http://mctiernan.com/dnatest.htm 2-5-2012

The goal is to map all MacTighernans both geneticly and geographicly. With 72 tests completed and 3 TBR, the DNA sampling in this test is random currently from 72 MacTighernans or surname variants from around the world that at the time of testing live in ten countries on five continents with no correlation except the same surname and the same close proximity of origin in Cos Leitrim, Sligo, Roscommon and Cavan. Like most Irish families, the deep time history of the MacTighernans is all but lost.

The DNA test is perhaps the only chance to begin to make any family connections as many of the MacTighernan families like a smaller scale of the larger Irish Diaspora have scattered to distant lands in the world and live there today. The spelling of the surname does not really matter as the historical spelling never seems to match the current spelling in many of the families so the Gaelic spelling of MacTighernan is used to cover all the variants of our surname including McKiernan.

To date, almost all 72 tested MacTighernans that know their origins come from this small area in NW Ireland shown in green on the map on the left, 450 square miles more or less with the three exceptions, Gus and Michael (NJ) whose verbal family history states that their line is from Scotland and David (CN)'s verbal family history states that his family is from the Kilarney Lakes area of Ireland. Based on the DNA study at this point in time it appears that the origins of most MacTighernans, 48 out of 72 are in Co Leitrim. The Google earth satellite image that marks the townland origin of each MacTighernan if known is at this site: http://mctiernan.com/McTmaps.htm

While Leitrim is one county, it is historically divided into North and South Leitrim with Lough Allen being the dividing line. In South Leitrim from the mid 1500s, the Irish Clan way of life was under serious threat. An increasingly powerful English administration was slowly but surely extending its influence and dominion. In a visit to Mohill in 1540, the Saxons destroyed the monastery and beheaded the guardian and several of the friars. By 1590, the English government forces were actively routing the local clans. All MacTighernans in the DNA test from Leitrim come from north Leitrim with the exceptions of Ed (NJ), Scott (CO), Cathal, Sean-SF, Jim III and Charles whose family origins are in South Leitrim.

Philip O'Rorke, The O'Ruairc of Bréifne whose family were the past kings of Drumahaire in Co Leitrim has taken this DNA test. The O'Rorke DNA web site  http://www.familytreedna.com/public/roark/. Desmond O'Conor, The O'Conor Don, whose ancestors were the past high kings of all of Ireland has not yet agreed to take the DNA test. With the tests completed so far we 72 MacTighernans fall into 14 separate, distinct and unrelated DNA groups.

Genetic diversity equals age. The more diverse genetic make up of a population in a specific area, the older it is. In all the world, Africa has the most diverse genetic makeup. Ethiopia, the Horn of Africa has the most genetic diversity in all of Africa which is where the first humans gathered to exit to populate the rest of the world. Western Europe including Ireland has the least diverse genetic population of all areas on earth. So in Africa the population moved and in western Europe they did not, genetically speaking. The Genographic project sponsored by Nationalgeographic and IBM goes into this in great detail https://www3.nationalgeographic.com/genographic/index.html Use my kit number to see the display, FWRFL845CH

There is no way to know for certain what the total number is for distinct genetically separate MacTighernans on a worldwide basis. At this time it would be a guess to say how many of us there would be worldwide. The below chart gives a reasonable approximation as to the individual MacTighernan density in Ireland and the main 4 countries of immigration as of 2004.

In 1659 only 4275 people lived in all of Co Leitrim of which MacTighernans were 38, 26 in north Leitrim and 12 in south Leitrim

How many MacTighernans are there now ? As of 2004 the approximate total of individuals by country with surname spellings of McTiernan, MacTiernan, McTernan. It is safe to say that the real total of separate MacTighernan families is less than these numbers These numbers exclude the DNA tester and their related family members if known
Ireland			122
American population by state	NY	82
	NJ	26
	FL	20
	MA	18
	PA	15
	CA	15
	IL	9
	CT	7
	OH	6
	VA	6
	MD	5
	GA	3
	CO	3
	WA	3
	LA	2
	one each in RI, WY, AZ, MO, KA, ME, DE	7
American Total			227
UK, including England, Wales, Scotland & N. Ireland			141
Canada			32
Australia			43
Gross total of individuals with our surnames, testers not included			565

In the 11th century two MacTighernan families were noted in Irish history as chiefs, Lord McTernan of Tullyhunco, Co Cavan and the McTernans of Co Fermanagh. Their lines may well be extent at this point in time. In recent history, at least since the famine years, most of the MacTighernans in Ireland are found in Co Sligo and Co Leitrim. The historical family origins of the majority of the DNA testers are in Co Leitrim. How we might connect to them or to each other is very difficult to prove as written records in Ireland usually start at around the 1850s going no further back in time.

