Irish medieval genealogies are the oldest in Europe. They were compiled by monks and scribes from the 7th century onwards and comprehensive compilations were created in the 1600s. These genealogies stretch from the pre-Christian era, up to the arrival and adoption of literacy in Ireland (about 500 AD), then to the formation of surnames in Ireland (roughly 950-1250 AD), and occasionally up to the demise of the Gaelic clan system in the 1600s. You can read a brief account of the history of these genealogies here.
In my presentation at the recent Clan Gathering (see previous post), I discussed the medieval genealogies of the Farrells of Annaly (Longford). The Farrell name arose from Feargal, born about 980 AD. The genealogies then follow the direct-male-line of the Farrell chieftains for several centuries and several branches are recorded up to the 1600s (see the relevant chapter of my YouTube presentation here).
In addition, I discussed how ongoing research has established (with 80-90% confidence) that the section of the Farrell medieval genealogies from about 800-1050 AD is broadly correct and there is no indication that they have been manipulated for socio-political reasons (see here). The evidence for this is based on a comparison of two types of "family tree" - one genealogical, the other genetic.
The genealogical family tree is based on the medieval genealogies which describe how the surnames Farrell, Reynolds, Shanley, and Mulvey stem from a common ancestor (Cromán) born about 800 AD. These surnames branch off from each other at different points in the tree, thus creating a particular branching structure. This tree is known as the CAST (Clan-Associated Surnames Tree) and is based solely on the documentary evidence.
On the other hand, the genetic family tree is based on the branching structure created by various DNA markers detected by the Big Y test. In addition, clusters of people with the same surname sit on particular branches of this tree, which is known as the DAST (DNA-Associated Surnames Tree).
When we compare the two types of tree (CAST vs DAST), we find that 1) the branching structure is the same in both trees; 2) the age of the branching points in the genetic tree is consistent with those estimated for the genealogical tree; and 3) the surnames on the genetic tree sit exactly where we would expect them to based on the genealogical tree. This provides strong supportive evidence that these medieval genealogies are broadly accurate.
Furthermore, this means that anyone who is in Group 2 of the DNA Project can now claim Feargal as their direct ancestor, but can also (with 80-90% confidence) claim his ancestors back to about 500 AD when the written word began to be used in Ireland. This adds an extra 17 generations to your family tree, stretching from 1000 AD back to 500 AD.
Prior to 500 AD, the genealogies record additional ancestors, but this earlier portion of the genealogies is less reliable because the names were passed on via oral tradition (and therefore there is a higher chance of mistakes being made).
The section of the Farrell medieval genealogies after 1050 AD includes at least 10 descendant lines, some of which extend to 1600 AD. That just leaves a 200 year gap between 1600 and 1800 (where many Irish family trees hit a Brick Wall due to the paucity of records). However, it may be possible bridge this 200-year gap by using DNA (specifically the Big Y test) to link specific people to specific genetic branches associated with the Farrells of Group 2.
In so doing, we jump across the divide of absent documentation and reconnect with some of the late medieval branches described in the medieval genealogies. And if we can do this, it means that for some people in the project, they (and everyone in their families) will be able to extend their Farrell line from 1800, back to 1600, and back to 1000 AD (to Feargal) and back to 500 AD (to Earcol). That is a jump from 5 generations to 49 generations of named Farrell ancestors, with a gap of about 3-6 generations where named ancestors are replaced with DNA markers.
And that's a wow!
In the next article, I'll be taking a deeper dive into the Late Medieval Branches of the Farrells of Annaly.
And one of those branches could be yours ...
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