Results

MANXDNA

A detailed reports on progress with the study so far, including the detailed findings by family name can be accessed on this page.

Currently the key headline findings from the study so far are:-

The ancestral Y-DNA signatures of over 120 (out of 130+ in total) Manx male genetic families have been fully identified. Another 18 families have been partially classified.

The Y-DNA results of more than 560 men of Manx origin are included in the study database.

In the period immediately after the Scandinavian occupation of the Isle of Man (800-1265AD) up to a quarter of the male population were of Scandinavian or North European origin.

The transition from Gaelic patronymic family names to hereditary names on the Isle of Man in the period ca 1050-1300AD has had unexpected genetic implications in that:-

	a) There are examples of parallel name formation, namely different Y-DNA profiles with same family name
	b) There is unexpected genetic persistence, in that we see the same male Y-DNA profiles, but possessed by families with different names

	Kelly from the Isle of Man is really so! All those familiar family names (e.g. Curphey, Bridson, Kennaugh etc) which we consider to be typical of and unique to the Isle of Man are shown to be indeed so.
	Different variants of the same original Manx family name, which are popularly assumed to be equivalent, e.g. Callister and Collister, etc are indeed the same family.
	Every one in eight men tested in the study did not show the genetic profile associated with the rest of his family.
	The names of some early Manx emigrants changed/evolved after they left the Island in the 1700-1800s.
	The close-relatedness of the Manx community genetically is a notable feature of the Isle of Man, as might be expected. Y-DNA testing indicates that a number of male lines are connected from early times. However autosomal DNA testing provides further anecdotal evidence of this characteristic amongst a small population of people with Manx ancestry.
	A macro analysis indicates the timescales in which the early ancestors of the present-day Manx inhabitants arrived on the Island from elsewhere,

Manx Y-DNA Study Progress Reports

In order to make this information more easily readable and useable, it has been divided into smaller sections as follows:-

	Key Findings
	Background
	Characteristics of Manx Family Names
	Y-DNA Testing and Methodology Used
	Results Summary
	The Future
	Appendix I - Detailed Results for Each Family Name - Updated 24th May 2022
	Appendix II - Analysis and Interpretation of Results
	Appendix III - Analysis of Non-Paternal Events
	Summary table of results and progress - Updated 12th April 2022
	High Level Macro Analysis of the results - Updated 18th May 2020
	Gallery - Updated 18th Jan 2024
	Correlation of Name Origins with Genetic Origins - Updated 30th September 2020

Furthermore, an analysis has been recently carried out by Chris Keig examining the possible connection between a number of Manx families and the Viking Kings of Mann - see here

Those detailed results for each person tested through FTDNA can be seen here. More will be available in time, as will the analysis. If your family name is incompletely tested or not all and you have a male candidate bearing your name and you wish to take part please feel free to contact Robert Cannell.

The project continues to need financial support as well as further testing candidates. Each Y-37 test costs $119/£90 and anyone can make a donation on line to the project here.

A few family names are not yet fully or partially tested and so suitable candidate are still sought. See here

A full summary of the project results and output has been published in "Isle of Man Studies" - The Proceedings of the Isle of Man Natural History and Antiquarian Society - Vol XVII - see the index here

If you have questions or comments on the project then please feel free to contact Robert Cannell, here

If you have any questions about this site please contact Robert Cannell. Copyright John A Creer 2010-2025