The McTernans of Co Fermanagh may have disappeared and there are no known descendants of the other two 19th century historically well known MacTighernan families from Rockfield and Tullyhunco listed below. The seat of the Tullyhunco MacTighernan family for many hundreds of years was Cruacan mic Tigearnain where The O'Rourke was inaugurated Prince of the Bréfny. It is now called Croaghan, lying six furlongs [3/4 mile] northerly of the village of Killeshandra in the barony of Tullyhunco in Co Cavan. The MacTighernan castle ruins is at this web site: http://mctiernan.com/castle.htm

Unconnected McTernan Ancestors	Townland of Origin	County	Barony	Civil parish	Catholic parish	Dioceses	P L U	Probate District	DNA Group
McTernans of  Rockfield	Gortgarrigan	Leitrim	Drumahaire	Cloonlogher	Drumlease	Kilmore	Manorhamilton	Ballina	?
McTernans		Fermanagh							?
McTernans of Tullyhunco	Croaghan	Cavan	Tullyhunco	Killeshandra	Kildallan	Kilmore	Cavan	Cavan	?

Acording to John C. McTernan's recent book titled Sligo Families, vol II, Leet's Directory (1812-1814) listed three McTernan 'seats' or residences, namely that of Con at Rockfield [noted above], James of Leonagh and Hugh [ T group baseline ] at Mount Allen in Co Roscommon whose family was originally from Sweetwood townland in Co Leitrim.

A recumbent tombstone in Killargue old cemetery bearing the family coat-of-arms, is inscribed with the names of Farrel McTernan, 1752--1818 and his wife Mary Dolan, 1752--1798. Farrel is the given name of the earliest known ancestor of Hugh McTiernan (Bos) family line who is in the T2 DNA Group.

The Chapel of Creevelea was the traditional burial place of the McTernans of Rockfield, Mount Allen and Heapstown [and Sheskin] where large recumbent flagstones mark their final resting places. In close proximity another memorial links the families of O'Rourke and McTernan and is inscribed as follows: Here lyeth the bodye of Hugh O'Roirk and Catherine McTernan who departed this life May 22, 1721. This is the mysterious gravestone that has the symbols of playing cards, heart, spade, diamond and club along with the etching of a cat which in O'Ruaric history is supposed to have awaken him from a nap in a pasture preventing him from being captured by enemies. The foot of the McTernan Achievement at left states: The McTernan coat of arms hereby illistrated is officially documented in Burke's General Armory. The original description of the Arms [at left] is as follows: Two lions pass., GU. When translated the Blazon also describes the original colors of McTernan Arms as: Ermine; two red lions walking. Above the shield and helmut is the crest which is described as: A Red Griffin Standing, Green Wings Raised.

This info can be complex so please read the headers and footers in all the following grids to make it easier to understand

The 14 separate, distinct and different MacTighernan DNA groups are labeled with the letter T which is just a naming convention as each of the DNA groups are in all ways equal, none being more pure than the other.

The genetic and geographic spread of the 72 MacTighernan testers   53 of the 71 know their county of origin, 42 of the 72 know their townland
MacTighernan Testers County of Origin									Testers that know their townland of origin			Tester's country at time of test	Tester's continent	Testers	All identified MacTighernans to date
DNA Group	Leitrim	Sligo	Ros- common	Cavan	Scot- land	Unknown	Total		Leitrim	38		America	North America	33	93
T	17			1	1	6	25		Sligo	3		Ireland	Europe	13	22
Ta	2					1	3		Roscommon			England	Europe	14	38
Tb	1						1		Cavan	1		Canada	North America	5	11
Tc						1	1		Scotland			Australia	Australia	2	8
Td	1						1		Unknown	30		Indonesia	Asia	1	1
Te						1	1					Zimbabwe	Africa	1	1
Tf	1						1					Iraq	Asia	1	1
T3	10	3		1		1	15					Northern Ireland	Europe	1	1
T3a	1					1	2					Scotland	Europe	1	7
T3b					1		1					Japan	Asia		1
T3c	1						1					Norway	Europe		1
T3d	3						3					Spain	Europe		1
T3e	1						1					Switzrland	Europe		1
T2	10	1				5	16
Current Total	48	4		2	2	15	72		Total	72		10	5	72	187
TBR	2			1			3
in process

