Thanks Jerry I was worried about the hard 'g' as well, and you've clarified that within the Irish Gaelic language framework, it is difficult to see how McErachar/MacFerchar could become McHarg. McHar I can see (as Mac Giolla Iain became McLean). But I too can't figure out why a 'g' would be added. But that's within the Irish Gaelic language framework. I wonder whether we shouldn't be thinking in terms of a language corruption, rather than trying to explain it grammatically or phonetically. The reason for my suspicion is that my Y-STR DNA is much closer to McHarg than McHargue is to McHarg. That would be explained if McErachar=McHar=McHarg. Sandy [On whether MacErachar/MacFerchar could become McHarg/McHargue, I don't think so. The ch in Ulster Irish is almost silent, and I'm guessing that Scots Gaelic treats it the same way. (But that's a guess become I'm sorry to say I don't speak Scots Gaelic, just Irish Gaelic.) If so, however, there's nothing left in MacErachar/MacFerchar to result in the hard G in McHarg/McHargue.]

Hi Sandy, Some families took additional surnames. So there's no need to look for an equivalence of McErachar with McHarg. Or, more specifically, Mac Fhearchar with Mac Giolla Chairge. Don't forget that anglicization happened over generations of witnesses, bi-lingual people who could record the original tradition. Gaelic society of Ireland, Scotland, and Man was, in its prime, the most literate society in Europe. When people know that McHarg comes from Mac Giolla Chairge and McErachar from Mac Fhearchar, they really do know it. Best, Jerry Cló an Druaidh / The Druid Press www.druidpress.com ________________________________ From: Sandy Paterson <alexanderpatterson@btinternet.com> To: dna-r1b1c7@rootsweb.com Sent: Wed, June 1, 2011 4:09:19 AM Subject: Re: [R-M222] Icelandic M222 Thanks Jerry I was worried about the hard 'g' as well, and you've clarified that within the Irish Gaelic language framework, it is difficult to see how McErachar/MacFerchar could become McHarg. McHar I can see (as Mac Giolla Iain became McLean). But I too can't figure out why a 'g' would be added. But that's within the Irish Gaelic language framework. I wonder whether we shouldn't be thinking in terms of a language corruption, rather than trying to explain it grammatically or phonetically. The reason for my suspicion is that my Y-STR DNA is much closer to McHarg than McHargue is to McHarg. That would be explained if McErachar=McHar=McHarg. Sandy [On whether MacErachar/MacFerchar could become McHarg/McHargue, I don't think so. The ch in Ulster Irish is almost silent, and I'm guessing that Scots Gaelic treats it the same way. (But that's a guess become I'm sorry to say I don't speak Scots Gaelic, just Irish Gaelic.) If so, however, there's nothing left in MacErachar/MacFerchar to result in the hard G in McHarg/McHargue.] R1b1c7 Research and Links: http://clanmaclochlainn.com/R1b1c7/ ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to DNA-R1B1C7-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message