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As of December 2008, the Fitzpatrick DNA study has 120 participants from Ireland, Scotland, England, Canada, the U.S., New Zealand, Australia, France, and Barbados. About half of these participants have been tested on the extended set of 43 markers. We are now testing with DNA Heritage, www.dnaheritage.com.
The goals of our study are:
1) To identify the Irish origins of all Fitzpatricks,
2) To connect Fitzpatricks worldwide with each other,
3) To compare Fitzpatrick DNA results with historical research on the Clan,
4) To investigate matches between Fitzpatricks and individuals with other surnames.
Our results reveal several clusters of Fitzpatricks, most notably a group from Co. Laois (Group L) who descend from the House of Ossory. Many still live in Co. Laois today. It is not possible to identify their common ancestor, but it is estimated that this group originated roughly 1000 years ago. For this reason, it is likely that the common ancestor predates Brian MacGiollaphadraig, who was created First Baron of Upper Ossory by Henry VIII in 1541.
We have also identified groups of Fitzpatricks from Co. Clare, Co. Down, Co. Cork, and Co. Cavan.
The group from Co. Clare belong to haplogroup I1b. This haplogroup is far less common than the R1b that dominates Ireland, and is associated with coastal waterways from Scandinavia to the Mediterranean. This group includes four close matches among people from New Jersey, England, Australia, and Aiken, SC. There are two other members from Idaho and Massachusetts who belonging to haploroup I1b who does not match the other four. We are not certain these come from Co. Clare, but we include them here for convenience.
The group from Co. Down live as far apart as they can and still be on the same planet. They are from England, Florida, So. California, No. California, Washington State, and New Zealand.
The group from Co. Cavan (also called the Nine of Clads) seems to be as old as the group from Co. Laois (Group L), but not as large. The members of this group come from Ireland, England, Australia, Canada, and various locations in the US. One member now lives in France.
The group from Co. Cork shows close matches with O'Leary's around Mallow. We believe that the two families connect between 1543, when the Irish name MacGiollaphadraig was changed to Fitzpatrick, and 1700, the date to which some members of this group can trace their pedigrees. Notably, the descendents of Timothy Fitzpatrick and Ellen O'Neil belong to this group. This couple immigrated to the US in about 1848, finally settling in West Virginia in about 1850. A large amount of research has been done of locating the origins of this couple. It was previously believed they came from Co. Clare, but the match with Fitzpatricks from Co. Cork has pointed us in a different direction.
About 50% of our study falls into one of these five groups. About 25% of the study fall into smaller groups. Notably, about 25% do not match anyone else in the study, although we have had some success at matching a few to individuals with other surnames.
Our DNA study has been a great success! Thanks to DNA, we have connected clan members from distant parts of the world into family groups. We have had many surprises along the way, connecting Fitzpatrick even across continents who would otherwise never have found each other.
We welcome all Fitzpatricks to join us in this exciting project. For more information, please contact Colleen Fitzpatrick at CFitzp@aol.com.
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- Alan Burton - Chicago, IL (52 KB)
Descendents of Timothy Fitzpatrick (b. abt. Ireland 1820, settled in WV 1850). Recent results indicate a close genetic relationship between Michael Fitzpatrick from Perth, Western Australia, and the descendents of Timothy Fitzpatrick in the U.S. Mike's ancestors evidently came from Co. Cavan giving the "Timothy Group" direction for future research.
- Anne Rosin (19 KB)
Descendents of John Warren Fitzpatrick and Mary Ann ??? - White Oak Mountain, Scotland, Arkansas abt. 1820
- Steve Zalewski - Bend, OR (37 KB)
Descendents of John Fitzpatrick and Elizabeth Thompson - abt. 1790. Location unknown, although their son, William Fitzpatrick was born in 1810 in Lackelly, Co. Limerick
- John Hylas - Ventura, CA (23 KB)
Descendents of Brian na Luirech Mac Gilla Patraic of Ossory, born c. 1450, progenitor of the noble line of Fitzpatricks. This tree actually extends back to the time of Christ and beyond.
- Steve Fitzpatrick - Queensland, Australia (100 KB)
Descendents of Jeremiah Fitzpatrick and Eliza Connolly abt. 1800 - Co. Dublin, Ireland. Their son James Patrick Fitzpatrick (m. Mary Brady) was born in 1825 in Co. Cork, Ireland.
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