McMurtrie
| McMurtry DNA Project
The
DNA Project is open to new participants.
As a member of the McMurtrie | McMurtry Society, you are welcome
to take part in our exciting DNA Project. Testing a male
McMurtry in your family has the potential to expand knowledge of your family’s ancestral
roots in Ireland
and / or in Scotland.
New DNA Project participants
receive complimentary first-year memberships in the McMurtrie |
McMurtry Society for themselves and a family member (worth $40).
Also, participants in the McMurtrie | McMurtry DNA Project receive a
33% discount on the cost of having their own or a family
member's DNA tested.
Click for steps on how to join
the DNA Project and become a member.
McMurtrie | McMurtry DNA Project
Report
(July 2005, rev. March 2008)
This report summarizes the results of DNA samples from 30 McM
in 19 different McM families from around the world collected
between 2003 and 2008. We have DNA results from 20 of the 95
families that have been traced back to the 1700s or early 1800s
in Ireland and Scotland. It represents the first attempt to use
this amazing DNA technology to shed light on the early history
of the various McM families.
Click here to view results
Worldwide Pattern
Though we have many more families to sample, the initial results
imply that all McMurtrie/McMurtry families seem to descend from
three different ancestors: (1) an ancestor whose DNA was
characteristic of descendants in “Eastern Ayrshire” and centered
in Dalmellington and Craigie Sorn parishes, (2) an ancestor
whose DNA was characteristic “Western Ayrshire/ Co Antrim”, and
is ancestor to many families in both Ireland and Scotland and
(3) an ancestor whose DNA was characteristic of “Co Derry” in
northern Ireland.
To our surprise, most of the McMurtrys, who settled in colonial
America and early 1800s Canada and who were from the northern
Ireland, bear the “Western Ayrshire/Co Antrim” DNA signature.
The McMurtrie family that settled in Philadelphia in the 1750s
was from Dalmellington and bears “Eastern Ayrshire” signature.
The McMurtry family that settled near Ottawa in the early 1800s
was from Co Derry and bore the “Co Derry” signature.
The question about whether the McM were originally from Scotland
or Ireland has not yet been answered and the answer may prove to
be “BOTH!” However, we have established that some of the old
Scottish families of western Ayrshire share a common ancestor
with the old Irish families of Co Antrim.
The original vision of Alexander McMurtrie, founder of the
MacMurtrie Clan Family Records in 1938, was to trace all the McM
back to a common ancestor. Though the DNA indicates this will
not be possible, nevertheless it may be possible to connect most
of the McM families in the world to a small number of
progenitors.
Latest Interpretation of the New Jersey and Virginia McM
Connections
For many decades, McM family historians have wondered about the
possible relationship between the three Sussex/Somerset County
New Jersey brothers (Joseph d 1761, Robert d 1777, and Thomas d
1788) and the two Alexander McM in colonial America – one being
Alexander McM d 1761 in Hunterdon Co, New Jersey (CF112) and the
other being Alexander McM, father of the two brothers Capt John
and Samuel McM (CF111) who settled with their widowed mother in
Augusta County, Virginia by 1751.
The data indicate the Sussex/Somerset County New Jersey and the
Augusta County, Virginia families are only 2 mutations from each
other. This suggests an 80% chance of common ancestor within 2
generations of coming to America and a 90% chance of a common
ancestor within 11 generations of coming to America. Hence,
they may indeed have been close enough cousins in Ireland to
have known each other before coming to America.
Equally interesting is the Alexander d 1761 of Hunterdon Co New
Jersey is only 1 mutation from the other two New Jersey-Virginia
family groups, perhaps a missing link between them and
suggesting a close connection between all three of them.
Even more fascinating is that these colonial immigrants seem to
share a common ancestor with 6 families of Irish origin and 2
families of Scottish origin. Further testing is needed to
determine how far back in history that connection lies.
Connecting the McM Throughout the World
The McMurtries and McMurtrys sampled to date can be grouped into
three DNA patterns: “Eastern Ayshire”, “Western Ayrshire/
County Antrim”, and “County Derry” Group.
The
Western Ayrshire/ County Antrim Group
The “Western Ayrshire/ County Antrim” Group contains all the
New Jersey families, 6 Irish families, and 2 Scottish
families, as listed below:
New Jersey Families
CF-110: Thomas McM d 1788, Robert McM d 1777, Joseph McM d 1761
of Sussex and Somerset County, New Jersey
CF-111/110: Joseph and James McMurtry of New Jersey, Virginia
CF-111: Samuel McM d 1796 of Augusta Co VA and Abbeville SC and
Capt John McM d 1790 of Augusta Co, VA and Lincoln/Mercer Co, KY
CF-112: Alexander McMurtry d 1761 Hunterdon County, New Jersey
(including Hugh McMurtrie of Northumberland Co, Pennsylvania and
Alexander McM of Orange Co, New York, Bridgit McM md Abel
Everitt 1781)
Irish Origin Families
CF-117: William McM, migrated from Co Antrim, Ireland d. 1808
Laurens County, South Carolina
CF 103: James McM b. pr. 1840 md Isabella Carr, Scotland;
Philadelphia
CF 121: John McM b ca 1700, Ballyraber, Bruslee, Co Antrim
CF 201: Randall McM b 1783 & Matthew McM b 1787, Is. Magee, Co
Antrim;
CF 202: William McM b 1778, Co Antrim and Co Carlow->Bowmanville,
Ontario
CF 204:James McM b abt 1820 Carrickfergus, Co Antrim
Scottish Families
CF 39: James md Jane Johnston 1800 Maybole
CF 15: Robert b ca 1780 Co Down ->Inch,
Wigtownshire, Scotland
The
County Derry Group
The County Derry Group contains 3 Irish origin families – two
of which are known to have come from Derry and one is probably
from there based on genetic similarity to the first two
families.
