THE O MAHONY SOCIETY
Surname
yDNA Project
Project launched
1 August 2003 < Page revised 1
February 2008 < Page updated 19
June 2008
Origins of the O Mahony Surname
There are a great many O Mahonys
in
All male O Mahony descendants, regardless of race, ethnicity or the precise spelling of their last name, are welcome and encouraged to participate in the O MAHONY Surname DNA project. The project analyses the Y-chromosome to determine kinship. Men inherit both their Y-chromosome and their surname from their fathers; and pass both on to their sons. Women do not have a Y-chromosome, and traditionally adopt their husband’s surname. Therefore, female descendants are only able to participate in the O MAHONY Surname DNA project through a male O’Mahony relative.
JOIN
THE PROJECT TODAY TO SEE YOUR ANCESTOR REPRESENTED!
(EUROPEANS:
ORDER KITS LOCALLY FROM A EUROPEAN BRANCH)
Project Background
The O MAHONY Surname DNA project
was begun on 1 August 2003 by Perry Streeter and was transferred in early 2007
to the O Mahony Society for ongoing administration. It is currently administered by James Castellan.
Geneticists can now study the Y-chromosome DNA of males bearing all variations of the O MAHONY surname to determine whether or not they are related and the approximate degree of their kinship. For an excellent explanation of this process, please see DNA 101 at the BLAIR DNA Project.
Using an ethical and competent testing company, Family Tree DNA, we are creating an O MAHONY Surname DNA database. To address any concerns that you may have about privacy, please click here. To collect a DNA sample, a simple, painless cheek-scraping test is used instead of a blood test.
Be aware that DNA testing can also reveal secret adoption or maternal infidelity anywhere in a lineage. Consequently, any O MAHONY male who tests his DNA should be prepared for the minute possibility that he may not be an O MAHONY, genetically speaking.
Project Objectives
- Identify
how many distinct O MAHONY family lines originated in
- Determine
whether or not O MAHONY Irish emigrants to a given country were related to
each other.
- Enable
a living male O MAHONY anywhere in the world to possibly identify his
Irish family of origin.
Project Results
Initial test results for this very small sample suggest that all O MAHONY descendants do not share a common ancestor as several of the columns for distinct markers have different values indicating a genetic difference between the individuals. To see the various reports summarizing the results go to
O’Mahony Surname Project Participants’ Results Reports
Go to “Quick Interpretation Guide” for help understanding the technical details of how to derive meaning from differences in the numbers found in the tables.
A larger number of participants are needed before we expect
to see more distinct family clusters forming. In time we hope to identify
members of each cluster who are documented as being from specific areas of
How to Participate in the Project
If you are a direct-line male O
MAHONY descendant and would like to have your DNA tested for matches with
others, simply click on the following link…
O’MAHONY
Surname Project at Family Tree DNA
(Europeans
can order a locally mailed test kit here saving 2-4 weeks mail delay.)
As a project participant, you will
be eligible for a discounted test price of:
$269 for a 67-marker test (ideal, one
can always upgrade later)
$189 for a 37-marker test (recommended)
$148 for a 25-marker test
$99 for a 12-marker test
(discouraged, used primarily for variant spellings to rule out O’Mahony
link)
plus a small fee for shipping
& handling and return postage.