Below is a table showing the Y-DNA test results for members of the Heffernan DNA Project.  The table is organized into major lineage groups with known Heffernan patriachs or with known geographic origins. These lineage groups are numbered using roman numerals which are shown in the first column of the header line for each lineage group in the table.  The Heffernan patriarch for each lineage group is shown in the Lineage column of the header line.  For the purposes of this project, a patriarch is usually an immigrant or other recognized head of a Heffernan ancestral line.  However, sometimes a patriarch for a lineage group is not known yet or the lineage can only be narrowed down to a particular geographic region.  In these cases, the patriarch will be identified as a Heffernan family from a general time period and geographical area.  The known ancestry and DNA results of some members may make it hard to place them in any lineage group.  These members will be classified as Ungrouped until more can be found out about their ancestry or until they match closely enough with someone from a known Heffernan lineage.

A major goal of this project is to use DNA testing to develop Y-DNA marker profiles for each of the various Heffernan lineages from around the world and to connect each member through their test results to one of these lineages.  As more members join the project and more test results are gathered, new lineages will be added and existing lineages may merge.  Heffernan lines that were previously considered unrelated may be discovered to be closely related—and vice versa.  Heffernan families that have hitherto been unable to connect with any other known Heffernan line, may be able to do so with DNA testing or perhaps even establish a new Heffernan lineage to be investigated.  When enough haplotypes—a haplotype is simply the entire set of test results for a particular person—for a particular lineage are collected, the modal haplotype for that lineage can be determined and will appear on the lineage header line in the table.  This modal haplotype is the likely haplotype of the patriarch of the lineage.  Specific branches of a lineage may show small differences from the lineage's modal haplotype and thus establish a unique profile for that branch which will be noted in the results table.

In the results table below, each project member's assigned ID is in the first column.  In the Lineage Founder and Descendancy column is the name of each linegage's earliest known ancestor (if known) and descendancy info for each member from that ancestor.  The estimated (or Y-SNP determined) haplogroup of the member is in the next column followed by all of the member's marker results (see below for marker color codings).  If a marker field contains a p, it means that testing has been ordered for that marker and results are pending.  After all the marker results, the Member ID and Earliest Known Ancestor and Descendancy columns are repeated followed by the general migration pattern for the member's line.  Next, the Haplogroup column is repeated and then there is a column showing any Y-SNP results for the member that verify the haplogroup assignment.  This is followed by the company that performed the testing and the kit number or other identifier for the test.  Next are the IDs and links to any online databases where the member's results are also posted.  Finally, the contact information, if available, for the member is listed.

Marker Column Heading Text Color Coding by Mutation Rate

Marker Value Text Color Coding by Allele Frequency within Haplogroup R1a

Marker Cell Shade Color Coding by Mutation Steps from Lineage Modal (in Yellow rows)

Below are analyses of the test results for each of the lineages represented in the project.  As more members join the project and more haplotype data is obtained for each lineage, more detailed analysis will be possible.  Genealogical information on each lineage and for members of the project can be found on the Ancestral Lines page.

The test results so far for this lineage come from two lines of decendants of Hugh Heffernan's grandson, Thomas Clinton Heffernan.  With results from these two lines, we can start to build a modal haplotype for Hugh and his descendants.  The estimated haplogroup of R1b indicates a western European origin.  Y-SNP testing is pending for one of Hugh's descendants which should further refine the haplogroup designation.  The results from this testing could also further clarify the geographic origins of Hugh's paternal line ancestors.  Although Hugh immigrated from County Antrim in Ulster Ireland, some of the markers from the testing so far indicate his paternal line ancestors may actually have come from southern Ireland.