CF 203: James McM b. 1794 Ireland-> March Twp, Ontario & John
McM b 1803 Ireland->March Twp & McGillivray Twp, Ontario
CF 211: Alexander & Betsey McM b ca 1780, Co
Derry->Massachusetts
CF 206: John McM b ca 1805 Co Tyrone->New Brunswick
The
Eastern Ayrshire Group
The Eastern Ayrshire Group contains three Scottish origin
families:
CF-113: David McM 1721-1785 and William McM 1740-1807 of
Dalmellington, Scotland and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
CF 23: John McM b. ca 1735 Craigie, Coylton
CF 104: Gilbert McM md Marion Dick 1805 Dalrymple, Scotland
Results
Discussion
As the first results came in, we thought that the Scottish and
the Irish McM had distinctively different signatures and hence
we thought we had discovered that the Scottish and Irish McM did
not share a common ancestor. This challenged the commonly held
view that the Irish McM (including those who went to America)
had originally come from Scotland to Ireland.
But as more results came in, we began to see differences within
Ireland – principally between the families with origins in Co
Antrim and those in Co Derry. Then we also saw that the
Scottish families were divided between those having a “Eastern
Ayrshire” signature and those having a Co Antrim signature. So
“the jury is still out” in terms of deciding whether the McM
origins are all Scottish or all Irish or whether certain
Scottish families have Irish origins or whether certain Irish
families have Scottish origins.
But we have not as yet found any Co Derry signature families in
Scotland. The County Derry families appear to be an entirely
separate group with solely Irish origins.
Co Antrim Signature
At this point, a somewhat dazzling array of eleven different
major families are part of the Antrim Group. They all tend to
be within one or two genetic differences between the CF 111/110
family.
With respect to the New Jersey McMurtries (CF110/111), the
samples from descendants of Robert McM d 1777 and Thomas McM d
1788 tended to be within a genetic distance of 2 from one of the
descendants of Joseph McM d 1761. And descendants of Capt John
McM and Samuel McM (CF111) were also within a genetic distance
of 2. Surprisingly, the samples from the desc of Alexander McM
d 1761 Hunterdon Co New Jersey (CF112) and the desc of the
Bowmanville Ontario McM (CF 202) was only a distance of 1 from
the desc of Joseph McM d 1761. Further, it was also a genetic
distance of 2 between the Joseph McM desc and (1) the Co Down to
Co Wigtownshire family (CF 15), (2) the Island Magee family (CF
201), (3) the Irish immigrant family to South Carolina (CF 117),
(4) a Carrickfergus family (CF204), (5) the Bruslee/Ballyraber
Co Antrim Family (CF 121).
We were surprised to not see a lesser distance between the three
branches of the Joseph, Robert, Thomas CF 110 family. And we
were surprised to see the closeness with the Ontario and
Hunterdon County families for which we did not expect a close
relationship. We were pleased to see only a distance of 2 with
the Capt John/Samuel McM family since family historians had long
hoped to see a close connection there. Seeing that several of
the Scottish families also had this pattern suggested a large
inter-related group of families. The close connection to the
Laurens County SC family and the Island Magee family was a
delight as it tended to locate this group as having a Co Antrim
origin.
Co Derry Signature
CF 203 (Ottawa McM: James McM b 1794) and CF 211 (Co Derry 1830
census->Massachusetts: Alexander McM b ca 1780) are only a
distance of 1 from each other which suggests a close
relationship. Both these families appear to have lived in the
south of Co Derry, not far from the Co Tyrone border. CF 203 is
a distance of 3 from CF 206 (Co Tyrone to New Brunswick) This
suggests some degree of relationship especially in comparison
with the genetic distance of 7 or 8 from the Co Antrim family;
so we are considering them a distinct group pending gathering of
more samples from this group of families. Artrea
Eastern Ayrshire Signature
The three families of CF 113 (Dalmellington McM), CF 23 (Sorn,
Craigie), and CF 104 (Dalrymple, Ayr) were all within a distance
of 2 from each other. They are a distance of 12 to 15 from the
other two signatures.
The DNA results have caused us to speculate that David McMurtrie,
father of Gilbert McMurtrie b 1775 of CF 104 may be the David
McM born in Dalmellington in 1735.
In sum, it appears that all McM families come from these three
ancestral roots. Most families studied so far seem to come from
the same genetic roots in Co Antrim and western Ayrshire.
Next Steps
Some possible next steps include:
American Families
1.
Get samples for the Joseph d 1761 line (Judge John 1738-1792, or
Joseph md 1759 Susannah Patton); for the Robert b 1749 line, son
of Thomas d 1788; for the Robert Emmett line of CF 101/110.
These samples will better define the genetic pattern of the
progenitors (Joseph d 1761, Thomas d 1788 and Robert d 1777).
2.
Get samples from a first cousin and third cousin of Richard K.
McMurtry to confirm when the genetic mutations occurred in his
line and to confirm our assumptions about 4 mutations in 200
years being the high range of normal.
Scottish Families
3.
Get one sample from a family in each Scottish parish to see if
there is a predominant Scottish ancestral signature or not and
whether there is any geographically related pattern differences
within the signatures in Ayrshire.
4.
Get samples from the Edinburgh/New Zealand/Australia McM to see
if their patterns match the “Ayrshire” or Irish signatures.
All Families
5.
Get one sample from each of the 100+ McM families to determine
the breadth of genetic difference/similarity within the entire
Clan.
6.
Experiment with a larger set of genetic markers to see if
patterns emerge that distinguish between branches that appear
very similar when using a smaller set of genetic markers.
Thanks to all those who participated or contributed to this
study! Without your support, we would not have made the
progress that has been made.