Posted on 01/19/2006 8:02:19 AM PST by mjp
DUBLIN (AFP) - Up to three million men around the world could be descended from a prolific medieval Irish king, according to researchers at Trinity College Dublin.
A genetics study suggests that the fifth-century warlord known as "Niall of the Nine Hostages" may be the ancestor of about one in 12 Irishmen.
He established a dynasty of powerful chieftains that dominated the island for six centuries.
In a study of the Y chromosomes -- which are only passed down through the male line -- scientists found there is a genetic fingerprint hot-spot in northwest Ireland where 21.5 percent carry it, TCD research fellow Dr Brian McEvoy, told AFP.
This was the main power-base of the Ui Neills, which literally translated means "descendants of Niall".
McEvoy said the Y chromosome appeared to trace back to one person.
"There are certain surnames that seem to have come from Ui Neill. We studied if there was any association between those surnames and the genetic profile. It is his (Niall's) family."
The study says that Niall "resided at the cusp of mythology and history but our results do seem to confirm the existence of a single early medieval progenitor to the most powerful and enduring Irish dynasty".
The results also lend support to surviving genealogical and oral traditions of Gaelic Ireland and are a "powerful illustration of the potential link between prolificacy and power".
The study says the chromosome has also been found in 16.7 percent of men in western and central Scotland and has turned up in multiple North American population samples, including in two percent of European-American New Yorkers.
"Given historically high rates of Irish emigration to North America and other parts of the world, it seems likely that the number of descendants worldwide runs to perhaps two to three million males," the study says.
It compares the result to similar research that suggested that Mongol emperor Genghis Khan has 16 million descendants after conquering most of Asia in the 13th century.
Though medieval Ireland was Christian, people married earlier, divorce was allowed and concubinage was practised. Illegitimate sons were claimed and their rights protected by law.
"As in other polygynous societies, the siring of offspring was related to power and prestige."
The study points out that one of the O'Neill dynasty chieftains who died in 1423 had 18 sons with 10 different women and counted 59 grandsons in the male line.
Niall of the Nine Hostages, who became high king of Ireland, got his name from using the taking of hostages as a strategy for subjecting his opponent chieftains.
He is known in folklore as a raider of the British and French coasts.
Supposedly slain in the English Channel or in Scotland, his descendants were the most powerful rulers of Ireland until the 11th century.
Modern surnames tracing their ancestry to Niall include (O')Gallagher, (O')Boyle, (O')Doherty, O'Donnell, Connor, Cannon, Bradley, O'Reilly, Flynn, (Mc)Kee, Campbell, Devlin, Donnelly, Egan, Gormley, Hynes, McCaul, McGovern, McLoughlin, McManus, McMenamin, Molloy, O'Kane, O'Rourke and Quinn.
King Willie O'Clinton I???
Campbell blood in me, now what?
This ties him with Wilt Chamberlain.
"King Willie O'Clinton I???"
He did not have sex with those women!
At last! I knew there was a reason I liked a Potato and a whiskey now and then...
Darn I already have user name. Somehow "Niall of the Nine Hostages" sounds way more fearsome than ElkGroveDan. I bet no one would mess with me then!
Great, so lets see the list of people that HIS descendents have to pay reparations to.
ping. You'll figure out why. I think. lol
Flynn
and
Boyle
???
...
doesn't that automatically mean this discussion requires pictures?
I remember a mathematical demonstration that (given that there are umpetyump generations intervening) anyone with any European blood whatsoever can legitimately claim to be a direct descendant of Charlemagne.
bump
Kenetif MacLorcain (Larkin) defeated the U'Neills in the 10th century to become the first overall king of Ireland. His sons Mathgamin and Brian Boru followed him. Brian decreeded that every one take a last name. This document is in Trinity College. Some of the names that proceded from the Larkin nephews and sons were Reagan, Keller, Brian and unfortunately Kennedy. I do not believe the Campbell clans came from the U'Neills line. The MacLorcains were of Viking-Irish stock and were mainly fighting against any further Viking emigration. Kenetif was killed by a Dane and one of his sons was slain by a turncoat Callahan. Brain is considered the greatest of all Irish Kings.
Reply to post #12
I was researching my ancestors a few years ago and noticed a relative with the name of Charles Martel and felt I had heard that name before, I checked his son out and found Charlemagne. Nearly all Anglo-Saxans are related to all the crown heads of Europe and Britain. Almost all the Presidents of the United States are. One exception is Clinton, his father is not known. His motor cycle riding mother put the blame on some guy that was out of the country (Italy) when the clown prince was conceived.
Ulster-Scott here. We are also considered to be black-Irish or Irish with darker skin and hair, which was more prevalent in Northern Ireland. My Scotts-Irish ancestors came to America from Northern Ireland in the early 1700’s. They were descended from the sir-name Abney and can be traced back to marrying the daughter of Robert the Bruce.
Kinda cool doing research on your descendents. Thankfully we were not part of this motley crew.
I am thinking "Noah" might have the record.
Hah - I have Irish royal blood in me as well. Well, not "royal," exactly, but I bet they were the best horse thieves in the county...
What, no 'cat'?!
INCEST PING!
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