Up to three million men living around the world today could be descended from a fifth-century Irish king, according to a new study.
Research suggests as many as 1 in 12 men in Ireland carry the genes of Niall of the Nine Hostages, bolstering claims that the ancient warlord founded a dynasty that dominated Ireland for centuries.
Dunno. I hope I am not one of them. :rofl:arildno said:What happens to Niall's descendants if it is proven he didn't exist after all?
Do they evaporate or something?
Nice link, though.
The claim that millions of men may be descended from an Irish king is based on a study published in the journal Genetics in 2015. The study used genetic data from men with surnames associated with the historical Irish kingdom of Uí Néill to estimate the number of living descendants of its legendary founder, Niall of the Nine Hostages.
The researchers used a method called surname-based sampling, in which they recruited men with specific surnames associated with the Uí Néill dynasty. They then analyzed the Y-chromosome DNA of these men to look for genetic markers that are typically passed down from father to son. By comparing these markers to those of other men in Ireland, they were able to estimate the number of living descendants of Niall.
The study estimated that there could be as many as 3 million living male descendants of Niall of the Nine Hostages, making him one of the most prolific known male ancestors in the world. The study also found that 1 in 12 men in Ireland and 1 in 5 men in northwest Ireland carry genetic markers that are consistent with descent from Niall.
While there is no direct historical evidence for Niall's existence, there are many legendary and genealogical sources that mention him. Additionally, the genetic evidence from the study suggests that there may have been a common male ancestor for many of the men in Ireland with surnames associated with the Uí Néill dynasty, indicating that there may have been a real person behind the legend.
This study sheds light on the genetic ancestry of millions of men with Irish heritage and highlights the influence of one particular male ancestor, Niall of the Nine Hostages. It also demonstrates the power of genetic analysis in understanding human population history and migration patterns. However, it is important to note that this study only looked at male-line descendants and does not reflect the genetic ancestry of all people with Irish heritage.