The goal is to map the genetic and geographic profil of all MacTighernans, our origins and connections.

Listed below are the possible centers of origin for each MacTighernan in the 14 different DNA groups if known
14 distinct MacTighernan DNA Group baselines		Looking solely at baselines, possible townland of origin for each of the 14 DNA Groups	Total # in each group	The Baselines, Perfect 25 / 25 matches in their group
1	T	Leonagh townland or Tullynacross townland or Moneenatieve or Beagh / Killavoggy townland or Sweetwood, Co Leitrim or Killinagh Parish, Co Cavan	25	11
2	T a	Derrinvoher or Derrinweer townland, Co Leitrim	3	3
3	T b	Feenagh townland, Co Leitrim	1
4	T c	Unknown	1
5	T d	Gortermone, Co Leitrim	1
6	T e	Unknown	1
7	T f	Unknown	1
8	T 2	Townlands of Corglancy, Greaghnafarna or Drumahaire (T) or Oughteragh parish, Co Leitrim or Co Sligo	16	8
9	T 3	Geevagh Parish or townland of Tap both in Co Sligo or Kilcoosy or Cleenaghoo in Co Leitrim	15	8
10	T 3 a	Corratawy townland, Co Leitrim	2	2
11	T 3 b	Unknown or Scotland ?	1
12	T 3 c	Tulcon townland, Co Leitrim	1
13	T 3 d	Gleneige or Moneyduff, Co Leitrim	3	2
14	T 3 e	Drumshanbo parish, Co Leitrim	1
Total MacTighernan tests completed			72
MacTighernan test in process at the lab:
MacTighernan test TBR = To Be Returned: Kevin-CN (171485), JohnT (190362) & Joe-Bel (201474)				3
O'Rorke test completed				1

The ancestors of the two McTernan families from Leonagh in Co Leitrim, Rory's from Sweetwood in Co Leitrim & Mountallen, Co Roscommon and mine from Sheskin, Co Leitrim all of whom are in the T Group are buried in the Abbey of Creevelea, Co Leitrim. Rory's earliest known ancestral home is in Sweetwood, Co Leitrim and then in Mountallen Townland in Co Roscommon which has the date 1671 etched in the fire place mantle which implies the year of construction of their family home.  From Mount Allen the family moved to Heapstown, Co Sligo.  John C. McTernan [T3a], the well known Co Sligo arthur and retired Chief Librarian of Co Sligo in his book Sligo Families II writes that the Mount Allen / Heapstown McTernan family originally came from Sweetwood, Co Leitrim and relate to the Leonagh, Sheskin and Rockfield McTernan families. Three of these four families are buried at the Abbey of Creevelea with the Rockfield McTernans whose male line has become extent buried in their family vault at Brockley Cemetery, Parish of Lewisham, Kent, England.

Relationship of the DNA Groups to each other: The T and T3 Group baselines only have 16 out of 25 DYS markers that match. More than 1/3 of the markers do not match resulting in a 9 loci pattern mutation event difference. The T2 Group baseline has an 8 loci difference to the baselines of both the T Group and the T3 Group. Philip O'Rorke, The O'Ruairc of Bréifne has a 9 loci mutation event difference with the baselines of the T and the T2 Groups but only a 7 loci mutation event difference with the T3 Group baseline. The result is that if you are in one group you do not genetically relate to anyone in any other DNA group.

