Rea Surname DNA Project
Niall of the Nine Hostages
The Ui Neill High Kings of Ireland all descended from the 5th century war lord Niall Nóigiallach (AKA Niall Mor), or Niall of the Nine Hostages. According to Family Tree DNA, the descendants of Niall all have the following DNA pattern at the 12 marker level:
|
13 |
25 |
14 |
11 |
11 |
13 |
12 |
12 |
12 |
13 |
14 |
29 |
Going by this pattern, I have compared every member of the Rea Surname DNA Project to Niall's DNA. While no one in the project yet matches Niall, two of you are only a single mutation step away from a 12 marker match (15714 and 16464) and one of you is off by one step at two markers (N18531). The really interesting thing is that the two who come closest have surnames that are both MacRaes, one having a variant spelling of the name. The one who is off by one step at two markers is a Ray. This would seem to suggest a connection between the Ui Neill High Kings of Ireland and the Clan MacRae of Scotland, which is not unusual, as many highland clans are said to descend from Niall of the Nine Hostages.
Rea Surname DNA Project members who come closest to a match with Niall:
Kit
# |
Surname |
DYS393 |
DYS390 |
DYS19 |
DYS391 |
DYS385a |
DYS385b |
DYS426 |
DYS388 |
DYS439 |
DYS389-1 |
DYS392 |
DYS389-2 |
15714 |
McCrea |
13 |
25 |
14 |
11 |
11 |
13 |
12 |
12 |
11 |
13 |
14 |
29 |
16464 |
MacRae |
13 |
25 |
14 |
11 |
11 |
14 |
12 |
12 |
12 |
13 |
13 |
29 |
N18531 |
Ray |
13 |
25 |
14 |
11 |
11 |
13 |
12 |
12 |
13 |
13 |
14 |
29 |
Historical Links:
http://www.irishclans.com/articles/famirish/niall9hostages.html
http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/timelines/ni/niall_nine_hostages.shtml
http://www.ancienttexts.org/library/celtic/ctexts/niall.html