Lara Cassidy's Thesis

[zackdaugherty]

So any opinions here on it? There is a DF104/109 result carbon dated in late 1400's to mid 1600s. That's from Lagore in Co. Meath. I think there are two older M222's also from the Derrynamanagh site in Galway. They are stated to be "late Iron Age" so 300-400 AD?

Russ

I'd have to think that this sample would not have DF104/109 as a terminal SNP, but rather an upstream SNP if it is dated at late 1400s to mid 1600s. I know that their coverage/depth is not near what we achieve today with freshly sequenced samples.

Zack

[Webmaster]

I would have to agree with Zack. That dating of the late 1400's to mid 1600s is far too late to be R1b-DF104 or R1b-DF105 (DF109) terminal. I believe I read in the thesis their coverage was 1X, which is quite low compared to a 30X WGS test, which is also the approximate coverage for a BigY 700 test, according to Iain McDonald. IDK if these remains can be re-sequenced at a higher coverage, but it would be nice if it was possible.

[AlMcCord]

I think there was some type of compromise as to the amount of coverage verses picking up too many contaminants, such as bacteria and such.

[Webmaster]

AlMcCord,

Thank you for passing along that info.

BTW, I have had some interesting email exchanges with Zak Jones about the McCord surname possibly deriving from Mac Muirchertaig rather than Mac Cuarta.

And welcome to the DCG Forum!

[AlMcCord]

Your welcome. Thank you once more for your kind welcome! Yes. Zak Jones has studied the McCord Surname for some time now. Within the past year or so he has been of great help in getting me acquainted with STR, and SNP dna testing, and how to interpret the results. (Learning all the terminology & science was, and is quite fun! )
The origins of the Surname is very interesting, as I enjoy reading of the history, and culture of our ancestors. I am awed and saddened at the same time as to what they had to endure to survive in those days. They surely were a very tough, and disciplined group of people to be able to just live day by day!

I'm sure Zak has made you aware of the two major dna types of the McCord Surname. That in and of itself is a puzzle. Don't you just love puzzles?!? ☺

So far my journey has been forthcoming and the puzzle pieces are beginning to fall into place. It has also led me here to the Ďal Cuinn group where I look forward to learning more about the origin and lives of my Kin.

[Webmaster]

AI,

One thing I should mention is that since almost all Irish surnames are patronymics, it is expected we will find many surnames that have numerous unrelated progenitors. A patronymic means it was taken from a common ancestor's given name, so it would be similar to a man named John whose sons, or grandsons, etc. decided that he was an important man and chose to call themselves Johnson. And John being a popular given name, it would be expected to see several different Johnson families arise in different times and locations who had no close genetic connection. So the two Dál Cuinn branches of Mac Muirchertaig families is not too surprising at all. I hope that helps.

[AlMcCord]

Yes, that helps a lot! Thank you!