Wiki says Niall Noigiallach lived prior to about 450 AD. They also say:
Quote:
In January 2006, geneticists at Trinity College, Dublin suggested that Niall may have been the most fecund male in Irish history.
The findings of the study showed that within the north-west of Ireland as many as 21% of men (8% in the general male population) were concluded to have a common male-line ancestor who lived roughly 1,700 years ago.
The geneticists estimated that there are about 2-3 million males alive today who descend in the male-line from Niall. However, more recently some reservations have been expressed, as the subclade, which is defined by the presence of the marker R-M222, is found in a belt from Northern Ireland across southern Scotland and is not exclusively associated with the Uí Néill. It is now more commonly referred to as the Northwest Irish/Lowland Scots variety. Although his remains have never been found, this is speculation.
|
I find that the reliability of the records in the UK are directly related to the status of the person you're chasing and the accuracy and education of the recorder. If you're descended from a commoner .. its usually 'game over' ... once you hit the early 1800s.
Cheers