Those in the baselines for each of the 14 separate MacTighernan DNA groups are a perfect 25 / 25 genetic match to each other in their group
DNA Group	Total # in Group	# in Baseline Group	Those MacTighernans with a perfect match in their specific DNA group forming their group baseline are below, excludes The O'Ruairc of Bréifne.   8 of the 14 DNA groups have only one individual so far
T	25	11	Mark (673), Michael (CN) (3436), Martin (3713), Rory (1029), Thomas (CA) (17363), John (ST) (49265), Tony (106135), John-P (134141), John-Rev (149591), Hugh-K C. McKiernan (158701) & Gerard (170331)
T a	3	3	Scott (AU) (639), Adrian (106134) & Richard (135598)
T b	1	1	John (USA) (635)
T c	1	1	Sgt. Chris McTurnan (31886)
T d	1	1	John Frank (117676)
T e	1	1	Myles (187076)
T f	1	1	Colin (192960)
T 2	16	8	Geoffrey (3435), Bernie (2145), Max (71428), Eugene (128783), Jim-SP (155834), KevinM (170332), Mike-PA (175937) & Mike-Eng (172135)
T 3	15	9	Leo (21151), Eoghan (636), Jim (NJ) (1010), Scott (CO) (5451), Jim (MA) (9497), John W (31885), Cathal (117675), Sean-SF (135597) & Edwin (201472)
T 3 a	2	2	David (NJ) (2392) & John C. (637)
T 3 b	1	1	Gus (8724)
T 3 c	1	1	Ed (NJ) (8723)
T 3 d	3	2	Sean (128784) & Paul-NI (180027)
T 3 e	1	1	Peter (138619)
sub total	72		completed test
in process at lab
TBR = to be returned	3		Kevin-CN (171485), JohnT (190362) & Joe-Bel (201474)
Total	75

Each DNA Group is of equal standing. Each group's baseline is where all in that group started.  The baselines of the 14 distinct DNA groups form automatically when 2 or more MacTighernans genetically match each other perfectly, 25 / 25 then they become the baseline of that specific group.  Matches of 23 or 24 out of 25 are in that group just not in the baseline.

Distance 1: 24 / 25 Probability of a close relationship is very high. You share the same surname (or a variant) with another male [and close proximity of origin] you mismatch by only one 'point' on only one marker. For most closely related and same surnamed individuals, the mismatch markers are usually either DYS 439 or DYS 385 A, 385 B,389-1 and 389-2 from our first panel of 12 markers, and on the following from the second panel of 13 markers: DYS #'s 458 459 a 459b 449, 464 a-d, which have shown themselves to move most rapidly.

Distance 2: 23 / 25 Probably related. You share the same surname (or a variant) with another male [and close proximity of origin] and you mismatch by two 'points' among the 25 markers tested. The probability of a close relationship is good, however your results show mutations, and therefore more time between you and the other MacTighernan.

Distance 3: 22 / 25 Probably not related. You share the same surname (or a variant) but are off by 3 'points' or 3 locations on the 25 markers tested.

