Welcome to our project web pages at Family Tree DNA. We are a committed group of researchers of the surname and its associated names. We enthusiastically seek to assist your research by unlocking your family history through the dual use of historical records and your genetic identity obtained from your YDNA sample. We are please to report  that, as our membership has expanded, we have become very successful in our mission to increase the knowledge on our name.

History

The historical manuscripts tell us that there are two distinct McManus families with their origins in Ireland - one emanating from the Maguires of Fermanagh(Ulster) and the other from the O'Conors of Roscommon (Connaught).

The Fermanagh family's origins are identified as Senat, or Baile-Mic-Maghnusa, an island in Lough Erne. We are told in the old records that the island received the fancy name 'Belle Isle 'from its beauty. One of the most celebrated characters associated with this family was Cathal Óg Mac Maghnusa, chief of his clan and compiler of the Annals of Ulster. An entry in the annals for 1488 notes his inauguration by Maguire and the nobles ofFermanagh.

The Roscommon family were seated in the territory known as Tir-Tuathail; today identifiable with the Parish of Kilronan, which includes the main villages of Keadue, Arigna and Ballyfarnon in County Roscommon. It was Maghnus Ua Conchobair ofTir Thuathail (Kilronan), son of the King of Connaughand High King of Ireland, Tairrdelbach Ua Conchobair,  whose sons dropped the use of O’Conor and took the surname MacManus, meaning son of Magnus. So,these Kilronan McManuses are, according to the records, effectively O’Conors.

Benchmark YDNA Profiles

We sought the YDNA profiles of McManuses still living in the relatively small areas of Ireland where it was known from the records that McManus families had domicile. Several men, either still living in these Irish areas today or whose families had migrated from Ireland in the nineteenth century, provided YDNA samples from which we have calculated benchmark profiles. These include geographical and topographic identities and alignment with celebrated characters in history, such as CathalOg MacManus in Fermanaghand the family of O'Conor Don in Roscommon.

This combined historical and scientific approach gives us reason to believe in the accuracy of our conclusions on your identity. After joining our project and submitting your sample, your unique YDNA result will be analysed by our administrators and compared against the benchmarks. Thereafter, your profile is placed into a biological sub-grouping which most closely represents your characteristic origins. If you want further information go to the project web site at http://mexlist.com/mcmanus/ where you will find a variety of historical resources that our administration team have contributed. Visit our forum at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/McManusYDNA/ You can also listen to a talk on YDNA through the British National Archives at http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/podcasts/dna-test.htm?WT.lp=fh-36041-pod.

Project Funds

Family Tree DNA offers a feature called The General Fund. It allows you to donate money to further our goals - increase the knowledge of our members through a combination of historical and genetic research; grow membership in order to increase knowledge; encourage and support all members in their research. If you would like to assist in progressing knowledge of our name, there is no better way of doing this than by increasing membership. This is especially true in respect of key McManuses, i.e. individuals whose documentary family history and the identity of their ancestral YNDA fingerprint can strengthen our knowledge base if they join the project. For example, not all McManuses are as enthusiastic about their genetic history as we are, and they may not want to join the project – yet their YDNA profiles may still be key in our efforts to progress. If an offer to reduce their expenses could be made, they may reconsider joining. Another example is where assistance can be given to financially challenged members already in the group whose cost for upgrades to larger numbers of markers can be reduced and, thus, broaden the knowledge of many others by unlocking hidden features on their history. The project administrators are constantly seeking to identify these ‘Key McManuses’. Any money is used at the Group Administrators' discretion after liaison with donors at every stage. If you wish to contribute please go to the link below. Thank you.

Best wishes and good luck with your research. Lowell, Catriona, Kevin, and Paul (Project Administration).