The O'Hourihane DNA Projects Get a DNA Test and Join the Project

The O'Hourihane DNA projects at Family Tree DNA explore the genetic origins of those descended from ancestors with surnames of interest.

• Group Y-DNA results into the major Irish haplotypes: Type 1 (northwest), Type 2 (south Irish), Type 3 (Dalcassian), and Type 4 (Continental). Introduce more haplogroup/haplotype sort "buckets" as needed. (See Basic Guide to Ireland Y-DNA Testing for a brief introduction to Ireland haplogroups and haplotypes.)


• Based on what we know about the surname, we expect heavy representation of Type 3 in the population of Tipperary-originated Hanrahans, and perhaps Type 2 in the population of Cork-based Horgans, but what of the Connaught-originated Horans? We know that in Connaught is the highest concentration of the haplogroup R1b3 (some 98%) in the entire isle. Some of the surnames in the area conform to the Type 1 (northwest) haplotype. Hopefully this project will bring bring some clarity to these groups.


• Sort out these names! Identify spelling and/or geographic correlations with Y-DNA, if any. In Cork, were Galway-originated Horans living almost literally next door to Tipperary-based Hanrahans and Cork-based Horgans and were members of all three families called Hourihane?


• Eventually determine whether there are genetic relationships between Hourihane project members and testing populations of other surname projects (e.g., O'Brien). Some of the other Irish surnames may have historically served as nicknames, secondary names, and agnomina to Hourihane or vice versa.


• Explore the geographic areas from which we believe are the origins of the surname and its variants: counties Cork and Tipperary in Ireland, eventually working our way through all of Munster. Thomond (north Munster) is of interest. Project results may lead us to other geographic areas, such as Westmeath, Laois, and Longford. Can we find any historical literature that describes major migration, for instance from Tipperary to Cork, or Limerick to Kerry, and can we pinpoint the circumstances that would have triggered it?


• Should sufficient data become available, carve out micro-studies differentiating families in the same local area. For example, in the parish of Caheragh, some Hourihane families have the secondary name Glissoge, Glassoge, and possibly Glassany, while others do not. Does that mean that these Hourihane families living side by side had different origins? In this same parish, men named Eugene (or Owen) or Mortimer (or Morty, Murty, etc) were abundant on the west side (west of road R593), while Mortimer vanishes entirely and occurrences of Eugene almost completely disappear on the east side (east of R593). Why? (R593, incidentally, is the road from Skibbereen to Drimoleague, and was a dividing line between the two divisions of West Carbery.)


• Supplement conventional genealogy, especially where no paper records survive. Assist those trying to make the leap "across the pond" to Ireland and determine their ancestral origin. Identify relatively recent cousin relationships among Hourihane descendants.

Susan J. Barretta, Project Administrator

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Last updated: Sunday, 19-Aug-2012 21:58:30 MDT