How we match, 25 is perfect match--the T, Ta, Tb, Tc, Td, Te & Tf Groups
How 33 of 72 MacTighernans in 7 of the 14 DNA Groups match each other based on mutation event differences
Group -->	25 in the T Group														3 in Ta	Tb	Tc	Td	Te	Tf		DNA Group
Individual	Mark, Martin, Michael (CN), Thomas (CA), Rory, Tony, John-P, John (ST), Gerard, John-Rev & Hugh-K	Michael	Jim (CA)	Jim- SGL	Tom	John -con	Mike -UK	David (CN) & + Bob (CN)	Douglas +	Mick	Sean -sol	Michael (NJ)	Larry	Gene	Scott (AU), Richard & Adrian	John (USA)	Sgt. Chris	John Frk	Myles	Colin	Philip O'Rorke
Mark, Martin, Michael (CN), Rory, Tony, Gerard, Thomas (CA), John (ST), John-P, John-Rev & Hugh-K	25	24	24	24	24	24	24	24	23	23	23	23	23	22	22	21	21	18	18	22	16	T
Michael	24	NA	23	23	23	23	23	23	22	22	22	22	22	21	21	20	20	19	19	21	15	T+1
Jim (CA)	24	23	NA	23	23	23	23	23	22	22	22	22	22	21	21	20	22	19	19	21	17	T+1
Jim - SGL	24	23	23	NA	25	25	23	23	22	22	24	22	22	21	21	20	20	17	17	21	15	T+1
Tom	24	23	23	25	NA	25	23	23	22	22	24	22	22	21	21	20	20	17	17	21	15	T+1
John-con	24	23	23	25	25	NA	23	23	22	22	24	22	22	21	21	20	20	17	17	21	15	T+1
Mike-UK	24	23	23	23	23	23	NA	23	22	22	22	22	22	21	21	20	20	19	19	23	15	T+1
David (CN) + & Bob (CN) +	24	23	23	23	23	23	23	NA	24	22	24	24	22	21	21	20	22	19	17	21	17	T+1
Douglas (CN) +	23	22	22	22	22	22	22	24	NA	21	23	23	23	20	21	20	23	18	17	20	17	T+2
Mick	23	22	22	22	22	22	22	22	21	NA	21	21	21	20	20	19	19	16	16	20	14	T+2
Sean-sol	23	22	22	24	24	24	22	24	23	21	NA	23	21	20	20	19	21	18	16	20	16	T+2
Michael (NJ)	23	22	22	22	22	22	22	24	23	21	23	NA	21	20	20	19	21	18	16	20	16	T+2
Larry	23	22	22	22	22	22	22	22	23	21	21	21	NA	20	21	20	21	16	17	20	17	T+2
Gene	22	21	21	21	21	21	21	21	20	20	20	20	20	NA	19	18	18	15	15	19	13	T+3
Scott (AU), Richard & Adrian	22	21	21	21	21	21	21	21	21	20	20	20	21	19	25	20	19	15	17	19	15	Ta
John (USA)	21	20	20	20	20	20	20	20	20	19	19	19	20	18	20	25	19	16	16	22	14	Tb
Sgt. Chris	21	20	22	20	20	20	20	22	23	19	21	21	21	10	19	18	25	18	17	18	19	Tc
John Frank	18	19	19	17	17	17	19	19	18	16	18	18	16	15	15	16	18	25	21	17	15	Td
Myles	18	19	19	17	17	17	19	17	17	16	16	16	17	15	17	16	17	21	25	17	15	Te
Colin	22	21	21	21	21	21	23	21	20	20	20	20	20	19	19	22	18	17	17	25	14	Tf
Philip O'Rorke	16	15	17	15	15	15	15	17	17	14	16	16	17	13	15	14	19	15	15	14	25
DNA Group	T	T+1	T+1	T+1	T+1	T+1	T+1	T+1	T+2	T+2	T+2	T+2	T+2	T+3	Ta	Tb	Tc	Td	Te	Tf

Above numbers for perfect match of 25 / 25 are in red background - for the specific DNA groups, the red + sign means the grouped individuals are related

11 in the T Group baseline of the 25 total Ancestor lines in the T Group

25 / 25 DNA Match T baseline

Leonagh

Killinagh Parish, Co Cavan

TBD

Sweetwood, Co Leitrim, Mountallen & Lyonstown, Co Roscommon & Heapstown Co Sligo

Co Roscommon > Ardvoley in Beagh / Killavoggy

Killavoggy

TBD

Tullynacross

Moneenatieve

TBD

Hugh 1708-1784

Hugh 1760-1832

James c. 1790

James 1805-1856

Thomas 1792

John 1821

Patrick 1821

James c 1830

Thomas Michael 1838

Edward * 1844

Cpt Hugh 1837-1911

Thomas 1846

Martin

Peter

Charles * 1859

James Laur. 1861

Joseph James Sr

Will. James 1881

Henry 1876

Thomas 1877

Patrick

John

Felix 1886-1972

Garrett

James J. 1860

James 1889

Lillian Coyne

Hugh 1900

Joseph James Jr.

