That is right Janet. I am one of the people who find themselves descended from Niall through my McHenry family coming from the O'Cathain clan, this has been found through DNA & using a number of males & was not done looking for the 'pot of gold'. I have the book "Clans of Ulster" & most of these names are in this book as being from Niall & names do change around a bit over time. In Medieval times & prior to this time it is written that illigitimate children were given their fathers name, it was powerful to have children especially males! I have now used DNA on 4 of my male lines & I am finding it a most interesting tool with my research, it certainly keeps me very busy & can change that paper trail believe you me! Robyn ----- Original Message ----- From: "Janet Crawford" <reojan@gmail.com> To: <IRL-TIPPERARY-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Sunday, January 22, 2006 6:18 AM Subject: Re: [TIP] DNA -Niall > > >> Hi Squire, Generally I agree with you. Niall's brothers would carry the >> same DNA and on down their lines. However, the statement below needs some >> clarification: >> >> "What is socially interesting is that so many people with different >> surnames seem to be descended from the Nialls. Hmmmm." > > > > In the old days, the eventual surnames were derived, simplyfying it, from > the names given to the sons. "They" say the surnames started about 1000AD > but I think it may have really begun in a limited way in the 800's. So in > the 800's a son was named Flaithbertach, which eventually became > O'Flaherty, > and he was in the direct O'Neill line. Tons of new surnames came about in > the same line in that way. > > But your postman theory is meaningful too :) Lots of illegitimate births > over the centuries. > > Janet > > ==== IRL-TIPPERARY Mailing List ==== >> Join us for a chat about researching families in Tipperary (and >> everything else!). 'Open House Sessions' every Thursday/Friday (depending >> on your location). Starting at 11pm Thursday Tipperary Time. This means >> the >> time will be 11pm in England; 6 pm in New York and Montreal; 3pm in >> California and Vancouver; 7am (Friday) in Perth; 10am (Friday) in Sydney; >> 12 >> noon (Friday) in Wellington. >> http://www.rootsweb.com/~irltip2/chat/index.htm >> >> > > > ==== IRL-TIPPERARY Mailing List ==== > Reminder! Remove (<snip>) as much of the Original Message as > possible when replying to a List Posting. Include just the part of > the original message important to your reply. > >