the Y-DNA measurements of all the "O'Neills" and appropriate "Non-O'Neill O'Neills", sorted by the source of the data; (2) shows the "modal" (most common values) for the O'Neill Variety (ON), along with those O'Neills and Non-O'Neill O'Neills that are reasonably close to the modal; (3) the modal for the Northwest Irish Variety (NWI) and those reasonably close to its modal; (4) modal for the Munster Variety (MUN) and those reasonably close to its modal: and, (5) modal for the O'Neills of Magh da Chonn (MDCh) and those reasonably close to its modal.

SOURCES FOR THE DATA:

FTDNA O'Neill Project: http://www.familytreedna.com/public/oneill

FTDNA O'Neal Project: http://www.worldfamilies.net/surnames/o/oneal

Sorenson Molecular Genealogy Foundation: http://www.smgf.org/

Y-Search: http://www.ysearch.org/

FTDNA Neal-O'Neal PROJECT: http://www.familytreedna.com/public/neal-2

Clan McShane Website: http://www.clanmcshane.org/register.htm

McShane Website: http://members.aol.com/maryferns/myhomepage/mcshane-y.htm

Y-Base: http://www.ybase.org/

FTDNA Rainey-Raney Project: http://www/familytreedna.com/public/Rainey-Raney/

FTDNA Payne Project: http://papayne.rootsweb.com/dna-project/

OTHER: Derived from matches at FTDNA or from personal correspondence with the /author.

FTDNA McCollough Project: http://www.worldfamilies.net/surnames/m/mccollough/results.html

Trinity College Dublin (TCD):

http://www.gen.tcd.ie/molpopgen/link files/McEvoy et%al 2006 Hum Gen SupInfo.xls

		3	3	1	3	3	3	4	3	4	3	3	3	4	4	4	4	4	4	4	4	4	4	4	4	4	4	G	Y	Y	4	6	5	5	C	C	4	4	4	4	4	4	4
		9	9	9	9	8	8	2	8	3	8	9	8	5	5	5	5	5	4	3	4	4	6	6	6	6	6	4	C	C	5	0	7	7	D	D	4	3	3	3	3	6	6
		3	0		1	5	5	6	8	9	9	2	9	8	9	9	5	4	7	7	8	9	4	4	4	4	0		A	A	6	7	6	0	Y	Y	2	8	4	5	6	1	2
						a	b								a	b							a	b	c	d									a	b
											1		2																a	b

O'Neill
N29907	O	12	25	14	11	11	13	12	12	12	13	14	29																															Unknown	Rib
47113	O	13	23	14	11	11	15	12	12	12	13	13	29	20	9	10	11	11	25	15	19	29	15	15	17	17	11	11	19	22	15	14	18	17	36	40	12	12						Antrim	R1b1c
31492	O	13	24	14	10	11	13	12	12	12	15	13	31	17	9	10	11	11	25	15	18	30	15	15	16	17	11	11	19	23	15	15	17	19	38	39	11	12						Kilkenny	R1b1
N8301	O	13	24	14	10	11	14	12	12	12	13	13	29																															Cork	Rib1
55384	O	13	24	14	10	11	14	12	12	13	13	13	29																															Tyrone	Rib1
55381	O	13	24	14	10	12	15	12	12	11	13	13	30	17	9	10	11	11	25	15	19	30	15	15	17	17	11	11	19	23	15	15	17	18	35	37	13	12						Tyrone	R1b1
63611	O	13	24	14	11	11	14	12	12	12	14	13	30	17	9	10	11	11	25	15	18	29	15	15	16	17	11	11	19	23	15	15	17	18	38	41	11	12						Carlow	R1b1
42891	O	13	24	14	11	11	15	12	12	11	13	13	30	17	9	10	11	11	25	15	19	30	15	15	17	17																		Ireland	R1b1c
36315	O	13	24	14	11	11	15	12	12	11	13	13	30	17	9	10	11	11	25	15	19	30	15	15	17	17	11	11	19	23	15	15	17	18	35	37	13	12	9	12	12	12	11	Ireland	R1b1c
N28985	O	13	24	15	11	11	15	12	12	13	13	13	29	17	9	10	11	11	25	15	19	27	15	15	15	16																		Ireland	R1b1
49130	O	13	25	14	11	11	14	12	12	12	13	13	29	17	9	9	11	11	25	15	19	29	15	15	17	17	11	11	19	23	15	15	19	17	37	40	12	12						Galway?	R1b1c
55076	O	13	25	14	12	11	14	12	12	12	13	13	30	16	9	9	11	11	25	15	19	29	15	15	17	17																		Ireland	R1b1
N15753	O	14	24	15	10	15	16	11	13	11	12	12	28																															Louth	I1c
61866	O	11	25	14	11	11	14	12	12	12	13	13	29	16	9	10	11	11	25	16	18	29	15	15	17	17																		U.S.	Unknown
65653	O	13	24	14	11	12	15	12	12	11	13	13	31	17	9	10	11	11	25	15	19	30	14	15	17	17	11	11	19	23	15	15	18	18	35	37	13	12						Down, SCT	R1b1
63556	O	13	24	14	11	11	14	12	12	12	13	13	29																															Kansas	R1b1
68464	O	13	24	14	10	12	15	12	12	11	13	13	30	17	9	10	11	11	25	15	19	30	15	15	17	17	11	11	19	23	15	15	17	19	35	37	13	12						Ireland	R1b1
55962	O	13	23	14	10	11	14	12	12	11	13	13	29	17	9	10	11	11	25	14	19	30	15	15	17	17																		Unknown	R1b1
37928	O	13	23	14	11	11	15	12	12	12	13	13	29	16	9	10	11	11	25	14	18	31	15	15	16	18	11	11	19	22	15	14	16	17	38	39	12	12						Cork?	R1b1
N34484	O	13	24	14	11	12	15	12	12	11	13	13	30	17	9	10	11	11	25	15	19	30	14	15	17	17																		Armagh	Rib1
68588	O	13	24	14	11	13	15	12	12	11	13	13	30	17	9	10	11	11	25	15	19	30	15	15	17	17	11	11	19	23	15	15	18	18	36	37	13	12						Antrim, Scotlnd	R1b1
68385	O	13	24	14	11	12	15	12	12	11	13	13	30	17	9	10	11	11	25	15	19	29	15	15	17	17	11	11	19	23	15	15	18	18	35	37	13	12						SC	R1b1
68848	O	13	24