Louis Edward 1915

Hugh * Murrough 1912

Francis 1917

Patrick Edgar 1914

John

Martin 1917-2010

John

James Joseph 1901

James 1921

Eliz. Lovett

Martin 3713

Thomas (CA) 17363

Michael (CN) 3436

Rory 1946 1029

Alannah

John-Rev 149591

Gerard 1950 170331

John (ST) 49265

Tony 106135

Mary Bohan

John-P 134141

Hugh-K 158701

Kevin

Mark 673

Gerry

Michael

Ben

Antoinett Schapper

John

Lisa

USA

Erin

USA

Canada

Indonesia

Aus

USA

USA

Scot- land

Eng

Erin

Erin

Erin

DNA kit numbers in above chart are in Italic, other numbers are YOB. Perfect 25 / 25 matches are in red and are the baseline for the T DNA group

6 of the 15 total Ancestor lines of the T 3 Group (non baseline), with a 23 or 24 match to the baseline
24 / 25 DNA Match			24 / 25 DNA Match	24 / 25 DNA Match	23 / 25 DNA Match	23 / 25 DNA Match	23 / 25 DNA Match
Killargue parish then Greaghnaglogh			Lavaur ?	Drumshanbo Parish	Co Leitrim	Knocks / Glebe	Bellanagh Co Cavan
Seamey c 1780						Michael c 1779
James 1806			William I			Hugh c 1809
Patrick 1846			William II 1846			Hugh c 1845
John* 1897			James Augustine I	Martyn	Peter	Edward *	Michael *
Patrick	Joe 1028	Margaret	James Augustine II	Francis 1909	Lawrence 1914	Charles 638 **	John Francis
John- bld	Kevin	Jim Murphy	Jim III 122584	Paul-UK 171484	Lary-CT 175938	Bill	Gary 164167 **
	Jack Joseph 7-1-2011-
Erin	USA		USA	Eng	USA	USA	USA

DNA kit numbers at the bottom are in Italic, other numbers are YOB.  All townlands above are in Co Leitrim unless otherwise noted. Last row is tester's location at the time of the test. Ancestors in the light colored row in the above grid were born c. 1800. A ** in the above grid are a perfect DNA match to each other. * = immigrant

The symbol "<" is an event that occurred before that year and a ">" is an event that occurred after that year, e.g. <1800 means born before 1800

Ancestor lines of the T3e, T3d, T3c, T3b & the T3a Groups

While still in their own distinct genetic DNA Group, David (NJ) & John C. are 22 / 25, Gus is a 21 / 25, Sean, Paul-NI & Thady are a 20 / 25 and Ed (NJ) is a 20 / 25, and Peter is a 17 / 25 match with the T3 baseline

T3e

3 in the T3d Group

T3c

T3b

2 in T3a Group

25 / 25 DNA Match T 3e baseline

23 / 25 DNA Match T 3d Group

25 / 25 DNA Match T 3d baseline

25 / 25 DNA Match T 3c baseline

25 / 25 DNA Match T 3b baseline

25 / 25 DNA Match T 3a baseline

Drumshanbo Parish

Moneyduff, >Gleneige, >Mulkaun, >Conray,

Gleneige

Tulcon

Scotland

TBD

Corratawy

Stephen <1800

Michael

Terence* 1825-1884

Bryan 1808

Laughlin

Martin

James

Michael = Mary Devaney 1837

Bernard Tiernan <1846

Charles

James * 1834

Martin c 1814

Stephen Terence 1859-1921

Patrick 1854

Bryan 1851

little Patrick

Patrick

James = Kate     1878      Egan

Francis* 1876

Farrell Patrick

James 1859

Charles 1844

Stephen Terence 1901-1953

Michael 1894

Patrick 1891

Patrick

Mick

Michael

Maurice 1922

Farrell Ramsey

James 1890

Martin 1892

James

Charles

Peter 1932 138619

Thady 138618

Charles Paddy

Pascal

Theresia Levis

Patrick -2001

Maureen

Paul-NI 180027

Siobhan Porter

Charles

Michael

Ed (NJ) 8723

Nancy (DC)

Gus 8724

David (NJ) 1920 2392

Joe

John C. 637

Kevin- tax

Mark 1957

Pascal

Sean 128784

Eoin

Marrianne & Genevieve

Jim

Mark

Wakefield, England

Erin

Northern Ireland

USA

Zimbabwa Africa

USA

Erin

DNA kit numbers at the bottom are in Italic, other numbers are YOB. Perfect 25 / 25 matches are in red and are the baseline for their specific DNA Group. All townlands above are in Co Leitrim unless otherwise noted. Last row is tester's location at the time of the test. Ancestors in the light colored row in the above grid were born c. 1800. * = immigrant

The symbol "<" is an event that occurred before that year and a ">" is an event that occurred after that year, e.g. <1800 means born before 1800