DNA testing is one of the fastest growing and exciting aspects of genealogy today. Faced with seemingly insurmountable roadblocks, researchers can turn to technology in attempt to find new evidence. Every researcher of our McCraw line has been unable to make the connection between William Maccraw and his place of origin. Family lore points us to the Isle of Skye in Scotland, but countless attempts have been made to document this all to no avail. The US McCraw Family Association turned to DNA research over a decade ago and have been taking advantage of each new leap in technology and each new test available to get us closer to solving the riddle of William I. Due to incontrovertible DNA evidence as analyzed and categorized by Family Tree DNA of Houston, Texas, via DNA submissions from several of our family members, combined with the persistent efforts of the late Dr. Faye McCraw Moore, we have no doubt that our family's origins are deeply rooted in Ireland going back 800 years. We also know that our family can be traced further back in history - some 2,500 years - to the Basque area of northern Spain.
The results of our McCraw/McGraw DNA testing have opened a large window into our relationships and ancient history. We learned that the original spelling of our name was MacCraith, and we descend from Echtighern, the older brother of Brian Boru, King of all Ireland. We learned that our clan in Ireland was Dalcassian because our DNA carries the Dalcassian DNA profile. We learned that our place of origin was County Clare, probably around the area of Island McGrath just south of Ennis.
We continue to look to the results of genetic testing to close the 800 year gap between our family's origins as MccCraith (the modern day Clan McGrath of Ireland) and where our family lived prior to William Maccraw's arrival in the New World – specifically, Virginia - in the early 1700's. Although the testing has thus far been inconclusive, the deeply held tradition of William's emigration from the Isle of Skye certainly points toward a Scottish connection.
Versions of the name Macrae appear in both Scotland and Ireland. DNA results have found them in SW Ireland, NW Ireland, and various areas of Scotland. The Scottish Highland Clan of Macraes first settled at Clunes, near Beauly, Inverness-shire, Scotland. In the 14th century a branch settled at Kintail in Ross-shire and became constables of Eilean Donan castle. In the ensuing years, members of this Highland clan, have scattered throughout the globe. This project hopes to enable clan members to learn more of their genetic heritage and to help them make connections between long-lost cousins.
With its roots in Ireland, the McGrath heritage involved a period (around 900- to 1650 AD) in which clans were the most central social construct in Ireland. In particular a Clan McGrath could be found in the Dalcassian area of Ireland (Limerick and south) and a Termon McGrath clan could be found in County Donegal around Lough Derg and the current town of Pettigo. Other families took on the McGrath surname independent of clan membership.
Originally mac Craith in Gaelic, but today there are many variants like: McGrath, McGraw, MacCrae, MacCraw, and Megraw.
We are particularly interested in participants whose paternal ancestry traces back to the nine counties of historic Ulster (Down, Antrim, Tyrone, Londonderry, Donegal, Fermanagh, Cavan, Monaghan, and Armagh) and the six counties of Munster (Clare, Cork, Kerry, Limerick, Tipperary, and Waterford). If you have known or suspected roots in these regions, we encourage you to join. However, even if your origins lie outside these counties or are unknown, anyone with a Mac Craith-related surname is welcome to participate. Every participant helps us deepen our understanding of these family lines.
How does it work? For the Family Tree DNA program, a swab is taken of the inside of your cheek to gather cells. Those cells are then tested for comparison. To establish our link in the past, back through William to his ancestors, the testing done is Y DNA testing. Only males can test Y-DNA because it is the gene that makes a male a male. It is passed directly from father to son and represents a nearly unbroken chain that moves through all recorded history. Because this is an unbroken chain, the closer the strands of DNA are to matching, the closer the familial relationship. As the database of results from those tested continues to grow, the greater the likelihood that we will be able to break through our roadblock with William I.
After the passing of Dr. Faye Moore in 2014, coordination of our DNA program was taken over by Tim McCraw of South Carolina. If you have any questions about joining our DNA Project, you can Email Tim to find out more information.