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| In the news it was announced how the story of Niall and the Nine Hostages looked like it was based in fact. These findings are based on the genetic testing of men, because the Y chromosome goes mostly unchanged from father to son. It seems that 20% of men from Northwestern Ireland and about 3 million men world wide have this unique genetic marker which has turned the myth of Niall back to history. Below is a chart, including all of the surnames linked to Niall, and other family names with their associated myths, histories and stories. To read more about the genetic testing, please see the January 2006 issue of The American Journal of Human Genetics. |
| Name |
Mythical or Historical Figure |
Link to Text |
| Boyle |
Niall of the Nine Hostages |
Ui Neill |
| Bradley |
Niall of the Nine Hostages |
Ui Neill |
| Campbell |
Niall of the Nine Hostages |
Ui Neill |
| Cannon |
Niall of the Nine Hostages |
Ui Neill |
| Carey |
The O'Kearys, (or in Irish called O Ciardha), who in later times always used the anglicized form Carey, belonged to the southern Ui Neill |
Ui Neill |
| Connor |
Niall of the Nine Hostages |
Ui Neill |
| Devlin |
Niall of the Nine Hostages |
Ui Neill |
| Doherty |
Niall of the Nine Hostages |
Ui Neill |
| Donnelly |
Niall of the Nine Hostages |
Ui Neill |
| Doody |
The name traces its descent from Fiachra, brother of Niall of the Nine Hostages, through Daighi, the last pagan King of Ireland |
Ui Neill |
| Egan |
Niall of the Nine Hostages |
Ui Neill |
| Fergus/Ferguson |
Carrickfergus in Co. Antrim is said to have been named after Fergus mac Roigh, the "Red Branch" hero of the Táin and reputed ancestor of several Ulster septs |
Fergus mac Roigh |
| Ferris |
Carrickfergus in Co. Antrim is said to have been named after Fergus mac Roigh, the "Red Branch" hero of the Táin and reputed ancestor of several Ulster septs |
Fergus mac Roigh |
| Flynn |
Niall of the Nine Hostages |
Ui Neill |
| Gallagher |
Niall of the Nine Hostages |
Ui Neill |
| Geoghegans |
The sept of the MacGeoghegans is of the southern Ui Neill and of the stock of the famous sixth century King Niall of the Nine Hostages |
Ui Neill |
| Gormley |
Niall of the Nine Hostages |
Ui Neill |
| Hogan |
The Hogans are a Dalcassian family, their eponymous ancestor being Ogan who was descended from an uncle of Brian Boru |
Brian Boru |
| Hynes |
Niall of the Nine Hostages |
Ui Neill |
| Kane |
Niall of the Nine Hostages |
Ui Neill |
| Kavanagh |
The first Kavanagh was Donal son of Dermot MacMurrough, King of Leinster, who was one one of the prominent figures in Irish history, being the immediate cause of the Anglo-Norman invasion |
Donal |
| Kelleher |
Descendant of Ceileachar or Kelleher, who was a nephew of the famous Brian Boru |
Brian Boru |
| Kennedy |
Descendant of Kennedy (or Cinneide) was a nephew of Brian Boru |
Brian Boru |
| Kinsella |
Kinsellas and Kavanaghs descend from Dermot MacMurrough, illfamed King of Leinster from 1134-1171; and the names are derived from Enna Cinsealach and Domhnall Caomhanach, sons of that king |
Donal |
| MacCarthy |
The name of the earliest times has been associated with south Munster of Desmond. The third century King of Munster, Oilioll Olum, had two sons Eoghan and Cormac Cas. This family descends from Eoghan. |
Oilioll Olum |
| MacDermot |
The family descends from Tadhg O'Connor, who was King of Connacht before the Norman invasion |
Tadhg O'Connor |
| Malone |
The Malones are an ancient sept, associated with the O'Connors of Connacht |
Tadhg O'Connor |
| McCaul |
Niall of the Nine Hostages |
Ui Neill |
| McGovern |
Niall of the Nine Hostages |
Ui Neill |
| McKee |
Niall of the Nine Hostages |
Ui Neill |
| McLoughlin |
Niall of the Nine Hostages |
Ui Neill |
| McManus |
Niall of the Nine Hostages |
Ui Neill |
| McMenamin |
Niall of the Nine Hostages |
Ui Neill |
| Molloy |
Niall of the Nine Hostages |
Ui Neill |
| Nolan |
This is sept which has always been associated with that part of Ireland which lies around the barony of Forth in Co. Carlow. In pre-Norman days their chiefs, who held high hereditary office under the Kings of Leinster, were known as Princes of Foharta (modern Forth) |
King of Leinster |
| O'Boyle |
Niall of the Nine Hostages |
Ui Neill |
| O'Brien |
Before Brian Boru's time, the Dalcassian clan, known as the Ui Toirdealbhaigh, to which they belonged, was not of outstanding importance in Thomond: the greatness of Brian gave them pre-eminence there and in due course the sept, which took the surname O'Brien from him, divided into several branches and possessed a great part of Munster, of which they were frequently kings |
Brian Boru |
| O'Connor |
Niall of the Nine Hostages |
Ui Neill |
| O'Doherty |
Niall of the Nine Hostages |
Ui Neill |
| O'Donnell |
Niall of the Nine Hostages |
Ui Neill |
| O'Gallagher |
Niall of the Nine Hostages |
Ui Neill |
| O'Hara |
The O'Hara's descend from Eaghra (pronounced Ara), who was chief of Leyny in Co. Sligo, and a member of the family of Olioll Ollum, King of Munster. In Irish the name is O hEaghra. Here is a site which links the O'Hara name to the Tuatha de Danann. |
Oilioll Olum |
| O'Hurley |
The Thomond sept of O hUirthile descends from one Uirthile or Urley (an obsolete Christian name) who was of the race of Blod, son of Cas, the progenitor of the Dalcassians |
Blod |
| O'Kane |
Niall of the Nine Hostages |
Ui Neill |
| O'Kelly |
The Ui Maine (of which the O'Kelly family belongs to)were pre-Milesian Celts who were later given a fictitious Milesian pedigree showing them descended from Maine Mor, son of Eochu |
Eochu |
| O'Reilly |
Niall of the Nine Hostages |
Ui Neill |
| O'Rourke |
Niall of the Nine Hostages |
Ui Neill |
| O'Shea |
Of the so-called Ten Tribes of Kilkenny the Shees (the only ones of Milesian blood), were the most influential. |
Milesians |
| Quinn |
Niall of the Nine Hostages |
Ui Neill |
| Sullivan |
Their origin, however, is illustrious: descended from Eoghan (Owen) Mor, the father of the famous Oilioll Olum |
Oilioll Olum |